Poachella brings music to Okavango Delta 2 to 4 October
Published on 09/27/2026 at 11:29 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Poachella takes place at Xudumela Conservancy in the Okavango Delta from 2 to 4 October 2026, bringing live music and conservation activities to a site near Maun, Botswana. The festival is organised around the Xudum Channel and is open to visitors, with the programme combining performances, outdoor activities and community initiatives.
Poachella brings live music to the delta from 2 to 4 October
The festival begins on Friday 2 October 2026 and concludes on Sunday 4 October 2026. The event organiser lists Xudumela Conservancy as the venue, while regional newspaper the festival programme places it along the Xudum Channel.
Organiser information describes a programme of live bands, solo performers, DJs and percussion. Saturday 3 October 2026 is scheduled to include a full day of music alongside game drives, guided walks, swimming, visits to an elephant herd and helicopter excursions. The festival also includes conservation talks and activities linked to community development.
Why Poachella is set within a protected wetland
The setting gives the event a specific connection to its subject. The Okavango Delta is a large inland delta in north-western Botswana, made up of permanent marshlands and plains that flood seasonally. Its annual flood arrives during Botswana's dry season, shaping the habitats and wildlife around the channels.
UNESCO describes the delta as one of the few major inland delta systems without an outlet to the sea. The World Heritage property covers 2,023,590 hectares, while its buffer zone covers 2,286,630 hectares, according to the UNESCO World Heritage description. Poachella therefore places a contemporary music event beside a wetland whose ecological cycles depend on seasonal water movement.
Visiting Okavango Delta: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Poachella runs from 2 to 4 October 2026 at Xudumela Conservancy on the Xudum Channel in the Okavango Delta.
- The festival site is in use for music and outdoor activities from 2 October 2026, with Saturday 3 October 2026 scheduled for live performances, walks and game drives.
- From Maun, the published directions follow the Ghanzi Road past Sitatunga and the Nxotega Channel. The final approach includes a rough sand track, and the organiser recommends a 4x4 vehicle.
- Xudumela is in a wild environment with elephants and other wildlife. The organiser states that festival and camping areas are electric-fenced, while the wider setting includes channels, floodplains and wetland habitats.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Okavango Delta on social platforms
These links open searches for Okavango Delta on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Okavango Delta
When does Poachella take place at Okavango Delta?
Poachella takes place from 2 to 4 October 2026 at Xudumela Conservancy on the Xudum Channel.
What is Okavango Delta?
It is an inland delta in north-western Botswana with permanent marshlands and seasonally flooded plains. UNESCO lists it as a World Heritage property.
Where is Okavango Delta and how do you get there?
The festival venue is near Maun, Botswana. Published directions use the Ghanzi Road, followed by a rough final track for which a 4x4 vehicle is recommended.
