In many ways, Botswana has had one of the most intense, and most successful, economic development experiences among sub-Saharan nations in the post-colonial era. This development has largely depended on mining and cattle, and has been extractive and export driven. The Okavango Delta peoples are now experiencing the effects of Botswana's impressive gains in economic development, and like indigenous peoples worldwide are finding that these gains bring great challenges. This paper provides important insights into the mechanisms by which the Okavango Delta peoples are encountering substantial cultural, political, and economic change.