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Open your eyes to an astounding mosaic of sparkling floodplains, lily-filled wetlands, wide savannahs, and green forests. This is Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana, the oldest protected reserve in the Okavango Delta and the first reserve in Africa established by local residents to conserve their birthright.
Located where land and Delta meet, it’s profoundly picturesque, combining mopane woodland with seasonal and perennial floodplains, both equally rich in diverse habitats and wildlife. In the central and eastern areas of the Okavango, you’ll find Moremi Tongue and Chief’s Island, making for spectacular game viewing and birdwatching.
Moremi Wildlife Reserve is a place to catch your breath, to pause, to reflect. You can sit silently and be moved by the profound stillness and beauty surrounding you, or immerse yourself in the many activities. A morning game drive may bring you up close to a successful lion hunt, the scent of danger in the air; an afternoon mokoro ride through the channels will introduce you to the tiny, colourful reed frogs that make their homes in the lilies and grasses.
Birdwatching in Moremi Wildlife Reserve is especially rewarding. There are over 400 recorded species, and you may spot the sought-after Pel’s fishing owl (bragging rights for any seasoned twitcher), wattled crane, and slaty egret. Look out for the elegant African skimmer from your mokoro, and the shy coppery-tailed coucal from your game drive vehicle. On open savannahs, you may spot kori bustards, secretary birds, and ground hornbills.
Moremi is a premier Big Four destination where vast herds of elephants and buffaloes roam the floodplains, antelopes are stalked by golden lions, and leopards are frequently spotted lounging in mopane branches. It’s also one of southern Africa’s primary strongholds for the endangered African wild dog.
Top Destinations in Moremi Game Reserve
For stunning game-viewing opportunities, a Moremi safari should not miss:
Chief’s Island
Chief’s Island is the pinnacle of immersive safari lore. It’s the largest island in Botswana’s famed Okavango Delta, and it should be included in any Moremi safari. It’s 70 km/43 mi long and 15 km/9 mi wide and is renowned for its wildlife density. The Big Four roam here – elephants, lions, leopards, and buffaloes.
It’s an exclusive and immersive safari vacation filled with thrilling game drives and memorable activities. In season, climb into a traditional dugout canoe – mokoro safaris are magnificently rewarding.
Xakanaxa Lagoon: Prime Birdwatching Destination
Right in the heart of the reserve, Xakanaxa (pronounced Ka-ka-na-ka) is a prime game viewing and birdwatching spot. Go on game drives or take to the water for a boat safari; each is rewarding in its own way.
You may witness mighty elephants splashing in the shallows; dark-coated buffaloes; giraffes; sable antelope; wildebeest, the clowns of the bush; and impala. Drawn by the water are the specialists: tsessebe, lechwe, and waterbuck. You’ll likely see predators like lions and leopards, too.
The birdwatching is fantastic, and twitchers may spot species such as jacanas, herons, spoonbills, and storks, as well as sacred ibis and buttonquails.
Moremi Game Reserve Lodges
Lodges on a Moremi Game Reserve safari range from luxury to homely. Our experts can guide you in your choice, from exclusive hideaways to vibrant tented camps. There is plenty to suit all tastes, budgets, and trip types, whether you’re after a lavish safari that’s big on game viewing or a romantic holiday in a secluded location.
When’s the Best Time to Visit Moremi Game Reserve?
To immerse yourself in the very best game-viewing opportunities, plan your trip during the dry season, from July to October. The vegetation dries out, making wildlife easier to see.
If you want to see lush landscapes and focus on birdwatching, opt for the wet season, from November to March. During this time of year, there are migrant species in the park, and many birds are breeding.
Remember, in Moremi, as in the rest of the Okavango Delta, water levels in rivers, lagoons, and channels are paradoxically highest in the dry season, when the annual flood pulse from Angola finally arrives, and mokoro safaris are at their prime.
Animals Found in Moremi
There is an abundance of elephants, giraffes, hippos, zebras, buffaloes, and wildebeest throughout Moremi. Lions, leopards, hyenas, and African wild dogs do make appearances in the park, but cheetahs are rare.
Birds commonly seen on a Moremi safari include the African fish eagle, the African skimmer, the green-winged pytilia, and the bright southern carmine bee-eater. Rarer species are the slaty egret and Pel’s fishing owl. Seeing the latter is a true reward for your time spent in Moremi.
How to Get to Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Once you get to Maun International Airport, you can take a charter flight to one of the airstrips in Moremi Wildlife Reserve.
