Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana - Natural World Safaris

Moremi Reserve is in many respects the heart of the Okavango. The delta's central section is surrounded by private concessions which, along with other areas such as the Mopane Tongue, combine to form the Okavango Delta. Moremi was the first reserve in Africa to be established by local residents. As it is a public reserve, no night drives or walking safaris are permitted within the reserve.

Weather in the Moremi Game Reserve:

Moremi experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry season (May to October) is ideal for game viewing as animals gather around water sources. The wet season (November to April) transforms the landscape into a lush paradise, offering unique wildlife viewing opportunities and vibrant birdlife. Read more on when to go to Botswana.

Moremi Game Reserve Animals

Nowadays, with the re-introduction of the rhino, it is also possible to see the Big Five on your Botswana wildlife safari. Other wildlife includes elephants, buffalo, zebra, antelope, including the rare swamp dwelling sitatunga and red lechwe, lion, leopard, spotted hyena, cheetah and wild dogs which range through the northern sections of the Okavango. Birdwatchers can spot over 400 species, including the African fish eagle and carmine bee-eater. The reserve's diverse habitats support thriving populations of herbivores and predators.

Mopane Tongue & Chief’s Island

Moremi predominantly covers the central and eastern areas of the Okavango Delta, consisting of mostly flat areas with a variety of floodplains, waterways and the two principal land masses of the Mopane Tongue and Chief's Island. These areas, as they are within the National Park, do not permit night game drives or walks, however this is often compensated for by the sightings that you have experienced during the day. The Xakanaka Camp and Camp Moremi are in the heart of the reserve overlooking Xakanaxa Lagoon, both with a distinct African bush feel

Chiefs Island is the best area for wildlife in the reserve, representing the main landmass of the delta, framed by a maze of delta waterways and channels in all directions.

The best place to see rhino is on Chief's Island, where they were re-introduced and tend to stick to due to natural constraints. Chief's Island is also an exceptional area for predator sightings with strong prides of lions (including the Mambo Boys - three immense lions that have moved back into the Chief's Camp area) and regular leopard and cheetah sightings. As a result of the high density of the larger cats in this area cheetah are often harder to see although your chances improve as the dry season progresses, especially on Chief's where two cheetah brothers are often seen scanning the horizon from their resident termite mounds!