Moremi Game Reserve

The Moremi Game Reserve is situated in the eastern part of the Okavango Delta, bordering the Chobe National Park on the south-western part of the Park. The Moremi Game Reserve covers almost one third of the Delta. The Okavango Delta is the largest inland river delta in the world and consists of pans, floodplains, lily covered lagoons, grasslands, forests of acacia trees, savannahs and dense Mopane Woodlands.

With such a wide variety of vegetation comes a diverse spectrum of wild life. Huge herds of impala and tsessebe are found in the area, while in the dry season large herds of buffalo, wildebeest, elephant and zebra flock into the reserve from the Kalahari in search of food and water. The rare sitatunga and lechwe antelope live in the papyrus banks of the waterways. Lions, cheetahs and packs of wild dogs hunt in the open grassland. The reserve is home to over 400 species of birds, including the African Fish Eagle, the Crested Crane and the Sacred Ibis.
This vast variety of mammal, bird, insect, plant, fish and reptile species have successfully adapted to the swamp conditions.

Moremi Game Reserve is a wilderness paradisewith great game viewing throughout the year.

History of Moremi Game Reserve

This wildlife reserve was declared by the BaTawana people in 1963, the first wildlife sanctuary to be created by an African tribe in their own area, and as such is unique.

During the early 1960's the BaTawana tribe was governed by Mrs. Moremi, the widow of Chief Moremi III. She was concerned about the increase in game hunting and established the game reserve on her own land. The Moremi Game Reserve was officially proclaimed on 15 March 1963. The area was initially run by the Fauna Conservation Society of Ngamiland. The reserve has since been extended to include Chief’s Island in 1976 and during 1979 the park was taken over The Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

General

Moremi's finest area is probably Chief's Island. Chief's Island is huge and the Okavango's most famous island. It was once the royal hunting reserve of Chief Moremi, the traditional leader of the local tribes. He gave it to supplement Moremi Game Reserve in the 1970s, and it is now one of the region's best areas for game. Some of the best wildlife viewing is to be found here, as well as some of the best camps and lodges, such as Chiefs Camp and Mombo Camp.

On the northeast tip of Moremi, Khwai River is an area where tall evergreen trees line a wide floodplain. It boasts an excellent density and diversity of predator and prey species. Leopard sightings are consistently good in the Khwai area. Saddle-billed storks, wattled cranes and many species of kingfishers and bee-eaters are common.

In the heart of Moremi, at the tip of the Mopane Tongue, lies Xakanaxa Lagoon. Mopane forests and a patchwork of deep waterways and shallow flooded areas, create a beautiful area packed with game. Leopard and cheetah are regularly seen and the density of antelope is amazing. The area's birdlife is exceptional.

Travel Access

Moremi is accessed either by air (light aircraft fly to the airstrips that service the lodges) or by road via Maun. A self-drive through Moremi is advisable only for experienced 4x4 drivers and only in the dry months. The summer rains can make parts of the Moremi inaccessible and some lodges close over the December- February period.

Seasons and Best Times to visit

Moremi is best visited in the dry season when game viewing is at its peak (July to October), this is when seasonal pans dry up and the wildlife concentrates on the permanent water. The winter months of May to August can be very cold at night, but pleasantly warm with clear blue skies, during the day. From October until the rains arrive in late November or early December, the weather can be extremely hot - day and night.

Wildlife

Teeming with bird life and wildlife makes Moremi a prime wildlife area where elephant, hippo, buffalo, lion, and most other game (including eland, kudu, roan antelope, and if you're lucky even leopard) can be seen in abundance. Bird life (both in the delta and dryland sections) is excellent especially along the Khwai River. During the dry season a congregation of all species, (bird and wildlife), along permanent rivers and water holes makes Moremi Game Reserve one of the most unforgettable wildlife experiences in Africa.