The only officially protected area of the mighty Okavango Delta in Botswana, the Moremi Game Reserve is one of the most beautiful and pristine wildlife sanctuaries in Africa.
While just 3900km in size, the Moremi Game Reserve covers almost one-third of the eastern side of the Delta and consists of a vast network of waterways surrounding two large islands – Mopane Tongue and Chief’s Island. And while only 30% of the reserve is mainland, it boasts a surprisingly diverse terrain, ranging from vast floodplains and arid grasslands, to dense mopane woodlands and acacia forests.
The first reserve in Southern Africa to be established by local residents, the Moremi Game Reserve was formed when cattle encroachment and hunting threatened to deplete the wildlife in the ancestral lands of the Ngamiland Batawana people. The move was spearheaded by the wife of Chief Moremi III, who eventually declared the reserve in honour of her late husband.
The Moremi Game Reserve boasts a spectacular variety of wildlife, including elephant, buffalo, zebra, impala, wildebeest, giraffe, tsessebe, lion, cheetah and leopard. Most notably, it is home to a number of rare and endangered animals – Sitatunga, Lechwe, and Wild Dogs.
A list of over 400 species of birdlife includes sacred ibis, African fish eagle, crested crane, egrets, innumerable herons, saddle-billed storls, bee-eaters, kingfishers, and wattled cranes. The evergreen Khwai River, in the northeast tip of Moremi, and the Xakanaxa Lagoon in the heart of the reserve, offer the very best in bird watching.
The Moremi Game Reserve is a fantastic destination to visit year-round. Summer, which ranges from October to April, has a minimum average temperature of 20°C, and a maximum temperature of 40°C. Winter, on the other hand, runs from May to September, during which guests can expect a maximum daytime temperature of 25°C and a minimum night-time temperature of 6°C.
Travelers to the Moremi Game Reserve have a delightful selection of luxury tented camps and stylish safari lodges to suit all budgets and trip types. At each of these, activities on offer include game drives, photographic safaris, boat cruises, traditional mokoro safaris, walking safaris, birding safaris and tours of the local villages.
For more information regarding a safari in the Moremi Game Reserve, get in touch with our Botswana travel experts at Kiboko Adventures.
An amazing adventure and fantastic experience seeing so many magnificent animals up close. The accommodation exceeded…
