Moremi Game Reserve Overview
Proclaimed a reserve in 1963, and named after Chief Moremi III of the local Batawana tribe from Ngamiland, the Moremi Game Reserve was the first wildlife sanctuary to be created by an African tribe in their own area. Concerned by the rise of hunting in the Okavango Delta, the Moremi Game Reserve was officially proclaimed by the Batawana and was initially run by the Fauna Conservation Society of Ngamiland. Since then the Moremi Game Reserve has been extended to include Chief’s Island and in 1979 the area was taken over by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
Covering almost one third of the Okavango Delta, the Moremi Game Reserve is just under 5000 square kilometres in extent and is extremely diverse consisting of pans, floodplains, lagoons, grasslands, acacia forests, and dense Mopane woodlands, all of which create some startling and unexpected contrasts. To its northeast border lies the Chobe National Park and the two make for a great safari combination.
Interestingly, only about 30% of the Reserve is mainland, with the bulk being within the Okavango Delta itself allowing for both land-based and water-based activities. This is possibly one of the most productive areas for wildlife viewing within the delta, and all of the Big Five are present. The quality of the guiding is superb, and there tends to be as much emphasis on the birds and little creatures as there is on the flagship species.
When To Travel
Game viewing is at its peak from July to October, when seasonal pans dry up and the wildlife concentrates on the permanent water. From October until the start of the rains in late November or early December, the weather can be extremely hot and midday temperatures can be uncomfortable.
April to May
The vegetation in the reserve is still green and the days are mostly dry and sunny as the area starts to dry out. Temperatures range between 25 – 29°C.
June to August
As winter sets in the temperatures drop with afternoons reaching 26°C and mornings dipping down to 8°C. Make sure to bring warm clothes for the evening and early morning activities.
September & October
This is the height of the dry season and like elsewhere in Botswana, October is usually the hottest month with an average, afternoon temperature of 35°C.
November & December
Conditions are hot and mostly sunny with intermittent rainfall. When it does rain, the relief is palpable because temperatures tend to build before precipitation.
January to March
The wettest months with frequent strong thunderstorms in the afternoons. Mornings and evenings tend to be a little cooler at 18°C whilst daytime temperatures can rise to around 25°C.
Getting There
Moremi can be accessed by light aircraft or by road via Maun. A self-drive experience is only recommended for those with 4 x 4 experience and only in the drier months. The rainy season results in many roads becoming inaccessible and several vehicles have been known to encounter problems when attempting river / lagoon crossings. Ensure you have a snorkel on your vehicle for water crossings. If you are driving a rental vehicle, double check the rental company’s rules and regulation regarding driving through water. Some lodges tend to close over the period December to February due to the inaccessibility of both roads and airstrips.
Species
Wildlife
Moremi offers fantastic sightings both on land and from a mokoro. Whilst all of the Big Five are present in the reserve, rhino sightings are rare. The Painted Dog sightings in Moremi are thought to be among the best in Africa, particularly during the middle of the dry season when dogs are denning, food is plentiful and the area is most flooded. A Painted Dog research project have been conducted in the area since 1989 and so often species will be seen with collars on. Other species of wildlife include the Cape buffalo, giraffe, lion, elephant, hippo, zebra, cheetah, hyena, jackal, impala, and red lechwe. Cape wild dogs inhabit this reserve and has been the subject of a project run in the area since 1989; thus this species is often seen wearing collars placed by researchers.
Birdlife
Moremi is somewhat of a birding paradise with an estimated 500 species of bird (from water birds to forest dwellers) inhabiting the area. The guides in this area tend to be enthusiastic bird watchers, and two of the most sought after specialties is the Slaty egret and Wattled crane. Other specialties include the African pygmy goose, the black-chested snake eagle, fulvous whistling duck, the greater swamp warbler, Pel’s fishing-owl, the rosy-throated longclaw and the white-rumped babbler among others.
Proclaimed a reserve in 1963, and named after Chief Moremi III of the local Batawana tribe from Ngamiland, the Moremi Game Reserve was the first wildlife sanctuary to be created by an African tribe in their own area. Concerned by the rise of hunting in the Okavango Delta, the Moremi Game Reserve was officially proclaimed by the Batawana and was initially run by the Fauna Conservation Society of Ngamiland. Since then the Moremi Game Reserve has been extended to include Chief’s Island and in 1979 the area was taken over by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
Covering almost one third of the Okavango Delta, the Moremi Game Reserve is just under 5000 square kilometres in extent and is extremely diverse consisting of pans, floodplains, lagoons, grasslands, acacia forests, and dense Mopane woodlands, all of which create some startling and unexpected contrasts. To its northeast border lies the Chobe National Park and the two make for a great safari combination.
Interestingly, only about 30% of the Reserve is mainland, with the bulk being within the Okavango Delta itself allowing for both land-based and water-based activities. This is possibly one of the most productive areas for wildlife viewing within the delta, and all of the Big Five are present. The quality of the guiding is superb, and there tends to be as much emphasis on the birds and little creatures as there is on the flagship species.
Game viewing is at its peak from July to October, when seasonal pans dry up and the wildlife concentrates on the permanent water. From October until the start of the rains in late November or early December, the weather can be extremely hot and midday temperatures can be uncomfortable.
April to May
The vegetation in the reserve is still green and the days are mostly dry and sunny as the area starts to dry out. Temperatures range between 25 – 29°C.
June to August
As winter sets in the temperatures drop with afternoons reaching 26°C and mornings dipping down to 8°C. Make sure to bring warm clothes for the evening and early morning activities.
September & October
This is the height of the dry season and like elsewhere in Botswana, October is usually the hottest month with an average, afternoon temperature of 35°C.
November & December
Conditions are hot and mostly sunny with intermittent rainfall. When it does rain, the relief is palpable because temperatures tend to build before precipitation.
January to March
The wettest months with frequent strong thunderstorms in the afternoons. Mornings and evenings tend to be a little cooler at 18°C whilst daytime temperatures can rise to around 25°C.
Moremi can be accessed by light aircraft or by road via Maun. A self-drive experience is only recommended for those with 4 x 4 experience and only in the drier months. The rainy season results in many roads becoming inaccessible and several vehicles have been known to encounter problems when attempting river / lagoon crossings. Ensure you have a snorkel on your vehicle for water crossings. If you are driving a rental vehicle, double check the rental company’s rules and regulation regarding driving through water. Some lodges tend to close over the period December to February due to the inaccessibility of both roads and airstrips.
Wildlife
Moremi offers fantastic sightings both on land and from a mokoro. Whilst all of the Big Five are present in the reserve, rhino sightings are rare. The Painted Dog sightings in Moremi are thought to be among the best in Africa, particularly during the middle of the dry season when dogs are denning, food is plentiful and the area is most flooded. A Painted Dog research project have been conducted in the area since 1989 and so often species will be seen with collars on. Other species of wildlife include the Cape buffalo, giraffe, lion, elephant, hippo, zebra, cheetah, hyena, jackal, impala, and red lechwe. Cape wild dogs inhabit this reserve and has been the subject of a project run in the area since 1989; thus this species is often seen wearing collars placed by researchers.
Birdlife
Moremi is somewhat of a birding paradise with an estimated 500 species of bird (from water birds to forest dwellers) inhabiting the area. The guides in this area tend to be enthusiastic bird watchers, and two of the most sought after specialties is the Slaty egret and Wattled crane. Other specialties include the African pygmy goose, the black-chested snake eagle, fulvous whistling duck, the greater swamp warbler, Pel’s fishing-owl, the rosy-throated longclaw and the white-rumped babbler among others.
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