Moremi Game Reserve rests on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta. It was named after Chief Moremi of the Batswana tribe.

The Moremi Game Reserve covers much of the eastern side of the Okavango Delta. It combines permanent water with drier areas. This will create some startling and unexpected contrasts. Some prominent geographical features of the Reserve are Chiefs Island and the Moremi Tongue.

Moremi Reserve is the best place to experience excellent views of savannah game as well as bird-watching on the lagoons. There are also thickly wooded areas, which are home to the rare African wild dog and leopard. To the northeast lies the Chobe National Park which borders the Moremi Game Reserve.

The Moremi Game Reserve initially consisted mostly of the Mopane Tongue area, but in the 1970s the royal hunting grounds, known as Chief’s Island, were added. Let us share a few more facts about this area to introduce it properly.

The Moremi is home to the most endangered species of large mammals: the cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and lion. Over 500 bird species (from water birds to forest dwellers) and over a 1.000 species of plants are also recognized in the Moremi. This ecosystem is amongst the richest in Africa. And thanks to effective protection, the flora and fauna is relatively undisturbed.

The Reserve covers 5,000 square kilometres (1,900 sq mi) in extent. It is a surprisingly diverse Reserve, combining mopane woodland and acacia forests, floodplains and lagoons. Only about 30% of the Reserve is mainland, with the bulk being within the Okavango Delta itself.

Moremi is the home to nearly 500 species of bird (from water birds to forest dwellers), and a vast array of other species of wildlife, including buffalo, giraffe, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyaena, jackal, impala, and red lechwe and African Wild dog.

Traveling to the Moremi Game Reserve

All your safaris to Moremi will begin in Maun, the ‘tourist capital’ of Botswana. This is a relatively small (55.000 people) Kalahari town. To get there you fly via Johannesburg, Cape Town, Kasane or Victoria Falls. Once in Maun, the adventure begins as you hop on a small plane that transports you to your first accommodation. Look down during the flight and gaze at 10,000 square miles of waterways, reed beds, water lilies and palm-tree islands. Welcome to Moremi Game Reserve!

GETTING TO MOREMI GAME RESERVE BY AIR

INTERNATIONAL AIR TRAVEL

A couple flight possibilities are available for those travelling by air to Moremi. Your starting point is Maun International Airport (MUB). Maun has multiple daily connections with Johannesburg (Airlink and Air Botswana) and five weekly connections with Cape Town (Airlink). More information about flights to and from Maun can be viewed on our Maun Moremi Airport page.

DOMESTIC AIR TRAVEL

It is also possible to travel domestically from Gabarone to Maun (daily). Flights from Kanane to Maun and return are offered twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday) and are ideal for travellers visiting the Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park areas. More information about flights to and from Maun can be viewed on our Maun Moremi Airport page.

FROM MAUN TO YOUR MOREMI LODGE

When arrived in Maun your Moremi safari adventure really is about to start. From here it is another 30 to 45 minutes short flight to your destination. All onward connections to the Moremi are operated by Mack Air. Once landed at the airstrip your choosen lodge will pick you and transfer you to your final destination where a cold drink will be ready and waiting.

WHEN TO VISIT MOREMI GAME RESERVE

Before you plan your trip to the Moremi Game Reserve, it is highly recommend determining where you want to stay and what is on your bucket list.

We would love to provide a simple, ‘this is the best time to visit Botswana to Moremi’, but there is no such thing when it comes to Botswana. The Moremi Game Reserve and the Okavango Delta change dramatically with the seasons. This makes it is a year-round destination; feel free to come at any time to experience the wonder.

What you will discover soon after arriving in the Moremi Game Reserve? It isn’t just about crossing off the Big Five on your list, or finally spotting that rare bird. In Moremi, you have to take in the full package.

There are broad skies, amazing sunsets, constantly changing colours and a warm African breeze You will get the warmer African hospitality, lily padded waterways and – of course – some of the best game viewing you will ever experience. This, all together, is what will make you want to come back to Botswana as soon as you start your way home.

THE SEASONS IN MOREMI

That said, we could definitely help you determine what is the best time for you to go to Moremi Game Reserve. Botswana knows both wet and dry seasons. Most travelers pick the dry season for a visit, but the rainy season is definitely worth considering.

During the wet season most accommodations have less visitors. You are in for a very personal experience. Also child policies can be more flexible in this period. However, the camps and lodges of the Moremi Game Reserve always feel personal since all of them are intimate and small-scale.

Here’s a little bit about both seasons.

Dry season:

• May to November.
• Ideal for a first time Africa trip.
• Nights in the Moremi are never below freezing and the days are seldom unbearably hot.
• Note that in November the weather is variable: rain or shine, hot or cold.

Wet season:

• Between December and April.
• January and February are the rainiest months.
• Spectacular skies can change within minutes from cloudy to sunny to cloudy again.
• Showers are usually short and heavy, but there are days when the sky remains grey.
• Waterproof clothing is necessary, but the rain doesn’t need to stop you from doing anything.

ACTIVITIES IN THE SEASONS

Water levels will affect the activities in Moremi during your Botswana safari trip. Some camps only offer mokoro (a traditional canoe) excursions when water levels are high enough. A few months out of the year. On the flip side, some game drives are only possible when water levels are low enough.

Please note that in Africa the weather is harder to predict these days. But as long as you look at the Moremi as an amazing experience with all its aspects, you will fully enjoy it.

FLORA AND FAUNA IN MOREMI GAME RESERVE

The Moremi Game Reserve protects the central and eastern areas of the Okavango Delta. By combining drier areas and waterways, the contrasts are astonishing. Imagine views of savanna game as well as bird life around the rivers, or elephants and hippos splashing in the lagoons. Often referred to as a ‘Garden of Eden’, the Moremi Game Reserve offers excellent game viewing year-round and stunning landscapes of savanna, floodplains, lagoons, dense forests (where leopards and wild dogs hide) and winding rivers.

Animals found in Moremi Game Reserve

Enjoy the opportunity to get the complete Big Five in front of your camera lens; since the reintroduction of the impressive (white) rhino, the quintet is complete again. Elephants, hippos, buffalos, blue wildebeests, impalas, red lechwe, giraffes and impalas. They all love to take a splash in Moremi’s fresh waters. And is spotting the rare wild dog on your list? This smart hunter also calls the Moremi his home; the people of Botswana cherish their strong population of wild dogs. And don’t forget to look up: the shy cheetah loves to drag its fresh kill high up in a tree and enjoy a meal undisturbed.

Birds found in Moremi Game Reserve

Whether you are already a bird enthusiast or not, these magnificent creatures come in large numbers in the Moremi. They will quickly win over your heart once you arrive. With over 500 species in an area of just under 5.000 square kilometers, the sheer number of species will strike you as amazing.

Among these special birds is the slaty egret (to identify this one, seek its overall grey coloring with yellow legs and a red neck) and the much easier to find, magnificent wattled cranes. So, to all experienced bird watchers and those who look through binoculars for the very first time: keep your eyes and ears open and let the bird orchestra be the beginning of each safari day.