Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana

Moremi Game Reserve is a protected area in Botswana that lies on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta. Proclaimed as a reserve in 1963, Moremi was named after leader of the Ba Tawana tribe – Chief Moremi. Moremi game reserve was not designated as a national park since the BaSarwa or the Bushmen who were the inhabitants were still allowed to stay in the reserve.

Moremi Game reserve sits on an area of approximately 5,000 square kilometers covering more of the eastern side of the Okavango Delta and combining permanent water with the drier areas. The game reserve encompasses different geographical features including the Chief land and the Moremi Tongue. Others attractions in the reserve include the splendid views of the savannah and bird watching on the lagoons. The reserve is also made up of the thickly wooded areas which host different wildlife including the Cape wild dogs and the Leopards.

Mopane woodland

Though not among the largest game reserves in Botswana, Moremi game reserve provides excellent insights and views to the travellers. It is made up of diverse habitats including the Mopane woodland, acacia forests, floodplains and the lagoons. The game reserve is a home to over 500 bird species including the waters birds and the forest dwellers. Also, there is a vast of other species of wildlife in the reserve including the leopards, African bush elephant, giraffe, pain zebra, blue wildebeest, cheetah, spotted hyena, black backed jackal, common warthog, black rhinoceros, impala, lechwe and others.

Activities in Moremi Game Reserve

Moremi Game reserve offers a variety of safari activities that would surely make the traveller’s tour more memorable and amazing. Have an impressive game viewing and also insight the beauty and rare scenery of the Okavango Delta. Other activities include bird watching, boat cruise, horse rides and others.

Game drives

A safari is always not a safari when a game drive is not included. Moremi Game Reserve is one of the protected areas with a variety of wildlife that will make your game drive successful and interesting. However, the success of the game drive in the reserve depends on the time of the year since during the rainy seasons; the level of water in the Okavango Delta can delay the activity in some areas. Among the wildlife to be seen in the experience include the giraffes, African bush elephant, blue wildebeests, cheetah, common warthogs, impala, black rhinoceros, black backed jackal, spotted hyena, and others.

Bird watching and nature walks

Explore and get much closure to the magical ecosystem of the Okavango Delta. Sight the different flora and fauna and the unique plains and features in the reserve. Record a variety of beautiful and colorful bird species including the African fish eagle, African pygmy goose, black coucal, brown fire finch, and fulvous whistling duck, lesser jacana, martial eagle, greater swamp warbler, Senegal coucal, coppery tailed coucal, black chested snake eagle and others.

Horse –back safari

Moremi Game reserve is one of the few protected areas in Botswana where horse – back experience is done. This activity involves exploring the reserve on the horse’s back and expect to view different features and wildlife in the reserve. Among the species to be seen include the birds, some wild animals, trees, insects and others.

Elephant interactions

This experience is almost done in only Moremi game reserve. It involves walking in the wild with the Okavango elephants. The Okavango elephants are orphaned and taken care of in the safari camps where the travellers are invited during the morning walks in the bush with the giants.

Boat cruises

In Moremi game reserve have boat cruise on the lagoons and delta and have a clear view of different wildlife and bird species especially the water birds. Among the animals to be sighted while on the cruise include the Nile crocodiles and hippos.

How to reach Moremi Game Reserve

Moremi game reserve borders Chobe National Park at its northeastern edge. The access to the reserve is always from the nearby town of Maun where large populations of wildlife like donkeys, goats and red lechwe graze by the river. One can decide to fly to the park since many lodges on the Chief’s Island have private airstrips.

Maun Town