Moremi Game Reserve Travel Guide
Discover the heart of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, a watery wonderland unique in Africa.
The Moremi Game Reserve lays claim to some 40 percent of Botswana’s world-famous Okavango Delta, protecting the central and eastern reaches of this remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Stretched across nearly 2000-miles of pristine wilderness, the Moremi Game Reserve hosts some of the Okavango’s most sought-after safari camps, offering unrivalled access to seasonal floodwaters, sparkling wetlands and lush grasslands.
Perhaps the best reason to visit the Moremi Game Reserve is the sheer diversity of landscapes. When the Reserve was first proclaimed in 1963 it was centred on an area of grassland and forest dubbed the Mopane Tongue. A decade later the Reserve expanded with the addition of the former royal hunting grounds on Chief’s Island, with yet more wilderness enclosed along the Jao River in 1992.
Today this diverse landscape offers an unrivalled safari experience, with the opportunity to discover both the sparkling channels filled by seasonal floodwaters as well as the game-rich grasslands and forests to the east.
The Moremi Game Reserve is home to all of Africa’s iconic ‘Big Five’ – elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo – as well as healthy populations of leopard and wild dog.
Chief’s Island has also been at the forefront of Botswana’s rhino conservation efforts, and safari drives here offer a unique opportunity to view these majestic, yet highly endangered, animals.
At the luxury safari lodges of the Moremi Game reserve you’ll never go hungry. Whether it’s a sumptuous breakfast buffet after your morning drive, or a picnic lunch enjoyed out in the bush, the creative lodge chefs ensure mealtimes are always a moment to remember.
That’s certainly true of the popular ‘boma dinners’, with a buffet of flame-grilled barbecue favourites served in the open-air ‘boma’ enclosure situated close to the lodge.
Safaris are an informal affair, so you can leave the stilettos or dinner jacket behind. Instead, opt for comfortable cotton clothing that allows you to dress in layers. Start the day off with a warm fleece to guard against the chill of a morning safari drive, but as the day heats up you’ll want a good sun-hat (and shoes that can get wet) for that afternoon mokoro ride on the Delta. Don’t forget a swimming costume for the lodge pool, and plenty of sunscreen.
Most lodges offer a safari boutique stocking personal hygiene basics, branded clothing and souvenirs, but don’t forget your camera, spare memory cards and specific charging cables.
As all lodges in the Moremi Game Reserve are situated in remote areas, it is essential that travellers have sufficient supplies of any prescription medication before arrival.
Winter (May-September) is the best time to visit the Okavango Delta, with warm dry days and the channels of the Okavango Delta in full flood. Summer (Nov-March) days can be hot and extremely humid. This is also dubbed the ‘green season’, when afternoon thunderstorms bring dramatic downpours that transform the landscape into a sea of lush vegetation.
The Moremi Game Reserve is a low-risk malaria area, particularly in the winter months (May-September) when rainfall is rare. However, anti-malarial prophylactics are recommended year-round. Consult your travel doctor at least three weeks before departure.
Navigate your way to the Moremi Game Reserve in the heart of the Okavango Delta.
Maun is the gateway to the Moremi Game Reserve, with direct scheduled flights to international hubs at Cape Town (2h35m flying time) and Johannesburg (1h30m).
From Maun private charter flights offer frequent departures (on a shuttle or exclusive basis) to lodges across Moremi.
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