Moremi Game Reserve

The Moremi Game Reserve offers the very best in a Botswana safari. Its terrain features a mixture of open plains, dry woodlands, wide floodplains, criss-crossing waterways, and waterlily decorated lagoons, allowing you to explore its rich ecosystem by both land and water, in a 4×4 safari vehicle and in a mokoro.

The aim of the Moremi Game Reserve was and still is to preserve the prodigious local wildlife found in the region. This goal was headed by Mohumagadi (Queen) Elizabeth Pulane Moremi of the local BaTawana tribe. It is the BaTawana Royal title, that the Game Reserve derives its name from, “Moremi”.

Moremi is home to a tremendous diversity of wildlife including elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, buffalo, crocodile, and a host of antelope species including the sable, roan, tsessebe, and the rare sitatunga. These animals along with lechwe, impala, zebra and wildebeest contribute to that which the Moremi is most famous for: its high density of both predator and prey alike. On safari tours in this area, you have the chance to safely come into close proximity with lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and even the rarely found African Wild Dog whilst on your game drives. When this is combined with the fact that both white and black rhinos have been reintroduced to the area around Chief’s Island, you have all the ingredients for a spectacular safari, which could include each of the Big 5.

Not all regions of the Moremi Game Reserve can be easily accessed and some of the more remote areas require a fly-in safari program. Not every region is open to the public either, which means you can also have a highly exclusive, high-end safari experience in the Moremi Game Reserve if you prefer.

One of the most famous sections of the Moremi Game Reserve is Chief’s Island. Formerly the designated royal hunting ground of the chief of the local BaTawana tribe, the island was eventually incorporated into the Moremi Game Reserve. Access to the island is not permitted to public vehicles and the island is host to some of the most exclusive lodges and tented camps in the Moremi.

The Xakanaxa Lagoon with its mopane forests and shallow lagoons offers fantastic opportunities for game viewing on both land and water. Located in the centre of the Moremi Game Reserve, the area is accessible by safari vehicle for most parts of the year. It is known to be home to a great wildlife concentration, particularly famous for its leopard and cheetah sightings, but elephants and lions can also be spotted here.

Another popular safari area in the Moremi Game Reserve is the Khwai Region, found to the north east of the reserve. The Khwai River forms the natural border of the Moremi Game Reserve and on both sides of the river you stand the chance of encountering amazing wildlife and birdlife. In the Khwai Community Area north of the reserve, you could even go on a walking safari or a night drive and explore the region in these wonderful ways.

Moremi Game Reserve safari tours can be enjoyed at any time of year as every season the park offers you something different. Some regions however, are difficult, or even impossible to access during certain times of the year and may even be closed between January and March. Speaking to one of our travel experts as to your perfect time to travel is therefore always advisable.

The Moremi Game Reserve deserves to be classified as one of the best wildlife areas not only in Botswana, but in Africa as a whole. No matter when you decide to travel and regardless of the part of the reserve you decide to visit, the amazing diversity of landscapes and wildlife will make your safari in the Moremi Game Reserve a memorable one every time.