Moremi Game Reserve: Introduction
The Moremi Game Reserve is situated north-east of Maun in the Okavango Delta and covers nearly 5000 sq km, approximately 30% of the Okavango Delta. The habitats vary from open grasslands, isolated island sanctuaries and papyrus-fringed channels to low sandy islands and dry land on which wildlife and plants thrive.
The most prominent of Moremi's several distinctive components is Chief's Island, an enormous game-rich expanse of forest and savanna between the Boro and Santantadibe rivers to the west. Roughly 1,000 sq km in size, it is the largest expanse of solid ground within the Okavango Delta. A safari to Moremi Game reserve will give safari goers a ring side seat to all the action that can be found on a Big 5 safari.
There are no fences around the reserve, allowing the animals to migrate freely to and from the Chobe Park to the north. Massive tracts of pristine parkland and privacy can be found here, encountered in very few places in Africa. The limited amount of guests plays a major role in the reserve's exclusivity and the preservation of its biodiversity.
Locate the Moremi Game Reserve
How to get there & Best time to visit
How to get there
The most convenient entry point into Botswana for visitors to the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve is Maun International Airport (MUB), the main tourist airport in the country’s northwest.
Moremi is 154km/96mi from Maun and can be reached by plane or 4x4 vehicle, although roads in the area are sometimes closed after heavy rain. The drive usually takes about 3 to 4 hours*.
Whether you will be driving or flying here depends, to some extent, on where you are staying. Many lodges are only accessible by charter plane, but lodges and campsites in the Moremi Tongue are usually accessible by 4x4 vehicle. Several budget safari operators run 4x4 trips to the Moremi Tongue, but self-drive visitors can also go independently.
Best time to visit
Moremi Game Reserve can be visited throughout the year, but the best time for wildlife viewing is during the dry months from July to October. This is when skies are sunny, temperatures are mild and water levels are highest. The wet months from January to March are more problematic because areas of the reserve become inaccessible and some lodges close.
Moremi Game Reserve has a climate that is warm to hot. The Dry season runs from April to October and is characterized by cooler, dry conditions, although it’s also when water levels are highest as it takes time for rainwaters elsewhere to flow into the Okavango Delta. The Wet season, from November to March, receives most of the reserve’s rainfall, along with higher temperatures.