Moremi Game Reserve Safaris
The Moremi Game Reserve is known as one of the most predator rich big game habitats in Africa. Chiefs island itself offers exclusivity and a huge density of lion and leopard.
When to go to Moremi Game Reserve
Best Time to Go
The heart of the Okavango Delta
Huge concentrations of game
Game driving, boating & Mokoro Safaris
A reputation for incredible cat sightings
Big Cats & Premier Camps
Moremi is an area of breathtaking natural beauty and seriously good game viewing. Many of the Okavango Delta’s large herds move here when the flood waters move in, making Moremi a great destination for the classic dry season. However, the north-west area specifically is one of the only parts of Africa that has excellent game viewing throughout the year.
Moremi’s excellent reputation is due in no small measure to its Wilderness camps (Wilderness Mombo & Wilderness Little Mombo), regarded by many as the finest in Africa. Also, the region has a very high concentration of cats, particularly on Chief’s Island itself. As a result, Moremi is often referred to as the predator capital of Africa. The surrounding waters off Chief’s are also home to some of the most picturesque mokoro spots in the entire Delta. Game driving, boating and mokoro (in specific areas only) are all possible in Moremi. No night safaris or walking safaris are permitted.
Moremi Game Reserve Trips
Activities & Wildlife
Recognised as one of the finest safari reserves in Africa, both for its beauty and volumes of big game, Moremi offers exceptional big game sightings, especially leopard.
Habitat and history
Game drives
Boating safaris
Mokoro canoes
-
Moremi is situated in central-eastern Okavango and encompasses the famous Chief’s Island. In 1963, the wife of the recently deceased Chief Moremi III boldly made the initiative to proclaim this an area of protected land. Tribal lands and wildlife were dwindling due to cattle grazers and hunting. She created and preserved this extraordinary part of the world for generations to come. This is the heart of the Delta. It’s made up of around 4,000 square kilometres of pristine wilderness, with open grasslands, forests, waterways, lagoons, and islands, and the wealth of wildlife in this area is simply breathtaking. Moremi remains the only officially protected part of the Okavango, making it an ecosystem of great scientific and cultural importance.
This is the foremost activity in Moremi, since officially, as it isn’t a private game reserve, you can only drive. Outings take place in the early morning and late afternoon, these being the cooler times of day when animals are most active. There’s a wide variety of terrains to explore, including the seasonally created floodplains, wide savanna, and mopane forests. These forests are an excellent nesting ground for the region’s more than 450 recorded bird species. You can enjoy sightings of lion, buffalo, cheetah, leopard, elephant, and wild dog. The area around Chief’s Island is particularly well known for its incredible predator interactions.
These are seasonal and can depend on the exact location of your lodge. In the Delta, there are properties that offer land- or water-based activities, and some that offer both! We believe that getting out on the water is an essential part of any Botswana trip. With the seasonal flood, there comes an explosion of aquatic life, and a myriad of new channels, lagoons, and waterways to explore – keep an eye open for lions swimming across channels for a sighting that’s especially unique to this time of year.
Cruises can be enjoyed in the morning or afternoon, and are operated from hard-bottom aluminium boats. There are plenty of crocs and hippo pods, and specially adapted antelopes such as the red lechwe and sitatunga. The birdlife is sensational, including big-hitters like the Malachite Kingfisher, Pel’s Fishing Owl, and African Fish Eagle.
This water-based activity gets you even closer to nature. It’s the ‘walking safari’ of the Delta! As there’s no engine noise, you can drift, glide, and approach wildlife that would usually hide. Your guide will point out insects, frogs, birdlife, and flora. In a mokoro you can also venture into the shallower arteries of the Delta.
Canoes are operated by a ‘poler’ who uses a large pole called a Nkashi to push and steer through the waterways. One of the loveliest things about being in a mokoro is that you can appreciate the smaller creatures, like butterflies, as well as the intense sounds of the Delta. This is a glorious, calming experience that we recommend to anyone at least once.
The Moremi Game Reserve is deservedly world famous, and I’ve had some incredible game drives here! It may not boast the exclusivity of the private concessions, but the wildlife is genuinely incredible, and it’s far more wallet-friendly. A brilliant way to experience the Delta without the often eye-watering price tag.Talk to someone who’s been there
Real expertise doesn’t come from a few trips to Africa. All our specialists have either been guides, run the camps, or grown up and lived in Africa. That’s over 600 years of genuine safari experience.Good to Know
01.What areas of Moremi should I visit?
Many travellers build their entire trips around Moremi. However, we recommend care in choosing which parts of Moremi to focus your trip if you’re after standout big game. Moremi’s famous predator reputation is due to its north-west region – Chief’s Island, around Mombo. The remainder of Moremi may well be very beautiful, but it lacks great game. In summary, Mombo is the only area that will guarantee you exceptional game viewing. If you’re basing your trip around other parts of Moremi, it’s useful to know that there are better game-viewing areas elsewhere.
02.When is the best time to travel to the Moremi Game Reserve?
Moremi is a classic dry-season reserve. June through to October is superb and it is throughout this season that the game viewing on offer will rival anywhere in the country. However, the specific area around Mombo is world-class at any time of year.
Speak to an Expert
Let one of our Yellow Zebra specialists design
your tailor‑made African adventureAs Seen In
