Aerial view to bush of delta Okavango with elephant.
1502595308
adventure, aerial, africa, african, animal, beautiful, botswana, bush, colour, dangerous, delta, elephant, endorheic basin, environment, five, flight, forest, game, grassland, helicopter, jungle, kenya, landscape, loxodonta africana, mammal, moremi, national, nature, okavango, over, park, photography, plane, relax, reserve, safari, seven natural wonders of africa, swampy, tanzania, tourism, touristic, travel destination, tree, trip, view, water, wild, wildlife

Shutterstock /

Moremi Game Reserve

Okavango Delta


Moremi Game Reserve, which covers one-third of the Okavango Delta, is home to some of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Best of all, it’s one of the most accessible corners of the Okavango, with well-maintained trails and accommodation that ranges from luxury lodges to public campsites for self-drivers.

Moremi is also unusual because it’s the only part of the Okavango Delta that is officially cordoned off for the preservation of wildlife. It was set aside as a reserve in 1963 when it became apparent that poaching was decimating wildlife populations. Named after the Batawana chief Moremi III, the reserve has been extended over the years and now encompasses almost 5000 sq km.

Moremi has a distinctly dual personality, with large areas of dry land rising between vast wetlands. The most prominent ‘islands’ are Chief's Island, accessible by mokoro from the Inner Delta lodges, and Moremi Tongue at the eastern end of the reserve, which is mostly accessible by 4WD. Habitats in the reserve range from mopane woodland and thorn scrub to dry savannah, riparian woodland, grassland, floodplain, marsh, and permanent waterways, lagoons and islands.

With the recent reintroduction of rhinos, Moremi is now home to the Big Five (lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and rhinos), and notably the largest population of red lechwe in Africa. The reserve also protects one of the largest remaining populations of endangered African wild dogs. Birding in Moremi is also incredibly varied and rich, and it’s arguably the best place in Africa to view the rare and secretive Pel’s fishing owl.

Entry fees to the reserve should be paid for in advance at the DWNP office in Maun, though they can be paid at the gate if you have no other choice. Self-drivers will, however, only be allowed entry to the reserve if they have a confirmed reservation at one of the four public campsites.

The village of Khwai has a couple of shops that sell basic supplies. Otherwise, petrol and supplies are only available in Kasane and Maun.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Okavango Delta attractions

1. Dombo Hippo Pools

4.77 MILES

The drive between North Gate (including Khwai) and Xakanaxa Lediba follows one of Botswana’s more scenic tracks, although the exact route changes with the…

2. Paradise Pools

13.59 MILES

One of the prettiest corners of Moremi, the area known as Paradise Pools is as lovely as the name suggests. In the dry season, trails lead past forests of…

3. Fourth Bridge

14.84 MILES

Quite a long, wooden crossing on the trail between Third Bridge and Xakanaxa.

4. First Bridge

15.66 MILES

Blink and you'll miss it. First Bridge is more useful than interesting – depending on its state of repair, an alternative track alongside may serve the…

5. Xakanaxa Lediba

15.78 MILES

With one of Africa’s largest heronries, Xakanaxa Lediba is renowned as a birdwatchers’ paradise. In addition to herons, potential sightings here include…

6. Second Bridge

16.67 MILES

Not long before Mboma if you're coming from Maun. In fairly poor condition last time we visited.

7. Third Bridge

17.85 MILES

Literally the third log bridge after entering the reserve at South Gate (although First Bridge and Second Bridge were, at the time of writing, easy to…

8. Mboma Island

20.55 MILES

The grassy savannah of this 100-sq-km island, a long extension of the Moremi Tongue, contrasts sharply with the surrounding landscapes and provides some…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "botswana/okavango-delta/attractions/moremi-game-reserve/a/poi-sig/1343034/1000825",
      "destination": "Okavango-Delta",
      "continent": "Africa",
      "country": "Botswana",
      "region": "Okavango-Delta",
      "position": "superzone"
    }