Moremi

Situated in the very heart of the Okavango Delta, the Moremi Game Reserve is made up of 3,900 square kilometres and has deservedly been voted the ‘best game reserve in Africa’ by the prestigious African Travel and Tourism Association. Moremi is the oldest and first protected reserve of the Okavango Delta. Formed in 1962 by the marvellous and foresighted Mrs Moremi, wife of the late Chief Moremi III of the local Batawana tribe, this area, which forms 40% of the Delta was declared a National Park and boasts one of the richest and most diverse ecosystems on the continent. Moremi comprises of a network of private reserves and is the only officially protected area of the Delta, and thus holds unparalleled scientific, environmental and conservation importance. And thanks to effective protection, the flora and fauna is relatively undisturbed.

Comprising of the Mopane Tongue, the main dry peninsula that juts out into in the Delta and large swathes of the wetlands, the Okavango Delta boasts of an incredible array of land and water-based creatures, including some of the most endangered species of large mammals such as the cheetah, African wild dog and lion. Both Black and White Rhino have also recently been re-introduced making the reserve a ‘Big Five’ destination which doesn’t disappoint. The wildlife who call this area home are numerous and relaxed, making close game viewing possible.

Its exquisite floodplains, waterways, lagoons, grasslands, mopane forests and rivers make for some of the most spectacular game viewing in Africa. There are over 500 species of birds, many migratory and some endangered. Here, safari is less about jeeps but mokoros (dug-out canoes) and riding on horseback. It’s intimate, otherworldly and unashamedly wild Africa; Moremi is a safari experience like no other.

Getting to Moremi is an adventure in itself. You will always begin in Maun, the Kalahari ‘tourist capital’ of Botswana, which can be reached by flying via Jo’burg, Cape Town, Kasane or Victoria Falls. From there you hop on a small plane that transports you to your first hotel, soaring over 10,000 square miles of waterways, reed beds, water lilies and palm-tree islands. There are only a few camps and lodges within the reserve, all of which offer the finest and most awe-inspiring experiences in the safari world. For those who are partial to glamping we highly reccommend Gomoti Plains Camp or Machaba Camp.

Moremi, and indeed Botswana, is a year-round destination. Botswana knows both wet and dry seasons, and most people choose to travel in dry season (from May to November), but the rainy season (December to April) is definitely worth considering, as there is more availability in the lodges and showers are usually short.

Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.
Andre Gide