Moremi Game Reserve

Moremi Game Reserve is a National Park in Botswana. It’s nestled on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta. It was named after Chief Moremi of the ‘BaTawana’ tribe. Moremi was designated as a Game Reserve, and not a National Park, since when it was created. The reserve covers over 4,871 sq km with a diverse plant cover; from riparian woodland, floodplain, reed beds, and permanent wetland through mopane forest to dry savanna woodland. The mainland part forms only about 30% of the reserve. Typically described as one of the most attractive natural world reserves in Africa, Moremi combines mopane woodland and acacia forests, floodplains and a patchwork of lagoons.
Background
In the 1960s hunters decimated the local game and drove some species near to extinction. This led the local Botswana people under the leadership of the wife of the late Chief Moremi III to set aside a huge part of the Okavango as the Moremi Game Reserve to protect their animals and the environment for the future. This enlightened, forward-looking policy led to a gift of land to the reserve in 1962 with more land dedicated in the l970s and the 1990s. Today the Moremi Reserve extends to over 1/3 of the Okavango.

Wildlife
The Moremi Game Reserve is a haven for wildlife and photographic safaris in northern Botswana. Although it is not one of the largest Parks, it has immense diversity of plant and animal to offer to its visitors. It is home to nearly 500 species of bird and a vast array of other species of wildlife. Elephants are predominantly many during the dry spell, as well as a range of other wildlife species from buffalo, giraffe, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, hyenas, jackal and the full range of antelope, large and small, including the red lechwe. The uniqueness about Moremi game reserve is that it has no fences which leaves the animals free to roam around as they please.
Bird Life
The bird life is also diversely prolific ranging from water birds to shy forest dwellers. There are over 500 species of birds to see at this game reserve, including forest dwellers, water birds, fish eagles, and saddle-billed storks.
When to Visit
Moremi is most visited in the dry spell and game viewing tends towards the peak from July to October, when seasonal pans dry up and the wildlife concentrates on the permanent water. At any time of the year, game is prolific (although what is seen obviously varies with the season).
Moremi Camping Accommodations
There are four public campsites within the reserve and many private lodges and campsites whose owners protect the animals and environment within their own concessions. Moremi
camp lodges include;

Camp Moremi

• Camp Moremi: it’s nestled on the amazing Xakanaxa Lagoon in the Okavango Delta and is said to be one of the best game viewing areas in Botswana. Camp Moremi can only accommodate a maximum of 22 visitors.
• Baines Camp: it’s located on River Boro in a secret concession NG32 adjacent the Game Reserve. It is another superb view point for viewing all animals and birds.
• Mombo Camp: This secret paradise of Mombo is positioned just off the northwestern tip of the scenic Chiefs Island and about 800m from the original Mombo. Large concentrations of wildlife are common in front of the new camp.
• Moremi Crossing safari camp: This is a 16 bedded tented safari camp situated on a beautiful palm dotted island overlooking Chief’s Island in the Reserve. It offers its guests luxury with uniqueness.
• Banoka Bush Luxury Camp: this is a relatively small camp situated in the Khwai Concession deep in a private area in north eastern Okavango Delta. It offers only 10 canvas units for perfect safaris in Botswana.
• Kwai River Lodge: Nestled on the edge of a leadwood and fig tree forest, overlooking the vast Khwai River floodplains and it’s renowned for its large concentrations of mammals.

Others camps Sandibe Safari Lodge, Chiefs, Stanleys, Little Mombo, Xigera, Xakanaxa Camp and Kwara Camps