Location: Map
Area: 3,000 sq km
Best time to visit: March to Sept
Moremi Game Reserve, established in 1963, is Botswana's first protected wildlife area and one of Africa's oldest reserves, spanning approximately 5,000 square kilometers in the eastern and central regions of the Okavango Delta within Ngamiland District. Named after Chief Moremi III of the BaTawana tribe, it was proclaimed a game reserve rather than a national park to allow indigenous BaSarwa (San or Bushmen) communities to continue residing within its boundaries, reflecting a unique integration of conservation and human rights. As part of the UNESCO-listed Okavango Delta, Moremi is renowned for its pristine wilderness, diverse biodiversity, and role as a "Garden of Eden" in the Kalahari Basin, supporting over 500 bird species, more than 1,000 plant species, and iconic mammals like the Big Five. Managed by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, it emphasizes low-impact ecotourism, attracting visitors for its unparalleled safari experiences while prioritizing sustainability. By 2025, ongoing conservation initiatives, including anti-poaching strategies outlined in Botswana's National Anti-Poaching Strategy 2025-2030, continue to safeguard its ecosystems amid global challenges like climate variability.
Moremi Game Reserve occupies the eastern side of the Okavango Delta, a vast inland delta formed by the Okavango River originating in Angola's highlands, which fans out into floodplains before evaporating into the Kalahari Desert sands, creating Africa's largest oasis without reaching the sea. The reserve's topography features a mosaic of permanent waterways (about 70% of the area), seasonal floodplains, lagoons, savannas, and drier mainland zones (30%), including Chiefs Island—a large, elevated landmass—and the Moremi Tongue peninsula. Northern regions like Xakanaxa and Khwai are dominated by lush wetlands and extensive waterways, while southern areas near the South Gate transition to arid savannas and mopane woodlands, influenced by the Kalahari's semi-desert climate. Annual floods from May to September transform the landscape, peaking in July-August, creating dynamic interactions between water and land that sustain biodiversity. Ecosystems range from riparian forests along channels to open grasslands and acacia-dotted plains, bordering Chobe National Park to the northeast and integrating with the larger Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. Climate is subtropical, with hot summers (up to 40°C) and mild winters (down to 5°C), rainfall averaging 500-600 millimeters annually, mostly from November to March.
Moremi's flora is exceptionally diverse, with over 1,000 plant species forming the backbone of its ecosystems, from dense riparian woodlands to floodplain grasses. Dominant trees include mopane (Colophospermum mopane) in southern woodlands, acacias (Acacia spp.) in savannas, ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis), and sausage trees (Kigelia africana) in forested areas, traditionally used for mokoro canoes but now protected through fiberglass alternatives. Floodplains support lush grasses like Cynodon dactylon and sedges, while pioneer species such as Croton megalobotrys have increased due to elephant-induced woodland degradation. Riparian zones feature water-loving plants like papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) and figs (Ficus spp.), contributing to habitat stability. Vegetation shifts from 1967 to 2001 show declines in preferred browse species and episodic recruitment patterns (e.g., bell-shaped or U-shaped), influenced by herbivory and fire, posing risks to long-term floral diversity. The reserve's undisturbed state preserves this botanical richness, supporting ecosystem services like soil nutrient cycling and water filtration.
Moremi boasts one of Africa's richest wildlife assemblages, including the Big Five: African elephant (large herds, often 100+), lion (prides resting in plains), leopard (in wooded areas), African buffalo, and both black and white rhinoceros (reintroduced to complete the set). Other mammals include giraffe, plains zebra, blue wildebeest (annual migrations), impala, red lechwe (adapted to wetlands), common warthog, hippopotamus, cheetah (tree-climbing for kills), spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, and endangered African wild dog (studied since 1989, with collared packs). Avifauna exceeds 500 species, featuring waterbirds like slaty egret, wattled crane, African fish eagle, herons, lilac-breasted roller, secretary bird, and rare Pel's fishing owl. Reptiles such as Nile crocodiles thrive in lagoons, while smaller fauna like monitor lizards and insects support the food web. Seasonal concentrations around water sources from July to October enhance sightings, with predators like wild dogs and cheetahs highlighting the reserve's "predator paradise" status.
As a UNESCO World Heritage component of the Okavango Delta, Moremi is protected under Botswana's Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act, with considerations for inclusion in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. Conservation efforts include anti-poaching patrols, habitat management, community involvement, and sustainable tourism via low-impact lodges and guided activities. Key programs focus on species like African wild dogs and rhinos, with reintroductions bolstering populations. Threats include escalating poaching, particularly for rhino horn (46 rhinos killed in 2019-2020, nearly 10% of Botswana's population), driven by high black-market values up to $60,000 per kilogram. Herbivory pressure from elephants and other large mammals has led to woodland degradation, with increases in less-preferred species like Croton megalobotrys and declines in favored browse from 1967-2001, reducing habitat capacity and biodiversity. Climate change exacerbates floods and droughts, while tourism growth risks habitat disturbance; mitigation involves adaptive strategies like fire management and episodic recruitment monitoring. By 2025, the National Anti-Poaching Strategy emphasizes community-based monitoring and international partnerships to address these issues.
Moremi's history began with European exploration in 1848 by David Livingstone, whose accounts led to increased hunting and wildlife depletion by settlers. In response, the BaTawana tribe, led by Chief Moremi III's widow Elizabeth Pulane Moremi (regent at the time), proclaimed the area a game reserve in 1963 to protect dwindling species, making it Botswana's first such initiative driven by local communities. In the 1970s, Chiefs Island—former royal hunting grounds—was incorporated, expanding the reserve. The 1989 launch of wild dog research marked scientific advancements, while poaching surges in 2019 prompted enhanced protections. By the 2020s, integration into transfrontier areas and eco-tourism policies solidified its legacy as a community-led conservation model.
Moremi integrates human elements through its allowance for BaSarwa and Batawana communities to reside and engage in traditional practices, fostering cultural heritage like crafts, dances, and cuisine that support local economies. Community trusts and painted dog conservation programs educate residents and visitors, promoting symbiosis between people and nature. Tourism adheres to a high-yield, low-impact model, with only four public campsites (South Gate, Third Bridge, Xakanaxa, Khwai) and private lodges like Xakanaxa Camp or Moremi Crossing on the outskirts, accessed via light aircraft or 4x4 vehicles. Activities include game drives (morning, afternoon, night) for spotting elephants and lions, mokoro canoe trips poled by guides through waterways for hippos and birds, walking safaris in designated zones for immersive tracking, boat safaris, helicopter/hot air balloon flights, and catch-and-release fishing. Best visited July-October for wildlife concentrations, though year-round appeal exists; visitors should prepare for malaria, water crossings (snorkels advised), and eco-guidelines. In 2025, tourism supports local livelihoods while funding conservation, with cultural visits enhancing experiences.