Moremi Game Reserve: Botswana’s Community-Founded Wilderness
Created in 1963 by the Batawana people to protect their own land, Moremi is now one of Botswana’s richest and most varied wildlife reserves, where dry-land game drives and delta waterways meet.
Moremi at a glance
The protected heart of the eastern Okavango Delta, and one of Africa’s most biodiverse reserves.
SizeNearly 5,000 km²
Established1963, by the Batawana people
LocationEastern Okavango Delta, Botswana
Known forBiodiversity, African wild dogs, and dry land and delta in one reserve
Best timeMay – October for game viewing; November – April for birding
A reserve founded by its own people
In 1963, concerned that hunting was destroying the wildlife of their ancestral lands, the Batawana people set aside Moremi themselves. It is often described as the first reserve in Africa created by the local community rather than by a colonial or government authority.
The reserve is named after Chief Moremi III, and that founding spirit still shapes it today: a place where conservation and community were never separate ideas.
Why it matters to you
Visiting Moremi supports one of Africa’s earliest community conservation stories, and the people whose decision in 1963 protected one of the continent’s finest wildernesses.
Two reserves in one: the dry side and the delta side
Few places in Botswana let you combine classic game drives and true delta water activities in the same reserve.
The dry side
Around Khwai and the Mopane Tongue in the east: drier ground with reliable game drives all year, even when the delta side runs low.
- Classic game drives
- Big cats and wild dogs
- Reliable year-round access
The delta side
Around Xakanaxa and the Moremi Tongue: a maze of permanent lagoons, reed beds and channels.
- Mokoro trips
- Motorboat excursions
- Sitatunga and water birds
When to visit Moremi
Each season shows a different side of the reserve. The dry months bring the big game; the rains bring birds, green landscapes and fewer visitors.
Swipe sideways to see every month.
| Wildlife event | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry-season game viewingAcross the reserve | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | ||||||
| Big cat encountersAround permanent water | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | |||||||
| Mokoro and boating (water levels allowing)Delta side: Xakanaxa, Moremi Tongue | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | |||||||
| Green-season birding and newbornsWetlands and grasslands | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Good time to goPeak
Guide’s tip: in the wettest months, some delta-side areas become hard to reach, and certain camps close between January and March. For a first visit, aim for May to October.
The wildlife
Predators
One of the best places in Botswana to see African wild dogs, with healthy populations of lion, leopard and cheetah.
Big game and waterways
Elephants and buffalo on the dry side; hippos and crocodiles in the channels; the shy sitatunga in the reed beds.
Birds
Exceptional birding, especially from November to April, when migrants arrive. Wattled cranes are a wetland highlight.
A note on rhinos: rhinos are rare in Moremi today, so we don’t promise them. If rhinos matter to you, ask us where your best chances are in the region.
Khwai: the neighbour worth knowing
Just outside the reserve’s boundary lies the Khwai Community Area, a concession run with the local community. It offers activities not allowed inside Moremi, such as walking safaris and night drives, so many travellers combine the two.
Our Classic Tented Botswana Safari includes time in Khwai. To be clear, that itinerary does not enter Moremi Game Reserve itself, but we can add Moremi nights to any Botswana trip.
Classic Tented Botswana Safari
Length6 days
RouteChobe, Khwai and the Okavango Delta
A fully inclusive tented safari with scenic flights, including Khwai.
Getting there
By air
Most trips start in Maun, Botswana’s safari gateway. Light aircraft fly from there to airstrips at the lodges and camps.
By road
The drier eastern side, near Khwai, is reachable by road and relatively friendly for self-drivers. The delta side is far harder to navigate independently, especially in the wet season.
Moremi: frequently asked questions
What makes Moremi different from other Botswana parks?
It was created in 1963 by the Batawana people themselves, and is often described as the first reserve in Africa founded by its own community. It also combines dry land and delta wetland in one reserve.
When is the best time to visit Moremi?
May to October for the best game viewing, with August to October the peak for predators. November to April is best for birding, though some areas are harder to reach in the wettest months.
Is Moremi good for self-driving?
The eastern side, around Khwai, is relatively self-drive friendly. The delta side is much harder and is best done with a guide, especially in the wet season.
What is the difference between Moremi and Khwai?
Khwai is a community concession bordering Moremi, not part of the reserve. It allows walking safaris and night drives, which are not permitted inside Moremi, and is often combined with a Moremi visit.
Related guides
Planning a trip to Moremi?
Tell us your dates and interests, and we will design a Botswana safari around them, with Moremi, Khwai, the Delta or Chobe.