As the safari departs early morning on Day 1, you will need to arrive in Maun, Botswana the day before. This will also allow time to shop for any beverages (beer, wine, etc) you'd like during the safari. We can arrange airport transfers and accommodation (not included in safari rate).
The safari begins in Maun, where your guide will meet you at 730am at your hotel. From Maun you will drive to to Moremi Game Reserve, one of the best wilderness areas of Botswana which covers swamp and dry areas. The next three days will be spent searching for the wide variety of wildlife and birds that this area is renowned for while absorbing the sounds and beauty of this region. You will spend 3 nights exploring this wonderful Game Reserve, at two different camp sites. Game drives in the early morning as the sun rises and in the late afternoon as the sun sets will be the norm. Camping will be in private designated campsites with bush ablutions.
Maun –Moremi: 95 miles, 6-7 hrs (transfer and game drive)
Moremi Game Reserve
The Moremi Game Reserve was declared by the BaTawana people in 1963, the first wildlife sanctuary to be created by an African tribe in their own area, and as such is unique. This act was described at the time as a shining mark in African tribal history.
In the late 1800's a Rinderpest epidemic spread through the continent, wiping out a large percentage of the wildlife and cattle in Africa. As wild animals are the hosts of the tsetse fly, this led to a natural decrease in the tsetse fly population in the area. Now it was possible for the movement of cattle into and through the area without the fear of disease. The Batawana tribe feared that continued competition between the returning game and the cattle herds for grazing, and uncontrolled hunting would lead to the destruction of the habitat and a decrease in the game populations. During this time, (late 1950's, early 1960's), the tribe was being governed by Mrs Moremi, the widow of Chief Moremi III, whose son, Matiba, was too young to rule. Thus the Moremi Game Reserve was officially proclaimed on 15 March 1963.
The Moremi Game Reserve is administered today by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks; it is a rich and fascinating area. The Moremi Game Reserve forms an intricate part of the Okavango Delta, comprising permanently swamped areas, seasonally swamped areas, and dryland.
Located on the northeast side of the delta, it is probably the prime tourist destination in Botswana, due to the fact that it encompasses several different types of ecological zones. The total surface area of this reserve is 1880 square miles, almost one-third the size of the Okavango Delta. The dryland areas of Moremi consist mainly of mopane veld and these giant mopane trees form the canopy woodland and lend an atmosphere unique to this area. The other main vegetation types are riverine woodland, floodplain grassland, and marginal woodland on the edges of the floodplains.
Teeming with bird life and wildlife makes Moremi a prime wildlife area where elephant, hippo, buffalo, lion, and most other game (including eland, kudu, roan antelope, and if you're lucky, even leopard) can be seen in abundance. Bird life (both in the delta and dry land sections) is excellent, especially along the Khwai River. During the dry season a congregation of all species, (bird and wildlife), along permanent rivers and water holes makes Moremi Game Reserve one of the most unforgettable wildlife experiences in Africa!
Khwai River Private Concession
The Khwai River is the eastern most extremity of the Okavango Delta. The Okavango itself is a large alluvial fan spreading out over the Kalahari sands. It is the single largest intact ecosystem in southern Africa and recently was awarded the World’s one-thousandth World Heritage site. Since there are no fences separating the Moremi Game Reserve, the Khwai River Community Reserve, and the Okavango game is free to wander throughout this vast territory. Taken together these areas are essentially one contiguous area designated for wildlife conservation.
The Khwai River Concession sits on the northern border of the Moremi Game Reserve. These two areas protect a wide diversity of habitat and boast some of the best game viewing in Africa. You’ll search for game on the dry land rising between vast wetlands and crystal-clear water channels on the edges of endless mopane and Kalahari Apple-leaf woodlands. Game viewing takes place in the forests and alongside waterways and flood plains, lined with African mangosteen, waterberry trees, and swaying seas of papyrus.
Khwai River is noted as an extremely game rich destination with plenty of predator action. Leopards are frequently sighted and there is an excellent opportunity to see African wild dog packs denning and hunting here. There are many bull elephants in the area, large pods of hippopotamus, aquatic antelope like red lechwe and water buck and good populations of giraffe and zebra. As the area is on the edge of the Okavango Delta, bird life is prolific with raptors, kingfishers, fish eagles, ducks and beautiful pygmy geese regularly seen.
Khwai River Community Area
Khwai Community Area is on concession adjacent to the north-eastern boundary of Moremi along the banks of the Khwai River. This community run reserve is managed by the Khwai Development Trust and is an excellent example of community conservation. The villages benefit from the campsites and lodges on their concession, creating an incentive for the local people to conserve the land and wildlife. The reserve protects 700 square miles of wilderness and with the river being the only source of water for miles, it is a magnet for wildlife.
A Video Introduction to the Moremi Game Reserve
