The Moremi Game Reserve making covering about a quarter of the Okavango Delta is one of the richest and diverse game reserve in Africa. The peninsular land meeting the delta’s water channels makes a picturesque scene that boasts a rich wildlife and birdlife.
The game reserve is named after the Batawana tribe chief Moremi III who along with the local tribe protected the reserve making it the first reserve in Africa to be established by the local population. Excellent game trail safaris, mokoro (dugout canoe) trips makes an excellent safari experience in the vast wilderness.
Landscape
The semi-arid region of the eastern side of the Okavango Delta comprises the Moremi Game Reserve. Serving the best of wetlands and drier areas, Moremi Game Reserve offers a stunning landscape of forests, grasslands, lagoons, waterholes and inland islands. The rainy season sees the vast area of wetlands with papyrus-lined channels and floating water lilies with the thick vegetation around the waterfront leading to an excellent view during the canoeing safaris. The dusty floodplain terrain in the summer sees less water concentrating around the narrow channels and waterholes attracts large wildlife. Chiefs Island and the Moremi Tongue, the prominent feature of the game reserve offers excellent game viewing.
Wildlife
The perennial and seasonal wetlands offers one of the Africa’s best wildlife game in the delta. The marshlands of the reserve becomes a breeding ground to a large variety of birds and many reptiles and fish species have adapted to the swamp conditions. Moremi is home to about 500 species of bird including the African fish eagle, crested crane, slaty egret, wattled cranes and sacred ibis. The large flock of birds that covers the sunset forms an astonishing view. The dry season resulting in scant water around the water holes, narrow channels where hippopotamus are seen attracts the large herds of elephants, buffaloes, impala, giraffe, Blue Wildebeest, springbok and many other herbivorous animals. Pride of lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals are commonly seen along with the rarely seen endangered wild dogs and recently introduced white rhinos.
Climate
The dry season that follows from April to October begins with pleasant morning around the lush green vegetation of the spring in April. Although dry and hot throughput the season, June and July are relatively cooler months that progresses into hotter days in the subsequent months. The temperature goes up to 34°C/93°F in October resulting hot and humid condition. The wet season that runs from November to March sees the afternoon thunderstorms and are still relatively hot for most of the day while the nights are cooler temperature dropping to 18°C/64°F.
Best time to visit
Famously referred to as the Garden of Eden, the Moremi Game Reserve with its enticing landscape fusing marshlands and the dry area offers diverse and spectacular wildlife and birdlife. Everything from the rich vegetation, dazzling lagoons, savannah to the Africa’s big five that roam the region makes the Moremi Game Reserve an excellent outing. .