Moremi Game Reserve
The land side of the delta — mopane forests, lagoons and the country's best predator density: Moremi is the holy grail of African self-driving.
Suggested stay — 2 to 3 nights
Moremi protects the eastern Okavango: a chequerboard of floodplains, forests and lagoons where lions, leopards, hyenas and one of Africa's last great wild dog populations thrive. No tar here and no fences: sand and mud tracks, log bridges, and mythic campsites (Third Bridge, Xakanaxa) where hyenas patrol between the tents.
It is a commitment safari: an equipped, autonomous 4x4 (water, fuel, recovery gear), campsites booked long ahead with the concession operators, and attentive driving — you get bogged in Moremi the way you get punctures in Namibia, statistically.
Don't miss
- Third Bridge and its log crossings, southern Africa's most famous campsite
- The Xakanaxa lagoons, a concentrate of birds and hippos
- The wild dog stakeout in early dry season (denning in June-July)
- The North Gate/Khwai sector, where the river lines up elephants and predators at dusk
Our tips on the ground
- Book the campsites BEFORE building the itinerary: they are the scarce resource.
- Food and rubbish locked in the vehicle: baboons by day, hyenas by night — it runs like clockwork.
- Ask each camp about the water crossings and wade them on foot (where safe) before committing the vehicle.
Our flagship guide — €44
Guide available“Botswana on Your Own”, the complete edition, is out
10 chapters: day-by-day itineraries, driving and transport, a costed budget and checklists — the same method as our Namibia guide.
The guide is currently written in French — an English edition is in the works.
Before you go
Readers' questions about Moremi Game Reserve
Is Moremi feasible on a first 4x4 trip?
Yes if you already have sand/mud driving experience or travel in convoy with a seasoned crew; no as an absolute first, solo. The wise alternative: base at Khwai (the neighbouring community area) with guided drives, or hire a guide-escort for the first two days.
How does it differ from Kruger or Etosha?
No infrastructure: no tar, no fences, no fuel station or shop inside the reserve. The reward: ten cars a day where Kruger counts a thousand, and the intact feeling of an original Africa.