Game reserve
Moremi Game Reserve
The protected heart of the eastern Okavango Delta: lagoons, floodplains and islands with wild dog, lion, leopard and superb birding.
4,836 km² · 2 gates · 22 campsites · Run by Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), Botswana
About the park
Moremi covers just under 5,000 km² of the eastern Okavango Delta, only about a third of it dry land, including Chief's Island and the Moremi Tongue. The mix of permanent channels, seasonal floodplains, lagoons, mopane and riverine forest supports almost every big species in the region: red lechwe in large herds, elephant and buffalo, lion and leopard, a well-studied wild dog population and reintroduced rhino, plus nearly 500 bird species. You can self-drive between the public campsites at South Gate, Xakanaxa, Third Bridge and North Gate (Khwai), take mokoro or boat trips where the water allows, or fly in to the lodges. It suits confident 4x4 drivers who are happy with water crossings, and anyone who wants the Delta without a fly-in budget. The catch is the water: high floods and heavy rain wash out tracks and close sections for weeks, so check the route status before you go.
Highlights
- Game drives around Xakanaxa's lagoons and floodplains
- Third Bridge, a rustic campsite among papyrus on the Sekiri River
- A mokoro trip through the reed channels
- Looking for wild dog in the mopane between South Gate and Xakanaxa
- Birding on the lagoons, best from November to April
Good to know
- Just under 5,000 km², about 30% dry land, in the eastern Okavango Delta
- Proclaimed in 1963 by the BaTawana; a game reserve, not a national park
- Public campsites at South Gate, Xakanaxa, Third Bridge and North Gate/Khwai, run by private operators
- 4x4 essential; snorkel and recovery gear advised for water crossings
- No night drives or walking inside the reserve
Wildlife you may see
- African wild dog
- Red lechwe
- Lion
- Leopard
- Elephant
- Cape buffalo
- Hippo
- Giraffe
- Spotted hyena
- White and black rhino (reintroduced, rarely seen)
- African fish eagle
Sightings are never guaranteed.
When to go
Open: 1 Apr–30 Sep 06:00–18:30; 1 Oct–31 Mar 05:30–19:00
Best time: July to October for game; November to April for birds; many tracks close January to March
Gates
- Moremi North Gate (Khwai)Open: Apr–Sep 06:00–18:30, Oct–Mar 05:30–19:00Per adult per day (2022 tariff, still charged in 2026): non-residents P270, Botswana residents and SADC nationals P205, citizens P30; children half, under-8s free; plus a daily vehicle fee, higher for foreign plates. Entry needs a confirmed campsite booking with the private operator (North Gate: SKL). Pay in pula cash here, or by card in advance at the wildlife office in Maun.At Khwai village, on the Khwai River. No fuel in the reserve; the nearest is Maun. Tracks get very muddy January–March. The wooden bridges limit vehicles to under 5 tonnes. Ask at the gate about the Third Bridge–Xakanaxa crossing, which is often out of service.
- Moremi South GateOpen: Apr–Sep 06:00–18:30, Oct–Mar 05:30–19:00Per adult per day (2022 tariff, still charged in 2026): non-residents P270, Botswana residents and SADC nationals P205, citizens P30; children half, under-8s free; plus a daily vehicle fee, higher for foreign plates. Entry needs a confirmed campsite booking with the private operator (South Gate, Xakanaxa: Kwalate; Third Bridge: Xomae). Pay in pula cash here, or by card in advance in Maun.Also called Maqwee Gate; the usual entry from Maun. No fuel in the reserve; fill up in Maun. Tracks get very muddy January–March. The wooden bridges limit vehicles to under 5 tonnes. Ask at the gate about the Third Bridge–Xakanaxa crossing, which is often out of service.
Gate times change with the seasons: check with Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), Botswana before you travel.
Campsites
- Black Pool BOGACampsite4.1
- Boga Camp Site MagweqwanaCampsite4.5
- Boga site 1Campsite4.1
- Boga site second bridgeCampsite4.5
- HATABCampsite4.5
- Hatab 9Campsite4.5
- Hatab Camp Mgr 13 Hidden Lagoon ClosedCampsite
- Hatab MGR 15Campsite4.5
- Hatab MGR 2Campsite4.4
- Kwai North Gate CampCampsite4.1US$50 pp/night
- MGR 8Campsite4.5
- MGR7Campsite3.8
- MGR8Campsite
- Restricted site MGR 12Campsite4.5
- SMOX 1Campsite4.5
- SMOX 2Campsite4.5
- South Gate (Maqwee) CampsiteCampsite3.7US$40 pp/night
- Tawana LodgeLodge camping4.9
- Third Bridge CampgroundCampsite4.4P561 pp/night
- Xakanaxa Camp SiteCampsite4.5
- Xini Lagoon Campsite Mgr 14Campsite4.4
- Xini Restricted SiteCampsite4.4
Park fees
| citizen | P30 per person day |
| resident | P205 per person day |
| regional | P205 per person day |
| international | P270 per person day |
DWNP Category A park fee per person per day, charged on arrival and departure days; vehicle fee extra; campsites booked with their private operators first.
Places to see
- Dombo Hippo Poolpicnic spotRaised viewing platform over a hippo-packed pool, about 14 km south-west of Moremi's North Gate.