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Moremi Game Reserve
Since the relatively recent re-introduction of white Rhino to the Moremi Game Reserve, it has become famous as a place to see the Big 5 in Africa. It also covers about 20% of the Okavango Delta; allowing visitors to take boat safaris or traditional Mokoro safaris. However, it is the ‘dry’ areas of Moremi which steal the show. The Mopane tongue is known for its large elephant herds and beautiful mature forests; located between the Khwai and Mogogelo rivers. Chief Island only has a few wildlife lodges and the game viewing here is as good as anywhere in Botswana. This area has built its reputation as one of the best African wild dog locations in Botswana; but when it comes to predators, there is much more to see. Unusually for an area close to the Okavango Delta, there are good sightings of Cheetah. Lions are also relatively plentiful, as are spotted Hyena and there is always a chance of leopard; although, their activity is much more nocturnal.
Popular Itineraries in botswana
This exciting 12-day adventure takes in some of Northern Botswana’s most prolific parks, including Moremi, the private Khwai concession and Botswana’s jewel in the crown; Savute. Before finishing on the Chobe Riverfront in Chobe National Park.
All locations offer excellent photographic and wildlife viewing opportunities. Where the predators, including lion, leopard and wild dog are regularly seen. The areas are also a haven for other wildlife, such as elephant, hippo, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, lechwe, kudu and many other iconic African mammals and of course a vast array of bird species.
With a large well-equipped game vehicles for a maximum group size of 6 people there is plenty of room assured for each guest. This tour will be characterized by maximising time in the field to take advantage of all available wildlife viewing opportunities. Fully supported camping ensures long days in the parks enjoying wildlife and a warm and friendly welcome back at camp in the evening.
Best time to visit Botswana on safari?
One of the best times to visit Botswana for wildlife is the dry season which runs approximately from June to October. This is the best time to see the predators in Botswana; as they share the same depleting water resources as their prey and it is at the lagoons and still flowing rivers where the majority of the hunting action takes place. We can also witness large bull elephants in Chobe national park and take a peaceful Mokoro safari looking for Hippo’s, giant crocs and a wonderful diversity of birdlife in the Okavango Delta. Temperatures will climb steadily throughout this period and reach their peak in October, but the game viewing in Botswana will remain vibrant throughout. We will have the chance to see African Wild Dogs in Moremi or Khwai and some large prides of lions in Savuti.
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Always dreamed of a ‘real’ Botswana camping experience but worried it would be too basic. Believe me, having taken this exact safari in July 2022, this is as good as it gets for a quality Botswana safari, with the stunning private campsites, superb camping staff and excellent quality ensuite tents ensuring all you have to worry about is charging your camera and taking enough memory cards.
We focus on extended stays in Savuti, Moremi and Khwai with the genuine chance to see lions, leopards and African wild dogs. We were lucky enough to also see African wild cat and Serval in Khwai and expect to be surrounded by Elephants on the Chobe River, as we take you on a private boat safari just before sunset. Interested in our small group Botswana camping safari? Then contact Allan at Africa(at)wildlifetrails.co.uk
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This is a Botswana safari I have been thinking about designing for years and I am so excited that it has finally come to fruition. The annual Zebra migration through Botswana does not attract as much attention as the famous Wildebeest migration in East Africa, but in its own way it is equally special and also attracts the attention of many of Botswana’s apex predators.
Once the rains end and the salt pans at Makgadikgadi dry up (around April/May), tens of thousands of zebra migrate across the National Park to the banks of the Boteti River valley and remain there until the rains start again in late October/early November.
Our beautiful Botswana wildlife lodge, Leroo La Tau, is located on the banks of the Boteti River Valley so this significant and overwhelming migration arrives on their ‘doorstep’ during April/early May (depending on the years rain) and will remain in that area for the next 6 months or so.
As well as 4 nights at Leroo La Tau to witness the Zebra migration, we will also spend 3 nights at Camp Xakanaxa which is located on the boundary between the Okavango Delta and the world famous Moremi game reserve. It is one of the few camps which allows the perfect balance of water based activities and game drives at the same time. Moremi is one of the best places in Botswana to see lions, leopards and African wildlife dogs.
We will have large well-equipped game vehicles for a maximum group size of 6 people so each guest has a window seat and plenty of room for their camera equipment. This tour will be characterized by maximising time in the field to take advantage of all available wildlife viewing opportunities.
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Safari through the wilderness of Botswana. Experience the Okavango Delta by traditional dug-outs and the abundant wildlife of Moremi game reserve and Savuti. Explore Chobe NP by boat and enjoy wonderful views of Victoria Falls!
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If you enjoy the path less travelled and seeing a greater diversity of wildlife, then a camping safari to the edge of the Kalahari in Botswana could be for you. This 7 day bespoke Botswana wildlife holiday spends 3 nights each in Nxai and Madadakagdi Pans. There is plentiful resident wildlife in the Nxai Pan National Park which is mainly desert adapted species such as springbok, gemsbok, ostrich and brown hyena. During the summer months this population is swelled by elephant, zebra, eland, giraffe and wildebeest. The pans are one of the best places to see wild cheetahs in Botswana and prides of lions also follow the seasonal migrations.
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The chance to see African wild dogs, or African painted dogs as they are sometimes referred to, is high on many wildlife lovers wish list. It is important to remember that this is one of the rarest canids in the world and sadly is on the endangered ‘Red List’ of IUCN. Loss of habitat and human conflict are the main reasons for their decline; so it is more important than ever to conserve and protect the few remaining strong holds of this charismatic species. Over the years, Wildlife Trails have enjoyed considerable success in photographing this species and with this knowledge we have created safari holidays which visit the best places to see wild dogs at the right time of year.
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botswana's Animals
Best Time to Visit Moremi Game Reserve?
Overall the best time to visit Moremi is during the dry season from April-October. Although you are less likely to see rain at this time, the actual water levels in the Okavango Delta will peak by around August/September, due to the time it takes for the water to arrive from the Angolan Hills. The early part of the dry season sees cooler temperatures and plenty of wildlife action. For lovers of big cats, wild dogs and Africa’s predators, the hotter, dryer months of September and October are considered the best time to visit Moremi game reserve, as both prey and predators gather in the north of the park and areas like the Khwai river are full of game.
Moremi game reserve has a rich variety of different habitats, from vast floodplains to beautiful woodlands; seasonal rivers to dry desert sands – making it an ideal year-round Botswana safari destination. Consider the wet season in Moremi from November to March for fantastic birding and a chance to see African wild dogs preparing their dens for the arrival of new pups.
Moremi Safaris – a Great Variety of Ways to See Wildlife
Moremi game reserve has a richly deserved reputation as one of Botswana best places to see predators. Not only that, it offers greater flexibility and a greater variety of safari activities which really appeal to regular visitors to Africa who are looking for something different. Many of the wildlife lodges located in the private concessions in Moremi, offer off-road driving (carefully managed), nighttime drives and walking safaris to complement their regular activities. This means you can ‘target’ rarer species, such as Aardvark, Aardwolf and Leopard and maximise your time with a species if you are a serious wildlife photographer.
Moremi Game Reserve Accommodation – What’s the Right Choice for Me?
Since Moremi is in a great position to offer its visitors both activities associated with the Okavango Delta, as well as land-based activities, such as game drives and walking safaris, you might be tempted to choose the best lodge in Moremi for the best of both worlds. If you did, then we can certainly recommend Camp Moremi. This camp is right on the Xakanaxa lagoon, located inside the Moremi Game Reserve and offers boat safaris, Mokoro trips and game drives. The only downside is the lack of walking safaris and night time drives, but those are the regulations in the main Moremi game reserve.
If money is burning a hole in your pocket and you are happy to pay for a more luxurious bush experience, then staying at either Mombo or Chiefs camp could be the right choice for you. Mombo camp has been involved in a highly successful white rhino introduction project – the black rhino re-introduction here had limited success due to a smaller starting population – and can offer visitors the chance to see the big 5 in Botswana. Chief is a little less expensive than Mombo and comes highly recommended for its service levels and action-packed game drives.
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What
Our Clients Say About Us
This was a wonderful mobile camping trip visiting several areas of Botswana. It was my first time mobile camping and I absolutely loved it - even the 'long drop toilets'! To sit outside er the stars with no light pollution was incredible. We had some brilliant sightings, especially the elephants who we watched playing in the water for ages. Trips in between camps could be long but it was more like an extended game drive and didn't bother me in the least. The trip started off at Thamalakane River Lodge where we had a beautiful sunset over the river. It finished at Chobe River Lodge where we went on a boat trip - once again with wonderful sightings - and watched the sun go down. I could honestly have gone immediately back and done it all again! Kirsty and Allan of Wildlife Trails arranged this brilliant photographic tour for us and I will hopefully return again in the not too distant future. I thought the quality of both lodges and the mobile camp was excellent. We would go for a game drive on the morning of our departure to another camp and by the time we got to our new site the old camp had been dismantled and was re-assembled, ready for us to use, as soon as we got there - with food and drink awaiting! The staff were absolutely amazing and our chef created excellent food with seemingly no effort. This was extremely well arranged by Wildlife Trails with nothing being too much trouble for Allan or Kirsty.
On a safari trip I go with hopes and expectations, in this case they were exceeded which was a first. The vehicles used were modern and most importantly not crowded. The trip was a photographic ari and our hosts turned out to be expert wildlife photographers and I learnt a lot from them. The other part was fulfilled by our two local guides who had exemplary, knowledge and had the happy knack of putting us in the right place at the right time. This was a wild camping trip and the facilities again exceeded my expectations. The itinerary worked very well and enabled us to make the most of our time in Botswana. Wildlife trails created the environment that made the trip so good, I learned a lot about photography and the wildlife I went to see. For me the highest praise is that I was a returning customer and have already booked my next trip and that they are good value for money.
Everything went like clockwork . Superb organisation, transfers, border crossings, our guide and driver were excellent making sure we got everywhere on time and with little fuss, but lots of husiasm. They were very knowledgeable, friendly, good cooks and always happy to help. Our accommodation was excellent ranging from luxury to basic camping. Elephant Eye was luxury on stilts with fantastic views over the watering hole, watching the elephants, etc, especially when you were having a shower! The Bedouin camp will remain close to my heart. Camping in the bush giving you that real sense of being at one with nature! The countries we visited, the wonderful friendly people and cultures we experienced was just amazing. This holiday was a little gem, although Vic Falls is highly commercialised,( but still dramatically beautiful) The rest of the trip is off the tourist trail! Would recommend this trip to anyone wanting to spend there time watching wildlife. Great company, always happy to help, listen to what your needs are and deliver an itinerary that is perfect. Would highly recommend Wildlife Trails to anyone wanting a holiday full of wildlife and adventure!