Moremi Game Reserve

Wildlife & Animals

Expert

Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Botswana.

Moremi Game Reserve offers excellent wildlife viewing on land and some good opportunities on water, although a mokoro trip is more about the experience than the animals you’ll see. Leopards, lions and, to a lesser extent, cheetahs are regularly sighted, while elephant, buffalo and many other prey species are also common. Both black and white rhino are present in the reserve, although spotting them is extremely rare. Wild dog sightings can be among the best in Africa.

ElephantAbundant

GiraffeCommon

HippoAbundant

BuffaloCommon

ZebraCommon

WildebeestCommon

White RhinoVery Rare

Black RhinoVery Rare

LionOccasional

LeopardOccasional

CheetahRare

HyenaOccasional

Wild DogOccasional

Wildlife Highlights

The Okavango Delta has terrific general wildlife, but the most common swamp-adapted animal is the otherwise rare red lechwe, which can be seen wading through water in big herds. The semi-aquatic sitatunga is harder to find but also present. Other unusual antelope include tsessebe, sable and roan. Spotted-necked and African clawless otters can sometimes be seen swimming in the channels.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The best time for watching wildlife in Moremi is during the dry months from July to October. This is when water levels are high and there is an influx of animals into the reserve. The best time for birding is during the wet months from November to April, although some tracks become impassable after heavy rains and some lodges close from January to March.