Orientation

Moremi Game Reserve covers a large tract of the centre of the Okavango Delta, and a wide corridor stretching east to link that with Chobe National Park.

At the heart of Moremi is a long, permanent island, Chief's Island, oriented from southeast to northwest. At about 60km long and around 10km wide this is the largest island in the Delta, and it's usually cut off from the mainland by waterways and floodplains. Within the eastern side of Moremi is a triangular peninsula of dry land covered (mostly) in mopane trees, known as the 'Mopane Tongue'.

Between and around Chief's Island and the Mopane Tongue, Moremi is a mosaic of rivers, lagoons, floodplains and small islands which slowly and gradually change with the passage of time.

Maps

Once again, Veronica Roodt's definitive map of Moremi Game Reserve (see Further Reading) can't be recommended too highly for visitors to Moremi, and is essential for anyone planning a self-drive trip there.

Booking and parks fees

If you're flying into an organised camp, then parks fees will probably already be included in the price that you've paid. If you're driving in you'll need to have booked all your campsites in advance.

You'll need to have a copy (or preferably an original) of this confirmation with you, then you'll need to pay your parks fees on the gate when you arrive. Note that this is best done in pula, and that credit cards are never accepted.

Opening hours

The park's opening hours vary with the season, roughly corresponding to 'dusk 'til dawn'. This is when the park's gates and offices open, and you're not allowed to drive around the park before morning opening time, or after evening closing time.

Currently these are: December, January and February: 05.30–19.30; March, April and May: 06.00-19.00; June, July and August: 06.30–18.30; September, October and November: 06.00–19.00.

Moremi Reserve's regulations

With your entry permit and booking you'll usually be given a photocopied set of the park's regulations, which are worth familiarising yourself with before you get here.

Amongst the more notable ones is a strict ban on camping away from the campsites or without a valid permit; driving off-road; driving faster than 40km/h; walking away from your vehicle (except for designated campsites); or swimming anywhere.

You aren't allowed to bring any firewood into the reserve, or take any out. However you are allowed to collect it from within Moremi for your own use. Remember that, and collect it as you drive around during the day. If you forget to do so until you're setting up camp, you'll usually find the campsites devoid of even the smallest combustible dead twigs! (Needless to say, never take branches from living trees or bushes, however dead they may seem.)