Moremi Game Reserve
The Moremi Game Reserve is adjacent
to and partially surrounded by the Okavango Delta. It offers excellent
game viewing providing a kind of bridge between the permanent Delta
and the Mopane woodlands. Game
movements in this area are highly seasonal and are dictated by the
availability (mostly) of grazing and water. In the dry season, game
moves out of the arid hinterland (even if grazing is abundant) and
closer to surface water along the Chobe river and in the Okavango.
The longer the dry season persists, the more game tends to congregate
near water.
Once rain falls and the first sprouts
of green can soon be expected game leaves the water, seeks out distant
grazing in places where it knows rain water will have collected
in natural depressions (called pans). Thus, in the Okavango, in
the dry season, game is likely to be most plentiful, between April/May
and November.
However, because the Delta is
so large and water so abundant, game is widely spread. On the other
hand, it is also confined, mostly, to Chief's Island, a long tongue
of land that penetrates deep between two river systems, more thon
120km from Maun, into the delta. Moremi Game Reserve has recently
been enlarged to include all of Chief's Island. The northbank of
the Khwai River is also an important game viewing area.
You can certainly expect to see impala, kudu, zebra, wildebeest,
buffalo, giraffe and elephant as well as a host of other animals.
To do so from a mokoro makes the experience especially authentic
and memorable. This Reserve, of some 3000 square kilometres is approximately
100km from Maun and, although some of the route has recently been
tarred, a four–wheel–drive is needed. There are a wide
range of habitats in Moremi; from riparian woodlland, floodplain,
reed beds, permanent wetland through mopane forest to dry savanna
woodland. The circular road system will take you through them all
although it will probably he in the floodplains that you will see
most animals.
Moremi is one of the most beautiful Reserves in Africa and at any
time of the year, game is prolific (although what is seen obviously
varies with the season).
In addition to large herds of buffalo, elephant, giraffe and many
species of antelope, one has a good chance of seeing leopard, lion,
cheetah and wild dog.
For birding enthusiasts, not only does the woodland offer a wide
range of species but the chance to drive to the edges of large lagoons
which offer fantastic birding. There are many species of ducks and
geese, as well as an amazing variety of heron.
|
