Understanding Moremi vs the Okavango - what is the difference?

Moremi Game Reserve is one of Botswana’s premier safari areas and forms part of the greater Okavango Delta ecosystem. Established in 1963 by the Batawana people, it was the first game reserve in Africa to be established by local residents. Today, it covers roughly 3,900 km² across the eastern and central Okavango, including the Moremi Tongue and the renowned Chief’s Island. The reserve is a remarkable combination of permanent waterways, seasonal floodplains, lagoons, islands, open grasslands and woodland, creating an exceptionally rich and diverse habitat for wildlife.

The private concessions of the Okavango Delta are areas outside the main Moremi Game Reserve that have been allocated for wildlife conservation and tourism. The landscapes are essentially part of the same greater Okavango ecosystem, with the same combination of woodland, grassland, floodplains, lagoons and channels. The difference is primarily how the areas are managed and accessed. Private concessions do not have public campsites and are not open to general visitors. They are generally large areas with only a small number of safari camps, meaning that visitor and vehicle numbers are naturally much lower and the experience is considerably more exclusive.

Moremi itself is a public game reserve and, although there are restrictions on the number of campsites and permits, visitor numbers at wildlife sightings are not tightly controlled. During busy periods, particularly when lodges and campsites are full, there can therefore be a number of vehicles gathering around particularly good sightings. In Moremi, vehicles must remain on established tracks and guests must stay in their vehicles except in designated areas or when accompanied by an authorised guide. Walking safaris are therefore generally not possible, and night game drives are not permitted for ordinary visitors. Boating is also restricted to certain waterways and areas, while traditional mokoro and canoeing activities are limited compared with the private concessions further into the Delta.

Moremi is also a particularly popular route for mobile and overland safaris. These itineraries often travel through Moremi, using a combination of public and private campsites, before continuing north through the Khwai area and on towards Savuti and the Chobe River. This makes Moremi an excellent choice for a more traditional, adventurous safari and for travellers who enjoy the freedom and value offered by mobile camping.

The name Moremi has become particularly well known through wildlife documentaries and years of international exposure. As a result, clients will sometimes specifically ask to visit Moremi without realising that they are already visiting the same broader ecosystem when staying in an Okavango Delta private concession. Ecologically, there is no clear dividing line between “Moremi” and “the Okavango”; the distinction is largely one of land management, access and the type of safari experience offered.

For clients choosing between the two, I would describe Moremi as excellent for classic Okavango game viewing, with a wider range of accommodation and more affordable camping options, but with a more public safari experience. The private concessions, by contrast, offer fewer camps, fewer vehicles and a much greater sense of exclusivity. Because the concessions are managed for tourism and conservation, many allow activities that are restricted in Moremi, including off-road tracking, night drives and walking safaris. This flexibility, combined with the low density of camps and visitors, creates a quieter and more intimate wilderness experience and is one of the main reasons why many of the Okavango's most exclusive safari camps are located in private concessions.

Ultimately, Moremi and the private concessions are not different ecosystems—they are different ways of experiencing the same extraordinary Okavango wilderness. Moremi can be ideal for a first-time or more budget-conscious safari, while a private concession is generally the preferred option for travellers looking for exclusivity, flexibility and a more immersive wilderness experience.