Wilderness Botswana

Moremi Game Reserve

The beating heart of Botswana’s wilderness, where iconic safari experiences unfold in the Okavango Delta’s most wildlife-rich reserve.

Welcome to the Moremi

Welcome to the heart of wild Botswana. The Moremi Game Reserve is one of the most diverse and rewarding ecosystems in Africa, and Wilderness is proud to call it home. Set within the Okavango Delta, Moremi is a place where conservation and adventure intertwine. Here, you'll find the iconic Chief's Island and the contrasting beauty of the Mopane Tongue, both offering a safari experience unlike any other.

 

This is not a guide for self-drivers or campers. It's a gateway into the beating pulse of the Moremi through the eyes of Wilderness – designed for travellers who seek luxury, seclusion, and world-class wildlife sightings, in untamed settings.

Wild dogs are a thrill to see at Wilderness Mombo

Mombo – heart of the Moremi

It is often said that as soon as you walk out onto the main deck at Mombo and view the floodplain dotted with multiple mixed species of game, you understand why Mombo is known as The Place of Plenty.

 

Situated at the Northern tip of Chief's Island, the largest landmass in the Okavango Delta, the camp's elegant design complements its magnificent surroundings, with the spacious, luxurious tents - each sporting a private sala and plunge pool - raised off the ground to maximise the views of the floodplains. The game viewing here is exceptional with abundant plains game and predators never far away, from leopard and spotted hyena to large prides of lion.

This is Mombo
Place of plenty Mombo game drive sighting lions and elephants

Feel the Delta’s heartbeat

It's not about ticking boxes. It's about deep immersion in a place few will ever know as you will.

Mombo Camp

What and Where is the Moremi Game Reserve?

The Moremi Game Reserve encompasses nearly a third of the Okavango Delta and is the only officially protected area within it. Covering around 5,000km², it includes permanent swamps, seasonal floodplains, woodlands, and savannah. The Moremi is located in north-eastern Botswana, bordering Chobe National Park and the Khwai Community Concession.

 

Wilderness guests access the Moremi by light aircraft from Maun or Kasane (approx. 30 mins) with Wilderness Air. Flights land at the Mombo private airstrip near camp – remote, yet effortless.

 

A detailed tourist map of the Moremi typically includes Chief's Island, the Mopane Tongue, Xakanaxa, and Khwai. Wilderness Mombo is set in a private traversing area, where we offer a truly exclusive experience.

Mombo’s setting within the Moremi 

Wilderness Mombo is set in one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife environments, on the north-eastern tip of Chief’s Island in the heart of the Okavango Delta – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and Botswana’s renowned Moremi Game Reserve.  Mombo is fondly referred to as the Place of Plenty, with the camp’s name derived from the local Yei language, in celebration of its astonishingly high density and diversity of wildlife, including elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo. The camp is situated where the main Okavango River splits into its primary channels, creating sweeping, palm-studded floodplains, sparkling expanses of water dotted with waterlilies, and islands fringed by ebony, sycamore fig, and mangosteen trees. 

 

The geography here is quintessential Okavango, shaped by the annual inundation that brings life to this otherwise arid region. Tectonic activity formed Chief’s Island into the largest landmass in the Delta. It acts as a refuge for wildlife during the seasonal inflow, resulting in exceptional concentrations of plains game and predators alike. The camp’s privileged position within this verdant landscape offers some of the most thrilling and consistent game viewing in Africa.

A man in a hat holds a tablet while standing next to large tree branches, with a baobab in the background.

Conservation in the Moremi

Protecting ancient baobabs

Discover how Wilderness is protecting ancient baobabs in the Okavango Delta, ensuring these iconic trees thrive for future generations. With its unmistakable silhouette and remarkable resilience, the baobab tree is one of Africa’s most iconic species. Old and gnarled, their spongy interiors bloat and bulge as time passes and the environment changes around them.

Discover how Wilderness is protecting ancient baobabs in the Okavango Delta, ensuring these iconic trees thrive for future generations. With its unmistakable silhouette and remarkable resilience, the baobab tree is one of Africa’s most iconic species. As they age and  become more gnarled, their spongy interiors bloat and bulge as time passes and the environment changes around them.

 

Those with a botanical interest may know it as Adansonia digitata; others may know it as the Tree of Life, the dead-rat tree, the monkey-bread tree or perhaps the upside-down tree. In Botswana, it is called mowana.

 

Baobabs can live for thousands of years, storing vast amounts of water in their swollen trunks to withstand the harshest droughts. Their bark is fire-resistant, and their fibrous wood can regenerate even after significant damage. Baobabs play a vital role in their ecosystem, providing food and shelter to a multitude of species, from fruit bats to elephants.

Preserving baobabs in the Okavango Delta
A herd of Buffalo at Mombo
Lion Pride At Mombo Moremi Botswana

Chief's Island: A private wildlife theatre

In the dry season, animals are drawn here from the surrounding floodplains. Elephants. Buffalo. Giraffe. And the predators that follow: lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, hyena. This is one of the best places in Africa to see predator-prey interactions in action.

 

As the point of origin for the famed annual inundation, Chief’s Island is the entry point for the waters, their convergence with the land depositing essential minerals and vitamins, making it the richest soil in the Delta.

Safari activities in Moremi

Within Wilderness's private traversing areas in the Moremi, guests enjoy a variety of experiences.

What animals can I see in the Moremi?

The Moremi is famed for its biodiversity. Here's just a taste of what you might see on safari with Wilderness.
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Leopard perched in a tree Wilderness Vumbura

Mombo leopards

Legadima’s legacy

If the name Mombo can be associated with one particular animal, the ‘poster child’ for that species is surely Legadima the leopard. Her story has become the stuff of legend, and the documentary 'Eye of the Leopard' about her life at Mombo, illustrates how leopards in Botswana are protected. See them when you visit Mombo.

Mombo's Leopards

A safari with Wilderness in the Moremi

Unlike self-drive or public camping safaris, Wilderness has the privilege of operating Mombo, a luxury camp in a remote, private traversing area within the Moremi on Chief’s Island. That means…

No crowds. No convoys.
Place of plenty Mombo game drive sighting lions and elephants
Off-road access for intimate sightings.
A tasty picnic spread at Wilderness Mombo
Speak to your guide about an extended morning game drive, bush picnic included.
Wilderness Mombo Botswana Camp Exterior Floodplains
Small camps with low guest-to-land ratios.
Wilderness Mombo Botswana Accommodation Boma Evening
Conservation-led hospitality.
Place of plenty Mombo game drive sighting lions and elephants
A tasty picnic spread at Wilderness Mombo
Wilderness Mombo Botswana Camp Exterior Floodplains
Wilderness Mombo Botswana Accommodation Boma Evening
Wilderness Davisons Zimbabwe Activities Game Drive

Game drives

No night drives as Moremi is a national park.

Game Drives
Wilderness Magashi Woodland Kingfisher

Birdwatching

Migrant species peak in May and November.

Birding
Wilderness Mombo Botswana Activities Heli

Helicopter flip

A unique aerial view of this extraordinary inland delta.

Helicopter Safari
Wilderness Kings Pool Botswana Activities Stargazing

Star gazing

See the Milky Way in some of the darkest skies on Earth.

Star gazing

We tailor each day to you - no fixed itineraries, only opportunity

Weather & when to visit

The Okavango Delta reveals a different face with each season – and nowhere is that more profound than in the Moremi. Whether you're drawn to crisp mornings with golden light or the drama of summer storms rolling across the floodplains, timing your journey shapes the stories you'll tell.

Dry Season (May to October)

  • Cool, dry weather with crystal-clear skies
  • Exceptional big game viewing as wildlife concentrates near permanent water
  • Peak predator sightings on Chief’s Island — lions, wild dogs, and leopards on the move

Green Season (November to April)

  • Lush landscapes, newborn wildlife, and migratory birds in full colour
  • Striking contrasts — from electric skies to emerald floodplains
  • More solitude, fewer vehicles — a time for those who seek silence

There is no wrong time to visit Moremi – only different ways to feel its magic. Many Wilderness travellers return across seasons to witness the full spectrum of life in the Delta.

Find out more about the seasons here

Wilderness Mombo & Little Mombo

Perched at the northern tip of the island, Wilderness Mombo is known as The Place of Plenty. Guests can expect to see extraordinary wildlife without even leaving the deck. Just nearby, Little Mombo offers the same wild access with an even more intimate footprint.
5 star luxury welcomes you to Wilderness Mombo Okavango Delta
Wilderness Mombo

Experience Wilderness Botswana’s flagship luxury safari camp – Mombo Camp, in arguably Southern Africa’s finest wildlife area.

Explore Camp
Wilderness Little Mombo Botswana Suite Exterior
Little Mombo

Intimate Little Mombo in Botswana’s Okavango Delta beckons. Bring your loved ones for an unforgettable safari.

Explore Camp

Frequently asked questions

Geography

Wildlife & ecology

Where to stay

Logistics

Mombo id designed with nature in mind with the colours and materials

Plan Your Journey

Whether you're drawn to the drama of Chief's Island or the quiet beauty of the Mopane Tongue, a safari in the Moremi with Wilderness is more than a holiday – it's a homecoming to the wild.

Speak to one of our Travel Designers to start crafting your tailor-made safari.
The male lion is the king of the Wilderness

Let’s plan your next journey

Ready?

When we say we’re there every step of the way, we mean it, literally. From planning the perfect circuit, to private inter-camp transfers on Wilderness Air, and easing you through Customs. We’re with you on the ground, at your side, 24-7, from start to finish. Ready to take the road less travelled? Contact our Travel Designers to plan an unforgettable journey.