In time, and with water, everything changes.
Leonardo Da Vinci
In 2016, and with Our Afrika Safaris
Wishes for a Happy New Year!
The Moremi Game Reserve and Wilderness’ Jao Camp
The Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta is a world treasure. It was made possible today through the brilliant foresight yesterday of Mrs. Pulane Moremi, ruler of the Batawana tribe and widow of Chief Moremi III.
In 1963 with her tribe’s blessings, she took action to stop the uncontrolled hunting on tribal landholdings in the central and eastern Okavango Delta, and created a unique structure to protect that same precious wilderness from future destruction. Her solution was to designate an entire third of tribal lands as a game reserve – in perpetuity. The Botswana government, shortly thereafter, outlawed all hunting in the Okavango Delta.
The Moremi Game Reserve is the wonderful result of the Regent’s actions implemented over half a century ago. Considered Southern Africa’s most spectacular game park, The Moremi Game Reserve counts “Africa’s ‘Big Five” – African elephant, Cape Buffalo, leopard, lion and rhino – among its prolific variety of wildlife. Indeed, their presence distinguishes The Moremi by its accolade, “Predator Capital of Southern Africa.”
While both an early and spectacular triumph for wilderness conservation, her actions established the first-ever, tribe-administered game park in southern Africa. It is considered a highly successful venture in sustainable tourism management.
The Moremi’s varied ecosystems comprise pristine wetlands, sweeping landscapes, inspired woodlands and diverse habitats across some 1900 square miles. Wildlife roams freely, safe from human predators, though safari photographers consistently immortalize its wildlife list on film, video and in pixels. That list includes cheetah, spotted hyena, painted dog, black-backed and side-striped jackal, African wildcat, southern giraffe, blue wildebeest, plains zebra, waterbuck, impala, hippopotamus, Nile crocodile, water monitor, four mongoose varieties and wide-ranging array of raptors and water birds.
The Moremi offers yet another incomparable land mass that was formerly Chief Moremi’s royal hunting grounds. Known as Chief’s Island and located in the very heart of the Okavango Delta, this area offers an incomparable beauty that epitomizes the African soul. Its aura and heartbeat emanate the magic of nature undisturbed. It personifies that travel adage, ‘Take only photos. Leave no footprints.’
It is here on Chief’s Island that Wilderness’ Jao Camp resides. Here, where the last stop on Our Afrika Safaris’ “Spirit of Botswana Journey” will call home. This stunning camp is built on raised walkways. They were conceived and created to respect the immediacy of wildlife in the bush while they contribute to the sensory experience that defines this luxury safari camp.
Dumela!