Belmond Khwai River Lodge at Moremi Reserve – Botswana

About

Belmond Khwai River Lodge is a luxury tented lodge located in Moremi Game Reserve near the Khwai River in Botswana. It opened in 1971 by Harry Selby. It was one of the first safaris to open with an animal and bird conservation mission. Each tent has a deck to watch wildlife at your leisure, wildebeest, zebras, elephants, and more, making it a great spot to get the best wildlife photography. Moremi Reserve is home to three lodges total with a different experience, including a private island water safari experience. The reserve was established in 1963 and named after Chief Moremi of the BaTawana tribe. After he died, his widow became serious about animal and bird conservation here due to threats to the animals from hunting. It became the first and oldest protected reserve of the Okavango Delta. It was created with the intent of it being a game reserve instead of a national park. The reserve area itself is roughly 1,900 square miles, covering much of the eastern part of the Okavango Delta. The landscape can be surprising, with many dry areas and water or lagoon areas right next to each other. Some of the most popular animals to see here are the Cape buffalo, Angolan giraffe, black rhinoceros, lion, elephant, hippopotamus, zebra, and cheetah. However, the lagoons are popular spots for bird watching and bird photography. Some of the birds seen here include the African Fish Eagle, African Skimmer, Green-winged Pytilia, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, and the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill. Owen visited this lodge in September 2016.

© Mark Williams

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Birds found here

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  Lilac-breasted Roller

  
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  Meves’s Starling

  
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  Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

  
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  Verreaux’s Eagle-owl

  
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  Wattled Crane