Chief’s Island

Located in the Moremi Game Reserve, Chief’s Island is the largest island in Botswana’s famed Okavango Delta, offering travellers a truly unique safari experience in southern Africa. This landmass measures 70 km (43 miles) long and 15 km (nine miles) wide and is renowned for its dense wildlife populations, which include the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes).

If you’re looking for an exclusive and immersive safari holiday filled with thrilling game drives and memorable activities, make sure to add Chief’s Island to your Botswana safari travel list.

Top Destinations in Chief’s Island

For exceptional game-viewing opportunities and diverse habitats, these are the top destinations we recommend to Botswana safari goers:

Mombo Concession: Big Five Destination

The Mombo Concession is an area within Moremi Game Reserve and one of the best places for big game spotting in the whole of southern Africa!

Consisting of large wetland spaces, channels lined with papyrus, as well as grasslands, the concession supports the Big Five, giraffes, zebras, and hyenas. Cheetahs and wild dogs have been seen here, but they’re harder to find. This is one of the best places to see both the black and white rhino.

Moremi Game Reserve: Home to Endangered Species

Moremi Game Reserve is the oldest protected reserve in the Okavango Delta and provides diverse habitats and an abundance of wildlife to see. Some of the most vulnerable and endangered African species call this reserve home, including white and black rhinos, wild dogs, and lions.

Moremi also boasts over 500 species of birds, making this destination a fantastic choice for twitchers. Activities in this reserve include game drives, birdwatching, and mokoro safaris, which are safari tours in dugout canoes, giving travellers a different perspective of animals as they drink and play in the water.

When’s the Best Time to Visit Chief’s Island?

Generally, the best time to go on an African safari is during the dry season, as this is when many water sources dry up, forcing animals to congregate around the remaining lakes, rivers, and waterholes. Along with the less lush landscapes, this makes spotting animals easy.

The dry season in Chief’s Island runs from May to October, with temperatures ranging from 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit) to 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).

Animals Found on Chief’s Island

Chief’s Island is home to the Big Five and one of the best places in Botswana to see the black and white rhino. During a safari here, you could also spot blue wildebeest, Burchell’s zebras, and spotted hyenas, with cheetahs and wild dogs being a bit more elusive.

When it comes to birds, twitchers will be kept busy with the large variety of birdlife found here, with iconic species including Pel’s fishing owl, slaty egret, white-backed night heron, African fish eagle, and malachite kingfisher.

How to Get to Chief’s Island

To reach the remote wilderness of Chief’s Island, travellers first arrive at Botswana’s Maun International Airport. From there, you’ll catch a light aircraft flight to Xakanaxa Airstrip, after which you’ll be transferred to one of the luxury lodges on the island.