Hello Daniel, I have been to Moremi on guided tours before but never on a self-drive tour. How do I book the campsites directly? If I Google the sites I usually end up on the page of some company that could book it for me. But they are charging enormous fees. What campsites do you recommend, if we come from savuti and want to stay in Moremi for a few nights on different campsites? Thank you!
@@USAandDE Hey there - this is why im now writing a "how-to" ebook on selfdrive. Botswana isnt great for this, and yeah, they charge a lot! I usually just rock up at the gate and hope for the best. This is a good idea in the low season, and next to impossible in the high season (also why I ususally stay there in the low season). I dont really know how to book online in moremi, but the communities there have their own "receptions" at some camps. try www.khwaitrust.co.bw/ and if you can, book Maghoto. They are the best camps. Best of luck!
@@USAandDE Id contact them via the site - thats the community camps. the campsites at the gates is a different company (and more expensive) but you can ask there as well.
Amazing, been looking for in-depth info like this, fantastic work! Driving Kampala to Cape Town and wanted the pleasure of driving my own Land Rover in the Moremi Game Reserve. Great cinematography, concise info, thanks for putting this together!
Thanks a bunch Mark! Yep, its a great idea to become friends with and talk to the guides. They know a lot about the areas they operate in, and are awesome people!
Hi Daniel, thanks for sharing your knowledge of the Khwai area. Great pics and videos. We are doing a trip later this year to Nxai Pans, Khwai, Moremi, Magotho, and Savuti. How much fuel did you carry for the Maun to Chobe trip, and how many days did you spend in the Khwai, Mogotho area? How many camera batteries did you use per day? What focal lengths did you use the most in this area? Your eye-level shots of the lions are incredible. Did you use a mini-tripod or monopod to drop your camera to eye level? Thanks for taking the time to respond. I will be watching your Nxai Pan, Savuti, and Chobe travel next. Happy travels.
Hey Quentin, youre welcome! I had 130 litres of petrol in total. Spent about 4 days there, its great! I had 4 batteries, and an inverter hooked up in the car so one battery was always on charge. I have a monopod from ifootage which is great! It the cobra 2 carbon fibre. Thanks for watching, and have a great trip in the bush. Khwai area is super
Yep, pretty much. So bring extra with you. There might be petrol available in Khwai village, but no guarantee. Ask around for Pat Brown if youre there. He usually keeps extra and sells to those in need at reasonable prices! Cheers for watching!
Hello Daniel, great video and good advice. I have read that as a self-driver you have to have a reservation for one of the campsites to enter the Moremi Game Reserve? Is that correct? And is it better to pay the entrance fee in advance at the DWNP office in Maun or at the entrance gate to the reserve? Or does it not matter?
Hey Thomas, id say whatever floats your boat in terms of payment. You dont have to have a campsite reservation to enter the reserve. You can do that as a day visitor no problem. For campsites, id book in advance to be sure. They ahve a card machine at the gate these days, but it isnt always working so bring cash. A better campsite near south gate is Kazikinii. Its community run and youre right in the middle of everything there as well
Great video thanks for posting. I did a two week self drive camping safari in Namibia in October 2022. Maybe Botswana next. I was under the impression that the park fees had to be purchased in Maun? Thanks again.
Hey thanks! That varies all the time, but in Africa, I use a 100-400mm lens on a 50MP camera so I can crop in rather than lugging along a superheavy, superexpensive lens. It gets the job done! So I reccomend a lens like that. I have a video on the camera and setup I used, and also another video about recommended wildlife photography gear from budget to high end. Recommend you check those videos out. Cheers for watching :)
I do have some drone footage from way back when. But I stopped bringing drones years ago because of the registration hassle. Difficult to get the permits in Bots.
Hi Daniel, Thank you for the reply and confirmation. It was a consideration to bring one with me visiting from overseas, but the effort doesn't seem to out way the hassle. cheers.
@@georgevesely1314 I wouldnt bother - if they check your luggage, theyd take it these days, and youd ofc get it back, but then whats the point. Besides there are so many restrictions anyways. Cheers for watching!
Hey Daniel, what's the best way too get campsites in Moremi GR & Kgalagadi TP which is on our to do list . I've done a couple trips to Moremi & planning another maybe in high season 2024 & really had a hard time get reservations. Having to go with a third party which cost twice as much!! Then arrive @ the campsite & some else is in it. Seems you can pay cash to the campground host & they'll say park where you want. We had that happen at Third bridge & North Gate. First one moved for us, but the second guy said he had reservations for 3 years counting & didn't budge. They just put us in another site & lucky no one showed up. Thanks for the excellent video & any info you can provide on the matter.
Hey and many thanks! IT is difficult for both reservations and the issue with double booking. Botswana is great for SO many things, but organizing and booking isnt one of them. Which is why I prefer the low season. If I went in the high season in ´24, now would be a good time to book as im sure you know. Otherwise id book through an agent to be sure. I normally rock up at the gates with a huge grin and turbocharged positivity and "can-do" attitude. That has had a high success rate and ive gone from "not possible" to 5 nights at a campsite that was empty anyway. In Bots, this will get you a long way. In Moremi I have a friend that lives in the Khwai village, so I can camp in his yard, but there also, I tend to just show up and smile. Or make new friends at other campsites and just ask nicely. I should probably make a Wild Camping in Botswana guide....
Hi there great video and general information. The only thing you mentioned that is not quite correct is the foot and mouth application going into Mowana gate .This only happens when leaving the foot and mouth area ,not entering. Shoes and tires get dipped and sprayed coming out ,not going in .
Please do more reports on our other parks and areas. This helps tremendously with promoting communities around our National Parks .Thank you again . Happy Easter to you and your family.
congratulations for your great work, each video of yours is spectacular and makes me feel like I'm there. I have done safaris before in Okavango delta, Moremi i Savuti, but always with a guide. I would like to ask you which place you recommend the most to do my first self-drive safari. Apart from that, I would like to know with which company you prepare the trip and where you get the information about the policy of the parks. My passions are photography and animals and thanks to your videos you motivate me to pursue my dream. Keep it up, regards
Hey Francesc - thanks, appreciate it! Id go to Moremi, its quite popular, and there will be some people around to ask if you get lost. I do and plan everything by myself, which is something that comes with 10 years of experience. I say, rent the car and just go. Figure out as you go. Thats what I did, and ive always had great sightings and the best of times. Good luck, merry xmas and thanks again!
Hi Daniel, thanks for the great overview! We’ll be doing a 3 week self drive for the first time in May incl. 2 nights in Moremi and quite some camping in the parks. Something I was wondering about, do you some have advice on how to stag safe in regards to the animals in/around camp? Lets say you need to go to the bathroom after dark. Or you’re sitting by the fire. How do you stay safe? Many thanks and loved the video!
Hey Kyle, thats great to hear! Youll have an amazing time for sure. I just use a torch around camp if I need to go during the night. Sit with the car behind you so you face your campfire. Ive had no problems, and never really think about this too much if theres a nice fire going. Be observant and use the torch from time to time. So car in the back, campfire in front a good torch, and youll be good. Its quite exciting!
Hey S, I rock up at the reception which is marked somehow out there in the area. Its basically 2 huts and I pay cash. Online I dont know. But google Khwai Community Trust and Maghotlo (i think thats correct spelling). Good luck!
Hey Jorge, cheers for watching and for popping by the channel! I might do it, or something like it to give you an idea. First ill make the vids already in the pipeline. Stay tuned buddy
Fantastisk. Dette er et eventyr jeg selv har hatt i bakhodet en stund nå. Noen gode tips til hvordan man kan sy sammen en slik tur med tanke på leie av bil og overnatting?
Hei Torstein, ja det er litt av et eventyr! Jeg vet at bushlore leier ut biler, samt hjelper med booking av campsites osv, men aldri brukt de selv da jeg ordner alt på egenhånd. Men det er hvertfall en god start på eventyret!
@@DanielBryn Supert, takk for tips. Kan jeg slenge på et par spørsmål til? (Bra for algorytmen vettu)😉 Dronefilming, er det noe forbud eller egne regler der nede bortsett fra generelle droneregler? F.eks. i reservater, må det søkes eller er det totalforbud? ...Og hvis du skulle anbefale et sted for førstegangsreisende å utforske der nede med tanke på foto og film, hvor ville du dratt?
@@torsteinu Jeg ville dratt til Moremi og Khwai som i videoen. Droning er strengt forbudt, så det jeg filmet er mange år gammelt og lenge før droneregler kom. Jeg har reist ned hvert år i 10 år, så har endel gull liggende fra da. Central Kalahari er og bra på denne tiden, men det kan være vrient å komme seg ut hvis du kjører deg fast og sånt. Nxai pan er bra på vintern (juni - august). Er så mye å ta av, så ville bare reist og leid bil. Ganske greit å kjøre rundt!
Would you like to try doing a selfdrive in Moremi? Also ask me anything if you have any questions! Cheers!
I did it in the dry season in 2007
I want to do it again in summer next year.
Hello Daniel, I have been to Moremi on guided tours before but never on a self-drive tour. How do I book the campsites directly? If I Google the sites I usually end up on the page of some company that could book it for me. But they are charging enormous fees.
What campsites do you recommend, if we come from savuti and want to stay in Moremi for a few nights on different campsites?
Thank you!
@@USAandDE Hey there - this is why im now writing a "how-to" ebook on selfdrive. Botswana isnt great for this, and yeah, they charge a lot! I usually just rock up at the gate and hope for the best. This is a good idea in the low season, and next to impossible in the high season (also why I ususally stay there in the low season). I dont really know how to book online in moremi, but the communities there have their own "receptions" at some camps. try www.khwaitrust.co.bw/ and if you can, book Maghoto. They are the best camps. Best of luck!
@@DanielBrynThank you! Can we just book at the gate or do we have to drive to the Camps and ask?
@@USAandDE Id contact them via the site - thats the community camps. the campsites at the gates is a different company (and more expensive) but you can ask there as well.
Amazing, been looking for in-depth info like this, fantastic work! Driving Kampala to Cape Town and wanted the pleasure of driving my own Land Rover in the Moremi Game Reserve. Great cinematography, concise info, thanks for putting this together!
Youre welcome, sound like youre on a cool adventure yourself! Off to Moremi again on tuesday while its still dry. Cant wait! Thanks for watching
So glad I came across your channel. This is better than watching Discovery channel . Its informative, raw and spontaneous.
Thats awesome to hear, thank you!!
Some stunning cat pics and some really sound advice on self driving in Moremi, especially asking the Guides for sightings!
Thanks a bunch Mark! Yep, its a great idea to become friends with and talk to the guides. They know a lot about the areas they operate in, and are awesome people!
thank you for profiling my beautiful country...I'm from Maun,Botswana ❤️❤️
My absolute pleasure Kabo! Botswana is my home away from home, I love it in your beautiful country :) Have a great day!
Hi Daniel, thanks for sharing your knowledge of the Khwai area. Great pics and videos. We are doing a trip later this year to Nxai Pans, Khwai, Moremi, Magotho, and Savuti. How much fuel did you carry for the Maun to Chobe trip, and how many days did you spend in the Khwai, Mogotho area? How many camera batteries did you use per day? What focal lengths did you use the most in this area? Your eye-level shots of the lions are incredible. Did you use a mini-tripod or monopod to drop your camera to eye level? Thanks for taking the time to respond. I will be watching your Nxai Pan, Savuti, and Chobe travel next. Happy travels.
Hey Quentin, youre welcome! I had 130 litres of petrol in total. Spent about 4 days there, its great! I had 4 batteries, and an inverter hooked up in the car so one battery was always on charge. I have a monopod from ifootage which is great! It the cobra 2 carbon fibre. Thanks for watching, and have a great trip in the bush. Khwai area is super
Great job with these vlogs, love them!
Cheers Attila, really appreciate that 😬
Great content. Thanks. Thinking of going to Moremi in November. What’s the petrol situation? Do I need to drive back to Maun?
Yep, pretty much. So bring extra with you. There might be petrol available in Khwai village, but no guarantee. Ask around for Pat Brown if youre there. He usually keeps extra and sells to those in need at reasonable prices! Cheers for watching!
Thanks!! Great video. Very informative.
Hello Daniel,
great video and good advice. I have read that as a self-driver you have to have a reservation for one of the campsites to enter the Moremi Game Reserve? Is that correct?
And is it better to pay the entrance fee in advance at the DWNP office in Maun or at the entrance gate to the reserve? Or does it not matter?
Hey Thomas, id say whatever floats your boat in terms of payment. You dont have to have a campsite reservation to enter the reserve. You can do that as a day visitor no problem. For campsites, id book in advance to be sure. They ahve a card machine at the gate these days, but it isnt always working so bring cash. A better campsite near south gate is Kazikinii. Its community run and youre right in the middle of everything there as well
Great video thanks for posting. I did a two week self drive camping safari in Namibia in October 2022. Maybe Botswana next. I was under the impression that the park fees had to be purchased in Maun? Thanks again.
Hey Damian, they can be purchased at the gates and in Maun. At the gates it is mostly cash only. Thanks for watching!
Great video. Thanks for the tips. What focal length lens do you use most often?
Hey thanks! That varies all the time, but in Africa, I use a 100-400mm lens on a 50MP camera so I can crop in rather than lugging along a superheavy, superexpensive lens. It gets the job done! So I reccomend a lens like that. I have a video on the camera and setup I used, and also another video about recommended wildlife photography gear from budget to high end. Recommend you check those videos out. Cheers for watching :)
You have some drone footage. Do you register your device on entry to Bots and do you take footage secretly?
I do have some drone footage from way back when. But I stopped bringing drones years ago because of the registration hassle. Difficult to get the permits in Bots.
Hi Daniel, Thank you for the reply and confirmation. It was a consideration to bring one with me visiting from overseas, but the effort doesn't seem to out way the hassle. cheers.
@@georgevesely1314 I wouldnt bother - if they check your luggage, theyd take it these days, and youd ofc get it back, but then whats the point. Besides there are so many restrictions anyways. Cheers for watching!
Thank you for the video. Like and subscribed.
Youre welcome, hope you got something from it. Cheers and have a good one!!
Great video! Is there any cellphone signals around gates or campsite?
Hey Mark! Around the gates, sometimes, but at campsites, no. Just how I like it to be honest. Proper digital detox :)
Hey Daniel, what's the best way too get campsites in Moremi GR & Kgalagadi TP which is on our to do list . I've done a couple trips to Moremi & planning another maybe in high season 2024 & really had a hard time get reservations. Having to go with a third party which cost twice as much!! Then arrive @ the campsite & some else is in it. Seems you can pay cash to the campground host & they'll say park where you want. We had that happen at Third bridge & North Gate. First one moved for us, but the second guy said he had reservations for 3 years counting & didn't budge. They just put us in another site & lucky no one showed up.
Thanks for the excellent video & any info you can provide on the matter.
Hey and many thanks! IT is difficult for both reservations and the issue with double booking. Botswana is great for SO many things, but organizing and booking isnt one of them. Which is why I prefer the low season. If I went in the high season in ´24, now would be a good time to book as im sure you know. Otherwise id book through an agent to be sure. I normally rock up at the gates with a huge grin and turbocharged positivity and "can-do" attitude. That has had a high success rate and ive gone from "not possible" to 5 nights at a campsite that was empty anyway. In Bots, this will get you a long way. In Moremi I have a friend that lives in the Khwai village, so I can camp in his yard, but there also, I tend to just show up and smile. Or make new friends at other campsites and just ask nicely. I should probably make a Wild Camping in Botswana guide....
Hi there great video and general information. The only thing you mentioned that is not quite correct is the foot and mouth application going into Mowana gate .This only happens when leaving the foot and mouth area ,not entering. Shoes and tires get dipped and sprayed coming out ,not going in .
You are 100% right! My bad, thanks for correcting me, and happy easter!
Please do more reports on our other parks and areas. This helps tremendously with promoting communities around our National Parks .Thank you again .
Happy Easter to you and your family.
congratulations for your great work, each video of yours is spectacular and makes me feel like I'm there.
I have done safaris before in Okavango delta, Moremi i Savuti, but always with a guide.
I would like to ask you which place you recommend the most to do my first self-drive safari.
Apart from that, I would like to know with which company you prepare the trip and where you get the information about the policy of the parks.
My passions are photography and animals and thanks to your videos you motivate me to pursue my dream.
Keep it up, regards
Hey Francesc - thanks, appreciate it! Id go to Moremi, its quite popular, and there will be some people around to ask if you get lost.
I do and plan everything by myself, which is something that comes with 10 years of experience. I say, rent the car and just go. Figure out as you go. Thats what I did, and ive always had great sightings and the best of times.
Good luck, merry xmas and thanks again!
Hi Daniel, thanks for the great overview! We’ll be doing a 3 week self drive for the first time in May incl. 2 nights in Moremi and quite some camping in the parks.
Something I was wondering about, do you some have advice on how to stag safe in regards to the animals in/around camp?
Lets say you need to go to the bathroom after dark. Or you’re sitting by the fire. How do you stay safe?
Many thanks and loved the video!
Hey Kyle, thats great to hear! Youll have an amazing time for sure. I just use a torch around camp if I need to go during the night. Sit with the car behind you so you face your campfire. Ive had no problems, and never really think about this too much if theres a nice fire going. Be observant and use the torch from time to time. So car in the back, campfire in front a good torch, and youll be good. Its quite exciting!
Do you need to have 4x4 experience driving in Moremi? I'm planning to go in May.
Strictly no, but it does come in handy if youre driving on challenging roads + water etc
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
How do I make a reservation at the campsite you mentioned. Mohoto? Not sure if I’ve spelled that correctly.
Hey S, I rock up at the reception which is marked somehow out there in the area. Its basically 2 huts and I pay cash. Online I dont know. But google Khwai Community Trust and Maghotlo (i think thats correct spelling). Good luck!
Could you do a budget overview video of your whole trip?
Hey Jorge, cheers for watching and for popping by the channel! I might do it, or something like it to give you an idea. First ill make the vids already in the pipeline. Stay tuned buddy
@@DanielBryn Thanks for the quick reply, can't wait for the rest of this series! Notifications are on so I will not miss any ;)
@@Jorge_Pronto Thanks a bunch Jorge :)
Fantastisk. Dette er et eventyr jeg selv har hatt i bakhodet en stund nå. Noen gode tips til hvordan man kan sy sammen en slik tur med tanke på leie av bil og overnatting?
Hei Torstein, ja det er litt av et eventyr! Jeg vet at bushlore leier ut biler, samt hjelper med booking av campsites osv, men aldri brukt de selv da jeg ordner alt på egenhånd. Men det er hvertfall en god start på eventyret!
@@DanielBryn Supert, takk for tips. Kan jeg slenge på et par spørsmål til? (Bra for algorytmen vettu)😉 Dronefilming, er det noe forbud eller egne regler der nede bortsett fra generelle droneregler? F.eks. i reservater, må det søkes eller er det totalforbud? ...Og hvis du skulle anbefale et sted for førstegangsreisende å utforske der nede med tanke på foto og film, hvor ville du dratt?
@@torsteinu Jeg ville dratt til Moremi og Khwai som i videoen. Droning er strengt forbudt, så det jeg filmet er mange år gammelt og lenge før droneregler kom. Jeg har reist ned hvert år i 10 år, så har endel gull liggende fra da. Central Kalahari er og bra på denne tiden, men det kan være vrient å komme seg ut hvis du kjører deg fast og sånt. Nxai pan er bra på vintern (juni - august). Er så mye å ta av, så ville bare reist og leid bil. Ganske greit å kjøre rundt!
@@DanielBryn Nydelig, takk for gode råd Daniel, setter pris på at du tar deg tid🙏
Daniel, what language do you speak?
pay cash or card?
cash