Savanna Game Track — Moremi Game Reserve Northern Corridor via Xakanaxa Lagoon and Chief’s Island Boundary
Lion country, deep sand, hippo bridges.
Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana’s Okavango Delta is one of the few places on earth where your biggest route hazard is a bull elephant blocking a flooded two-track at dusk. The northern corridor between Xakanaxa Camp and the Third Bridge area threads through mopane woodland, seasonal floodplains, and papyrus channels — real water, real sand, and real animals. Third Bridge itself is a log-and-plank crossing over a hippo-dense channel that has swallowed more than a few underprepared rigs. The track north toward Xakanaxa Lagoon is deep Kalahari sand cut by seasonal floodwater — you will deflate tyres here or you will get stuck.
This is expert territory minimum. A dual-battery setup, two full-size spares, a high-lift jack, maxtrax, and a snatch kit are non-negotiable. Solo travel is inadvisable — two-vehicle minimum is standard practice. Park entry requires a permit through Botswana’s DWNP or approved booking agent, and all camps must be pre-booked. Fuel in Maun before entry; there is none inside the reserve. Best season is dry (May to October) — wet season transforms tracks into impassable floodways. You get raw Africa: lion on the track at dawn, hippos grunting under your bridge at midnight, and a sky so dark you can read star charts by it.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Overland Route, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 68 mi / 109 km |
| Duration | 3-5 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3200 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Expedition-built 4WD, dual battery, snorkel |
| Nearest town | Maun, Botswana |
| Land manager | Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | DWNP Botswana Parks |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
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Frequently asked questions
What's the minimum vehicle setup to attempt this route — will a standard Land Cruiser 200 cut it?
A stock Land Cruiser 200 will not cut it here. You need a fully expedition-built 4WD with a snorkel, dual battery system, high-lift jack, at least two full-size spares, recovery boards, and a winch. Deep Kalahari sand sections will bury an unprepared rig, and breakdowns here are life-threatening — you're in lion and hippo territory with zero cell service.
Is this trail accessible year-round or does flooding close it out?
May through October is the only viable window. The Okavango Delta floods from roughly December through April, cutting off most of this route entirely — many sections become impassable swamp. Even in the dry season, water crossings at 'hippo bridges' can be deep depending on the annual flood pulse timing.
What permits do you need and where do you get them before heading in?
You need a park entry permit from Botswana's Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) — these are issued at the Maqwe Gate or can be arranged through the DWNP office in Maun. Camping in Moremi requires a confirmed campsite booking, which must be done in advance through DWNP; don't show up expecting walk-in availability, especially May through August when sites fill fast.
What's the hardest section on this track and what actually makes it brutal?
The deep sand corridors between Xakanaxa Lagoon and the Chief's Island boundary fence are the route's breaking point — extended stretches of soft, rutted, wheel-sucking sand that demand momentum management and proper tire pressure drops (typically 18–22 PSI) for hours at a time. Add in unannounced water crossings where you cannot see the bottom, and the constant awareness that lions and elephants own the road here, and driver fatigue becomes a serious factor by day two.
Maun is the nearest town — how far out is the last reliable fuel stop and should I carry extra?
Maun is your last guaranteed diesel fill-up before entering Moremi — there is no fuel inside the reserve, period. With 109 km of slow, sand-heavy driving that destroys fuel economy, plus the run back to Maun, carry a minimum of 100 liters extra in jerry cans. A vehicle that gets 12L/100km on tarmac can easily burn 25–30L/100km through deep sand.
Trail track
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