Positive Impact collection

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Wilderness Vumbura Plains

An oasis of renewed luxury in the heart of the Okavango Delta
A Vumburu Plains safari camp bedroom with a view of the plains and natural surroundings

A premier safari camp set in the wildlife-rich Vumbura concession

Botswana’s mesmerizing Okavango Delta is now brighter than ever with the newly transformed (as of 2022) Vumbura Plains. Nestled in a large private concession of 60,000 hectares in the far north of the Delta, the camp is enveloped in some of the most incredible landscapes, home to some of the best wildlife encounters in the area.

Inside, the camp celebrates its sense of place and culture, with design elements that pay homage to its wonderful setting with patterns, textures and colours bringing nature inside. Rooms at the lodge are amongst the biggest in the delta, all open plan, with a sunken seating area, private shaded deck and swimming pool outside as well as indoor and outdoor showers. There is an amazing sense of space here, in keeping with the wide-open plains that the rooms face onto. The rooms are open on three sides (with netting) giving a feeling of being closer to the nature and wildlife whilst still remaining is absolute comfort.

The local connections continue throughout the camp experience.The menu celebrates seasonal produce sourced directly from local farmers, suppliers and artisans.

Activities here are a mixture of game drives and water activities which will vary according to the level of the water and the time of the year. You will find day and night drives, walks and mekoro (dugout canoes) activities, with hot-air ballooning – from April to September each year – as well as scenic helicopter flights, making Vumbura an exclusive destination for the discerning adventure-seeker.

Highlights

14 spacious rooms (including two family rooms) split into two seperate camps of seven each.

Private plunge pools

Lounge and dining area

Morning, afternoon and night game drives

Bush walks

Mokoro trips

Boat trips

Seasonal fishing on catch and release

Birding

Cultural visits

The impact of your stay:

  • Wilderness, through its lease of land from the Okavango Community Trust, contributes annual fees that directly benefit the local community. By relying on tourism funding, they have successfully conserved over 2.3 million hectares of land across the continent. Their commitment extends beyond conservation, as they actively engage in education and community upliftment programs, ensuring a sustainable future for Africa’s wilderness.
  • In collaboration with CLAWS near the Vumbura Concession in the Okavango Delta, Wilderness plays a crucial role in supporting the Communal Herding and Wildlife Friendly Beef initiative. This innovative project not only safeguards cows from wild animals but also empowers local cattle farmers economically. Simultaneously, it ensures effective management of cattle to protect rangelands, showcasing the dual impact of community empowerment and environmental conservation.
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Plan your trip to Botswana

Whatever you want from your adventure in Botswana, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Places to combine Wilderness Vumbura Plains with

Linyanti

Wilderness DumaTau
With uninterrupted views over Osprey Lagoon, and a fantastic vantage point from which to watch the areas mega-herds of elephants, Wilderness DumaTau and nearby Wilderness Little DumaTau are perfectly located for making the most of your stay in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve. Each spacious tented guest suite has been positioned to offer great views whether you’re relaxing on your deck, or cooling off in your plunge pool. You’ll also find the tents include spot-cooling, meaning you can find respite from the hot afternoons indoors. Spend time investigating the ‘curiosity boxes’ you’ll find mounted on the walls in your room and the drawers filled with fascinating artefacts and information. They’re a great way to learn more about the area’s wildlife and rich history. Look out for unique elephant and wild dog art in the rooms and library made from reclaimed snare wire. Wilderness Safaris have constructed both camps to give maximum comfort and offer guests a large array of facilities. In addition to the in-tent cooling systems, you’ll discover that the central Osprey Retreat which sits between the two camps boasts a pool, drink and snack counter and a Safari Boutique area, offering you more space to mingle with your fellow guests if you choose to do so. Large decks, plunge pools and awnings are attached to each of Wilderness Duma Tau’s eight tented suites as well as at the four at Wilderness Little DumaTau. The Wilderness DumaTau team continues to focus on the sustainability of wildlife corridors, as they have done since 1997. They believe that it is more vital than ever to protect large wildlife corridors of wilderness,  like those within the vast Linyanti Wildlife Reserve – especially for the African elephant and wild dog that cover extensive ground. Staying at Wilderness DumaTau offers you easy access to the Linyanti floodplain as well as the Savuti Channel, in fact, it’s the only concession from which you can access both. The region has all the habitat diversity to make it a haven for wildlife, and is well-known for its elephant concentrations as they congregate along the waterways and lagoons during the dry winter months. General wildlife viewing is excellent year round including impala, wildebeest, red lechwe, Burchell’s zebra, giraffe, Cape buffalo, chacma baboon, vervet monkey, and warthog. Predator sightings of lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and spotted hyena are good. As well as day and night game drives, you can explore on nature walks or take to the water on motorboats or the river barge (depending on water levels).  
Ariel view of waves breaking on a forested shoreline