Okavango Delta, Botswana
Wilderness Vumbura Plains
A safari camp set in the wildlife-rich Vumbura concession
Botswana’s mesmerizing Okavango Delta finds its most vibrant expression at 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.
Interiors reflect the camp’s setting through natural textures, patterns and colours. The suites are some of the largest in the delta, all open-plan with sunken seating areas, private decks, plunge pools, and both indoor and outdoor showers. Open on three sides with netting, they feel closely connected to the landscape while still being wonderfully comfortable.
That sense of place runs through the whole experience, including the food. We love how the dishes are made using seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers, suppliers and artisans.
Activities here are a mix of game drives and water-based experiences, which vary depending on the water levels and the time of year. You can enjoy day and night drives, walking safaris and mokoro (dugout canoes) activities, especially from April to September. Or take an helicopter flight and spot elephants, buffalo and other wildlife from above.
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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Places to combine Wilderness Vumbura Plains with
Linyanti
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).
