Wilderness Vumbura Plains

THE VUMBURA CONCESSION’S FLAGSHIP CAMP, WITHIN THE NORTHERN REACHES OF THE OKAVANGO DELTA
TWO SEPARATE CAMPS, WITH 14 TENTED SUITES BETWEEN THEM, EACH WITH A PRIVATE VERANDA AND PLUNGE POOL
EACH CAMP HAS AN OPEN-SIDED LOUNGE, DINING AREA, BAR, VIEWING DECK, FIRE-PIT, IN-TENT MASSAGE AVAILABLE
EXPERTLY GUIDED GAME DRIVES, BOATING, MOKORO EXCURSIONS, GUIDED WALKS, BIRDING, CATCH & RELEASE FISHING, HELICOPTER TRIPS

When To Visit Okavango Delta:

"To be honest, Wilderness Vumbura Plains may well be the best camp we can think of. Split into North and South camps, Wilderness Vumbura Plains is exceptional, and is operated and managed by both the local community and Wilderness. The camps are beautiful and everything you could hope for in a Wilderness property. It's supremely expensive but worth every second of your time. It is one of the few places in the Delta to offer wet and dry game viewing throughout the year.”

OVERVIEW:

In the far north of Botswana’s vast, wildlife-dense Okavango Delta, Wilderness Vumbura Plains consists of two spacious camps on raised decks within the 60,000-hectare Vumbura Plains Private Wilderness Area. Surrounded by vast floodplains, pristine waterways, and riverine and island woodlands, year-round land and water activities paired with exquisite accommodations make this one of the most sought-after properties in the Delta. Led by excellent guides, the game viewing here is superb, optimised by a broad range of activities, from boat excursions to night drives. Accommodation at Wilderness Vumbura Plains is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, local drinks, twice-daily scheduled camp activities, park fees, and a laundry service.

ACCESS & LOCATION

Access to Wilderness Vumbura Plains is by light aircraft with flights to Vumbura Airstrip from Maun and all other regional camps and lodges. From the airstrip, it’s approximately 35 minutes by car plus a 5-minute boat ride to the camp.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT WILDERNESS VUMBURA PLAINS:

Wilderness Vumbura Plains consists of two almost identical, separately located camps – North Camp and South Camp – with 14 well-spaced suites between them. Vumbura Plains North offers six suites plus two family units, and Vumbura Plains South has six suites but no family accommodation. Enormous wooden decks, with private plunge pools and salas, are designed to maximise the stunning views. The light-flooded floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides of the suites create an impressive flow of indoor-outdoor space. Each suite features a slightly split level with a raised platform where the enormous double bed (or twin beds if requested) sits beneath an oversized mosquito net. Lofty double-height thatched ceilings add to the feeling of open space. Behind the bed is a shelving unit with lighting, a charging station, plug points, and plenty of storage space. The large en-suite bathroom includes a flush toilet, twin washbasins, and an open-plan shower on the same level as the bedroom area. There is also an outdoor shower for those who wish to prolong their time outside surrounded by nature. A few steps down from the bedroom, the lounge offers a comfortable seating arrangement facing the front deck. Other in-room amenities include an overhead fan, mosquito repellent, binoculars, umbrellas, a tea-and-coffee station, a mini-bar, a safe, a hairdryer, dressing gowns, and a selection of toiletries. At Wilderness Vumbura Plains North, the two family units can each accommodate four guests in two spacious en-suite bedrooms. Both bedrooms have separate entrances and share an outdoor deck and private plunge pool.

The communal buildings feature partly covered dining spaces, open-sided lounge areas, and well-stocked bars, where you can help yourself to a range of alcoholic and soft drinks. While there isn’t a dedicated spa, guests can request in-tent massage treatments at an additional cost. With its sensational panoramic views, the main deck at Wilderness Vumbura Plains is a real show-stopper, and its fire-pit provides a great spot for gathering with other guests to swap safari stories. In each corner of the camp, you’ll see contributions from and tributes to the local community and their traditions. Local craftspersons have been instrumental in creating the interiors, artwork, and furniture. Be sure to look up at the light fittings, as some are made from baskets woven by staff and others fashioned from traditional fish traps.

ACTIVITIES AT WILDERNESS VUMBURA PLAINS:

Wilderness Vumbura Plains provides an exciting range of land- and water-based activities. Please note that some of these depend on weather conditions and/or guide availability, as shown by an asterisk below:

Expertly guided game drives
– These take place in the morning and afternoon. Drives cover a lot of ground, traversing the plains of the 60,000-hectare Vumbura Concession to provide some high-quality wildlife viewing. Highlights include four of the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo! You can also look out for smaller predators and herbivores, such as cheetah, spotted hyena, wild dog, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, and antelopes.
Night safari drives
– Head out after sunset for sightings of the concession’s nocturnal species, including leopard, porcupine, and the elusive pangolin.
Boating*
– Explore the waterways of the Vumbura Concession on an exhilarating motorboat trip. There’s plenty of wildlife to soak up, not least hippo, Nile crocodile, and myriad water birds.
Mokoro excursions*
– A gentler, quieter experience than motor boating, the mokoro dug-out canoe experience is unique to the Okavango Delta and an unmissable highlight. Led by an experienced poler who steers at the front of the boat, you’ll feel the world slow down as you glide along the network of channels, home to a spectacular assortment of wildlife, big and small. From tiny green frogs and brightly coloured bee-eaters to elephants congregating along the banks, the mokoro activity brings a whole new dimension to safari.
Guided safari walks*
– In the company of a knowledgeable and experienced guide, take to the bush on foot and observe the concession’s plants, insects, and birdlife. Sometimes, it’s possible to track big game too.
Catch-and-release fishing*
– Wilderness Little Vumbura has basic equipment available for guest use. You could spend an entire afternoon fishing on the tranquil waterways around camp, catching and releasing pike and bream.
Birding
– The birdlife at Wilderness Vumbura Plains is exceptional throughout the year, with endless species, including lilac-breasted rollers, carmine bee-eaters, secretary birds, and the Pel’s fishing owl. In the summer months, dedicated birders might come across wattled crane, slaty egret, chirping cisticola, fan-tailed widowbird, pink-backed pelican, and rosy-throated longclaw.
Helicopter trips
– Few experiences compare to an aerial safari over the Okavango Delta with its meandering waterways and seemingly never-ending plains. Please note that helicopter safaris incur an additional cost.
Photo hub*
– Take to the bush with an Olympus photographer, who’ll capture all the highlights of your wildlife safari.

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.

Okavango Delta

Karangoma

Set in the far northern reaches of the Okavango Delta, in pristine, wild terrain, Karangoma is a year-round camp run by Wild Expeditions, known for its authentic bushcamp experiences. The camp has close ties with the Bukakhwe San and Hambukushu communities, allowing guests to connect with local culture meaningfully.

Sitatunga Private Island Camp

Sitatunga Private Island Camp is a remote and truly wild, watery camp with an emphasis on exclusivity, complete flexibility, and appreciating the beautiful, quieter waterways of the Okavango. Activities are almost entirely water based, and Sitatunga offers a wonderful change of pace for those hoping to get away from the busier 4×4 safari areas.

Wilderness Little Vumbura

Located within the Vumbura Concession, Wilderness Little Vumbura is a delightful little camp in an area that attracts a diverse spectacle of wildlife. Nestled within 148,000 acres of pristine wilderness, the ancient forest provides a canopy of trees, while the floodplains and deep water channels support mokoro canoe and motorboat opportunities.

Beagle Expeditions

Beagle Expeditions is a truly authentic and remote mobile camp owned and run by one of Botswana’s most recognized wildlife guides, Simon Byron. Accessible only by helicopter, the camp moves between two pristine wilderness locations along the Kweene River System within the exclusive, largely unexplored Abu Private Reserve.

Duba Plains Camp

Within a private Okavango Delta concession of palm-dotted islands, floodplains, and woodland, year-round Duba Plains Camp is a beautifully designed camp with outstanding wildlife-viewing opportunities, taking pride of place in the impressive Great Plains Conservation portfolio that includes sister camps Selinda and Zarafa.

Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

Within a vast 22,500-hectare terrain bordering the Okavango Delta’s Moremi Game Reserve, &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge is a uniquely designed lodge providing high-standard accommodation, service, dining, and wildlife viewing. The landscape supports a combination of floodplains and forests and promises fantastic game-viewing opportunities.

Wilderness Chitabe

In the forested southern reaches of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Wilderness Chitabe is located within its own private concession, bordered by Moremi Game Reserve to the north, just across the Gomoti Channel. Though largely dry and forested, this is prime wildlife territory, with the Gomoti river in the north and Santantadibe river to the south-east.

Duba Explorers Camp

Within the verdant 33,000-hectare Duba Concession, Duba Explorers Camp is a small camp surrounded by floodplains and shaded by jackalberry, leadwood, mangosteen, and sycamore fig trees. YZ recommends Duba Explorers Camp for travelers seeking extremely comfortable tented accommodation within a wildlife-abundant region of the Okavango Delta.

Splash Camp

Splash Camp delivers family-friendly accommodation within the Okavango Delta’s stunning 175,000-hectare Kwara Private Concession, bordering Moremi Game Reserve. There’s a private space for exclusive-use groups, ideal for those traveling with young children, and the camp offers plenty of activities to keep everyone engaged.

Kwara Camp

Owned and operated by Kwando Safaris, this year-round permanent lagoon-facing camp provides a great range of activities in a wildlife-rich part of the Okavango Delta, with a strong focus on predator sightings. Bordering Moremi Game Reserve, the range of habitats here is diverse, including woodland, water channels, floodplains, and savanna.

Aerial Shinde Okavango Delta Botswana Yellow Zebra Safaris

Shinde Camp

Shinde Camp is an authentically classic wilderness camp in a private northern Okavango Delta concession, owned and run by Ker & Downey Botswana. One of the longest-standing camps in the Delta, Shinde prides itself on an excellent team and a time-honored style that remains loyal to the original explorer safari.

Wilderness Chitabe Lediba

Located in the Chitabe Reserve, where the seasonal Gomoti River brings ever-changing wildlife, Wilderness Chitabe Lediba is an intimate five-tent camp where land-based activities take center stage. Open year round, it promises excellent game-viewing opportunities, both day and night, led by fantastic wildlife guides.

Maxa

Maxa is a small, informal camp in an unfrequented Okavango Delta location, well positioned to offer both land- and water-based activities. Run by Ker & Downey Botswana, a respected name synonymous with high-quality safaris, Maxa offers reasonable rates that make it particularly appealing when compared with other new openings in the region.

Mokolwane

Nestled within 180,000 hectares of pristine Okavango Delta wilderness, Mokolwane is a small, informal camp run by Natural Selection in an area boasting the third-highest density of leopard recorded anywhere in Africa. Overlooking the Matsebi river, in one of the remotest parts of the Delta, this is the only camp for miles around.

Sango Safari Camp

Sango Safari Camp is a small, good-value camp in the Khwai Concession, just outside the north-eastern boundaries of Moremi Game Reserve. Overlooking the beautiful Khwai river, this year-round water source allows the camp to offer both land and boating activities, and superb wildlife viewing is almost certain here.

Gomoti Plains Camp in Botswana

Gomoti Plains Camp is a comfortably rustic classic tented camp woven into a beautiful riverine forest and surrounded by the diverse habitats of the Okavango Delta’s Gomoti river system. With reliably good game viewing throughout the year, the camp offers a cross-section of activities covering the Delta’s highlights.

Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp

Within a 25,000-hectare wildlife concession bordering the Okavango Delta’s Moremi Game Reserve, &Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp is a classic water camp with a picture-perfect island setting. Framed by a canopy of jackalberry trees, the camp faces a permanent floodplain, and its landscape supports game drives and seasonal boating activities.

Xugana Island Lodge

Xugana Island Lodge is a well-established year-round lodge on a beautiful wooded island within the Okavango Delta’s private Shinde Concession. Occupying a spectacular site facing the permanent Xugana Lagoon, the property is owned and run by Desert & Delta Safaris, which operates some great camps and lodges across Botswana.

Camp Okavango

Camp Okavango is a water-based camp in the Okavango Delta’s private and scenic Shinde Concession. The camp is operated by Desert & Delta Safaris, who manage a portfolio of high-quality camps and lodges across Botswana, from the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve to Chobe National Park and the Makgadikgadi Pans.

kanana bedroom tent botswana yellow zebra safaris

Kanana Camp

Kanana re-opened on 1st March 2019, after undergoing a significant refurbishment. This included an extension to the camp’s communal area and more than a few improvements to its guest accommodation!

Xaranna Okavango Delta Lodge

&Beyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp is a luxurious island camp within a majestic 90,500-hectare private concession surrounded by pristine wetlands. The camp overlooks a seasonal lagoon, and the primary focus is boating on the channels when water levels permit. A great place to slow down and soak up the stillness and beauty of the Okavango Delta.

Kiri Camp

On the edge of the Kiri channel, after which the camp is named, Kiri is a year-round island camp in the south-east part of the Okavango Delta. It’s located between the Kiri and Boro rivers, in an area that supports diverse wildlife populations, and offers a range of activities, including motorboat and mokoro safaris during peak flood times.

Sable Alley

Sable Alley is a stylish year-round camp situated amidst the game-rich floodplains of Khwai Private Reserve. Run by Natural Selection, which operates a portfolio of camps and lodges across Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, this sophisticated, up-scale property retains the spirit of adventure with a fantastic cross-section of activities.

Stanley's Camp

Stanley’s offers great game viewing, and as it provides a number of elephant experiences it’s particularly well suited to fans of the grey guys!

Baines' Camp

Baines’ Camp is Sanctuary’s smallest camp and one of the plushest properties in the Okavango Delta! There’s a minimum age requirement of 6 years.

4 Rivers

4 Rivers is a traditional tented camp in the Okavango Delta’s Kwara Private Reserve, a 175,000-hectare area of protected wilderness where open plains meet permanent waterways and forested islands. It overlooks a permanent lagoon and offers a range of land- and water-based activities, complemented by first-rate guide and tracking teams.

Dinaka

Dinaka is a remote, year-round camp in a vast private reserve on the northern edge of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Owned by respected safari operator Ker & Downey, this is an expertly run property with a focus on the Kalahari’s unique wildlife and a setting that allows for night drives and sleep-outs.

Duke’s East Camp

An intimate, 1940s-style, luxury tented camp in a brilliant part of the Delta, Duke’s East is set on the shoreline of a lagoon, and offers the full range of land and water activities in wondrous style, as well as romantic sleeping out beneath the stars.

Khwai Bush Camp

This camp offers a comfortable base from which to explore the Khwai Community Concession! Children of all ages are welcome here.

North Island Okavango

This exclusive island retreat in the beautiful Sekwana Concession in the north of the Okavango Delta is the latest superb offering from Natural Selection, one of the premier safari companies in Botswana.

Pom Pom Camp

Pom Pom is an old-school island camp with a picturesque lagoon-facing setting west of the Okavango Delta’s iconic Moremi Game Reserve. Highly recommended for the traditional safarist, this rustic bush experience combines classic canvas tents with a quintessential Delta setting and great year-round game-viewing opportunities.

lounge, shinde footsteps, okavango delta, botswana

Shinde Footsteps Camp

This excellent little Ker & Downey camp occupies a remote setting away from the busier parts of the Okavango Delta. As the name suggests, the emphasis here is on walking, although the camp’s location supports a wide range of wet and dry safari activities. With just four tents, the camp accommodates a maximum of six guests at any one time.

Wilderness Qorokwe

A land-based camp bordering the iconic Moremi Game Reserve, Wilderness Qorokwe is spectacularly located between the Santandadibe and Gomoti channels in a predator stronghold where sightings of lion, cheetah, leopard, and African wild dog are frequent. This is a truly magnificent destination for game viewing, both day and night.

Kadizora Camp

YZ recommends this camp for travelers seeking a thrilling range of activities in a very scenic area! Children aged 6 years and older are welcome, and youngsters aged 6–12 are permitted on activities at the discretion of your safari guide.

Moremi Crossing

Slightly larger than the majority of camps and lodges in the Delta, Moremi Crossing offers good value for money and a friendly atmosphere!

Okavango Explorers Camp

Okavango Explorers Camp offers traditional safari at a more affordable price. Excellent for those who don’t need the height of luxury in the bush and are happier with a simpler, more authentic experience…while remaining in a fantastic game area!

Gomoti Private

With just two tents, Gomoti Private is a jewel of a camp – ideal for families with younger children or groups of friends seeking total flexibility. It’s nestled into a picture-perfect riverine forest within the vast private Gomoti concession, and guests have access to over 100,000 hectares of floodplains, mopane forests, grasslands, and waterways.

Gunns Camp Okavango Delta

Gunn's Camp overlooks Chief's Island and borders the Moremi Game Reserve.

Mma Dinare

Meaning ‘Mother Buffalo’ in Setswana, Mma Dinare is a laidback camp, open year round, in a game-dense private wildlife concession on the edge of the Okavango Delta’s Gomoti river. The camp borders Moremi Game Reserve, where the wildlife is prolific, and excellent guide and tracking teams accompany game drives.

Rra Dinare

Meaning ‘Father Buffalo’, Rra Dinare is a well-run tented camp in a private reserve overlooking the Okavango Delta’s Gomoti river floodplains. In partnership with the Sankuyo Community, the camp is operated by Kwando Safaris, which runs camps throughout Botswana and is a consistent favorite with Yellow Zebra.

Setari Camp

An island camp in the heart of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, surrounded by verdant riverine forest and palm trees, Setari Camp is located within a 120,000-acre private concession near the base of the Delta’s main watercourse. Its watery environment makes it one of the best places in the region for boating, surrounded by deep, permanent water channels.

Delta Camp

There are no game drives at Delta Camp; game-viewing is conducted entirely on foot or in a mokoro.

Macatoo Camp

A dream destination for horse riders, Macatoo offers comfortable accommodation and a lot of other activities too!

Belmond Eagle Island Lodge

Eagle Island Lodge is surrounded by waterways and lagoons so most activities are water-based; conventional game drives can only take place when water levels are low.

main bedroom, abu camp, okavango delta, botswana

Abu

Its purpose is to be a center of excellence for elephant conservation, and to raise awareness of the challenges faced by this iconic species.

Duke's Camp

Duke’s is a luxury 1940s-style tented camp in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Offering the full range of wet and dry activities in a brilliant game area, this is remote, old-world, stunning Africa at its finest.

Okavango Horse Safaris

Okavango Horse Safaris is an excellent option for travelers wishing to explore the Delta on horseback!

Wilderness Mokete

Set in a previously unexplored part of Botswana, in pristine land that has only just opened up for conservation, Wilderness Mokete is a pioneering, luxurious tented camp – the only one in the area – with nine tented suites and all the world-class guiding, service, and dining we’ve come to expect from Wilderness.

Nxamaseri Island Lodge

Nxamaseri Island Lodge is best known as a fishing lodge, but is also particularly good for birdlife, as there is a fantastic range of waterbirds here.

Leopard wildlife, Zarafa Camp, the Linyanti, Botswana

Botswana’s ultimate luxury

This trip is as lavish and lush as northern Botswana itself! It truly epitomises luxury, using three lodges that we in the office consider some of the greatest lodges in Africa.

4.8 / 5 • 5 reviews

Marge Hayes, 13 July

The most spectacular place on the itinerary. Very comfortable accommodations, excellent food, wonderful staff. The game drives were the best!