Overview: Wilderness DumaTau Camp (Botswana)

September 18, 2024

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Wednesday newsletters all the time characteristic a lodge or flight assessment.

Early July, I loved certainly one of my greatest holidays ever, an ultra-luxe safari in Botswana with Wilderness, Africa’s award-winning, main eco-tourism firm. My precise itinerary with Wilderness in Botswana might be discovered right here (this web site additionally means that you can ebook the identical journey). You’ll be able to learn my journey reviews right here:

Immediately: Overview of Wilderness DumaTau Camp (Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, Botswana)

Nestled deep inside the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, on the northernmost fringe of Botswana, lies DumaTau. The reserve’s numerous, pristine 95 000 acres provides really unique excursions and close-up wildlife encounters. Newly rebuilt DumaTau takes full benefit of its 45 km (28 mi) of river frontage to create an unparalleled safari expertise. Eight tented suites with non-public plunge swimming pools sit on wood walkways mere steps from the wildlife corridors, so animals typically wander peacefully by way of camp. Interiors of hand-crafted mosaic tile, acacia wooden, and native textiles mirror the center of the Linyanti. The camp’s spa, the Osprey Retreat, soothes your soul. As do all of the elephants, whose transferring herds compose certainly one of Africa’s most elemental rhythms. Comparable in type to DumaTau, Little DumaTau is an intimate haven of subtle class, with simply 4 supremely spacious visitor suites.

Wilderness DumaTau options in my prime 10 lists of the greatest luxurious safari lodges in Botswana and my favourite Wilderness lodges in Africa.

Have you ever ever stayed at Wildernness DumaTau? If that’s the case, what was your expertise? Depart a remark.

On this assessment (extra data and pictures under my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

DumaTau is located within the the Linyanti Concession in Northern Botswana bordering the Chobe Nationwide Park. An abundance of wildlife roams freely between Linyanti and Chobe by way of woodland habitats, historic floodplains and forests that make up this lush, unfenced reserve. The large recreation on this space will increase dramatically in the course of the dry season when the realm hosts massive herds of impala, blue wildebeest, giraffe and buffalo in addition to the world’s highest density of elephant. A number of packs of untamed canine are discovered within the space and lion, leopard and cheetah are ceaselessly sighted. This huge, untamed wilderness is the right location for these searching for a singular African journey in a distant massive recreation habitat.

Situated alongside the Osprey Lagoon inside the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, Wilderness DumaTau enjoys a very extraordinary setting. The lodge’s in depth lagoon frontage ensures that the visitor suites and the communal space have uninterrupted views over the gorgeous Osprey Lagoon and the actions of the mega-herds of elephants the Linyanti is so well-known for. As a consequence of its unique location, the camp provides an unrivalled wilderness expertise, with non-public entry to Zibadianja Lagoon and greater than 45 km (28 mi) of unique traversing alongside the Linyanti River frontage, in addition to the north and south banks of the Savuti Channel – suppose easy area, privateness, seclusion and extraordinary wildlife encounters

The lagoon-side setting – which recurrently attracts herds of elephants – is essential to the structure and design of Wilderness DumaTau. The principle lodge – which includes a bar, eating room and a “curiosity room” below canvas – supply expansive views out over the water. The camp’s explorer tented type pays tribute to Botswana’s bygone eras, historic migratory paths and the age of exploration, whereas reclaimed timber provides an additional architectural layer to reinforce the primary lodge (in addition to visitor tents). All through the lodge, a coloration palette of berry, blush, terracotta and greens evoke the wilderness past. A spotlight is the lodge’s round fireplace deck, which floats over the tranquil river, linked to the primary lodge by a wood staircase.

Wilderness DumaTau options eight spacious tented suites – seven twin suites and one household unit – that are linked to the primary lodge by an elevated timber walkway. Every visitor suite has a cushty and alluring indoor lounge, in addition to spacious lavatory with indoor and out of doors showers. The luxurious visitor suites are raised off the bottom to take full benefit of the excellent riverfront views. A sliding gauze door at the back of the tent improves airflow by way of the suite, whereas the en-suite amenities embrace a sliding cloth wall that may be closed to make sure absolute privateness. An prolonged deck, with non-public plunge pool, and awnings create a calming shaded area to soak within the views and watch the wildlife transferring pas.

Wilderness DumaTau was fully rebuilt and reopened in 2021, with the addition of Little DumaTau, a co-located however smaller and extra intimate camp (with 4 similar suites). These two camps are located on the identical web site because the earlier DumaTau and are linked by an elevated timber walkway. Midway this walkway, between the 2 camps, is communal space known as the ‘Osprey Retreat’. Visitors who stroll to the centrally positioned Osprey Retreat will uncover not solely a pergola with daybeds, a safari boutique, a bar with scrumptious contemporary and wholesome snacks, and a totally outfitted gymnasium, but additionally a welcoming ‘cool deck’ with a pool an in-pool loungers. The pool has been rigorously aligned in order that it seems to merge with the darkish waters past. Proper subsequent to the Osprey Retreat is an expensive spa remedy room.

The design of the camp itself is meant to immediate questions and encourage friends to find the objective of DumaTau. The story of the camp and of the area is advised by way of two distinctive, life-size ‘curiosity packing containers’ within the visitor suites containing compelling particulars about elephant and wild canine – each key species used to elucidate DumaTau’s conservation objective. Extra curiosity packing containers are additionally discovered within the interpretive library, additional bringing these vital tales to life. The Linyanti is an important migration hall for elephants, and serves as a dispersal hub for wild canine, and it’s due to this fact essential that the Linyanti is protected, with conservation tourism enjoying a significant function. Via the continued presence of Dumatau camp on this web site, a significant contribution is made to make the realm a protected haven for a various vary of species.

All meals at Wilderness DumaTau (e.g. breakfast, lunch, afternoon and tea) are included within the room charge. By means of acknowledging that sustainability pertains to human livelihoods in addition to ecosystems, the meals providing at Wilderness DumaTau relies totally on seasonal and regionally accessible components. Sourcing produce from suppliers in northern Botswana reduces meals miles and helps small companies. Breakfast is served at 6 am round a camp fireplace close to the primary lodge (proper earlier than the morning drive). Visitor can choose to have their lunch al fresco on the camp’s barge. Dinners are served on the primary lodge’ terrace with each day altering menus. As soon as per week, a barbeque , accompanied by dances of the employees, is held within the boma proper behind the primary pavilion.

Sustainability is essential to the DumaTau story – adherence to Wilderness Safaris’ long-standing ban on concrete in its camps meant that when it proved crucial, one of many unique visitor rooms might be disassembled and relocated with minimal disruption. Flexibility within the design of the expanded rooms meant that they might be constructed round present timber. The timber cladding impact used all through the camps has been achieved by way of repurposing wood decking from the previous DumaTau. On nearer inspection, the main points on the hand-dyed cushions reveal themselves to have been lower from previous game-drive car tyres. Wilderness DumaTau can also be 100% solar-powered and all sizzling water is heated by photo voltaic geysers. Water-efficient showerheads, faucet aerators and cisterns additionally characteristic.

DumaTau is managed by Wilderness, certainly one of my favourite safari firms. Wilderness was based in 1983 in Botswana by two younger guides, who needed to make sure each conservation of wildlife areas and that the monetary advantages of their safaris move to Botswana and its folks. Immediately, Wilderness Safaris is extensively acclaimed because the continent’s foremost ecotourism operator, devoted to conserving and restoring Africa’s wilderness and wildlife. They do that by creating life-changing journeys in a number of the most distant and pristine areas in Africa, hereby serving to to preserve Africa’s spectacular biodiversity and share ecotourism’s advantages with the native communities. Jao might be mixed with a keep at Wilderness’ different prime lodges in Botswana – Jao, Vumbura Plains and DumaTau – to create an genuine and evocative desert expertise.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Through the South African winter months (June to October), the realm round Wilderness DumaTau is flourishing with wildlife, together with mega-herds of elephants and a great inhabitants of predators. To provide you an thought, throughout my go to within the month of July, I witnessed lions chasing antelopes (proper in entrance of the open automobile car), a pack of untamed canine searching some prey and a herd of 200+ elephants visiting a waterhole (multi function recreation drive). Nevertheless, for those who go to exterior the winter months, the sport drives at Wilderness DumaTau could also be much less rewarding for the reason that density of wildlife within the camp’s quick neighborhood is decrease.

Wilderness DumaTau is not fenced off, so friends are required to be vigilant always. Leopards, lions, buffalos, and elephants are current within the Okavango Delta, and there’s no bodily obstacle to them coming into the realm across the lodge. Elephanst ceaselessly go to the resort grounds. Certainly not are friends allowed to stroll across the lodge at evening, except accompanied by a employees member. Don’t worry although because it’s all a part of the joy of being immersed in a real African safari.

Wilderness DumaTau can solely be reached by small plane, both from Maun (30 min flight) or immediately from one of many different Wilderness Camps within the space. The considered flying in a small one-engine airplane could make some vacationers – together with myself – nervous. That stated, the flight itself is spectacular and provides phenomenal views of the delta, with wildlife gathering or galloping under. Additionally, Wilderness Air – the flying wing of Wilderness – is revered for its assorted fleet of sunshine plane suited to land on grime airstrips in distant areas and for its crew of passionate, skilled pilots devoted to friends’ security, consolation, and satisfaction. And Wilderness Air supply greater than only a connection, flying rigorously orchestrated circuits maximizing the time of friends within the Okavango Delta. For instance, when transferring from one lodge to a different, you’ll by no means must backtrack through Maun and flight occasions are all the time between 11 am and 4 pm, permitting you, as an example, a morning’s dreamy mokoro journey in a single lodge adopted by an adventurous afternoon recreation drive in one other lodge.

Malaria is widespread within the northern components of Botswana such because the Linyanti Concession (the place Wilderness DumaTau is positioned), notably throughout or after wet season from November to April. Drugs can be utilized to stop the probabilities of contracting malaria. For recommendation on using any malaria prophylaxis, you could contact the well being authorities or your native journey clinic previous to your travels. Along with any prophylactics, the next mitigation measures are advisable: cowl your arms, legs and ft within the evenings and apply a mosquito repellent containing DEET.

MY VERDICT

Location: 10/10
Design: 8/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 9/10
Meals: 9/10
Breakfast: 8/10
Spa: 9/10
Service: 10/10
Wow issue: 9/10
Worth for cash: 10/10
Total expertise: distinctive – 9.1/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Itinerary tip: My precise itinerary with Wilderness in Botswana – which included a keep at Jao, Vumbura Plains and DumaTau safari camps – might be discovered right here (this web site additionally means that you can ebook the identical journey).

Itinerary tip: I like to recommend a safari at Wilderness DumaTau between about June and October when recreation viewing is at its greatest.

Lower your expenses: learn right here my ideas for getting the perfect deal at a luxurious lodge like Wilderness DumaTau Camp (and/or obtain many free perks).

Learn my ideas for getting ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Wilderness DumaTau provides year-round safari actions. Whereas every season brings a singular enchantment, wildlife numbers are concentrated between June and October. These drier months provides prime alternatives to witness the annual migration of elephants alongside the Linyanti River, in addition to sightings of predators comparable to lions and leopards drawn to the focus of prey close to water sources.

HOW TO GET THERE

Wilderness DumaTau can solely be accessed by gentle plane into the close by airstrip, which has each day flight connections with all camps in Okavango, Linyanti, Maun Airport (which is the primary vacationer getaway to Botswana) and Kasane (for connections to Livingstone and Victoria Falls). Wilderness takes care of reserving all transfers and flight.