Evaluation: Wilderness DumaTau Camp (Botswana)

Wednesday newsletters all the time characteristic a resort or flight overview.

Early July, I loved one in all my greatest holidays ever, an ultra-luxe safari in Botswana with Wilderness, Africa’s award-winning, main eco-tourism firm. My actual itinerary with Wilderness in Botswana could be discovered right here (this website additionally lets you e book the identical journey). You may learn my journey stories right here:

Right now: Evaluation 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 presents actually 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 usually wander peacefully by 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 one in all Africa’s most elemental rhythms. Comparable in model to DumaTau, Little DumaTau is an intimate haven of subtle magnificence, 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? In that case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.

On this overview (extra information 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 woodland habitats, historical floodplains and forests that make up this lush, unfenced reserve. The large sport on this space will increase dramatically through 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 often sighted. This huge, untamed wilderness is the proper location for these looking for a novel African journey in a distant huge sport habitat.

Situated alongside the Osprey Lagoon inside the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, Wilderness DumaTau enjoys a very extraordinary setting. The lodge’s intensive 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. Because of its unique location, the camp presents 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 – assume easy area, privateness, seclusion and extraordinary wildlife encounters

The lagoon-side setting – which repeatedly attracts herds of elephants – is essential to the structure and design of Wilderness DumaTau. The primary lodge – which includes a bar, eating room and a “curiosity room” underneath canvas – provide expansive views out over the water. The camp’s explorer tented model pays tribute to Botswana’s bygone eras, historical 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 colour 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 welcoming indoor lounge, in addition to spacious rest room 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 behind the tent improves airflow by the suite, whereas the en-suite services embody a sliding material 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 an identical suites). These two camps are located on the identical website 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’. Friends who stroll to the centrally situated Osprey Retreat will uncover not solely a pergola with daybeds, a safari boutique, a bar with scrumptious contemporary and wholesome snacks, and a totally geared up fitness center, 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 visitors to find the function of DumaTau. The story of the camp and of the area is instructed by two distinctive, life-size ‘curiosity bins’ within the visitor suites containing compelling particulars about elephant and wild canine – each key species used to clarify DumaTau’s conservation function. Further curiosity bins 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 taking part in an important function. By means of the continued presence of Dumatau camp on this website, a significant contribution is made to make the realm a secure haven for a various vary of species.

All meals at Wilderness DumaTau (e.g. breakfast, lunch, afternoon and tea) are included within the room fee. By the use 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 decide to have their lunch al fresco on the camp’s barge. Dinners are served on the primary lodge’ terrace with every day altering menus. As soon as every week, a barbeque , accompanied by dances of the workers, 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 obligatory, one of many unique visitor rooms could possibly be disassembled and relocated with minimal disruption. Flexibility within the design of the expanded rooms meant that they could possibly be constructed round current bushes. The timber cladding impact used all through the camps has been achieved by repurposing wood decking from the outdated DumaTau. On nearer inspection, the main points on the hand-dyed cushions reveal themselves to have been reduce from outdated game-drive car tyres. Wilderness DumaTau can be 100% solar-powered and all scorching water is heated by photo voltaic geysers. Water-efficient showerheads, faucet aerators and cisterns additionally characteristic.

DumaTau is managed by Wilderness, one in all 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. Right now, Wilderness Safaris is broadly 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 could 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 an excellent 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 canines searching some prey and a herd of 200+ elephants visiting a waterhole (multi function sport drive). Nevertheless, when you go to exterior the winter months, the sport drives at Wilderness DumaTau could also be much less rewarding because the density of wildlife within the camp’s rapid neighborhood is decrease.

Wilderness DumaTau is not fenced off, so visitors 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 getting into the realm across the lodge. Elephanst often go to the resort grounds. By no means are visitors allowed to stroll across the lodge at night time, until accompanied by a workers 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 aircraft could make some vacationers – together with myself – nervous. That stated, the flight itself is spectacular and presents phenomenal views of the delta, with wildlife gathering or galloping under. Additionally, Wilderness Air – the flying wing of Wilderness – is revered for its diversified fleet of sunshine plane suited to land on grime airstrips in distant areas and for its staff of passionate, skilled pilots devoted to visitors’ security, consolation, and satisfaction. And Wilderness Air provide greater than only a connection, flying rigorously orchestrated circuits maximizing the time of visitors within the Okavango Delta. For instance, when transferring from one lodge to a different, you’ll by no means need to backtrack through Maun and flight instances are all the time between 11 am and 4 pm, permitting you, for example, a morning’s dreamy mokoro trip in a single lodge adopted by an adventurous afternoon sport drive in one other lodge.

Malaria is frequent within the northern components of Botswana such because the Linyanti Concession (the place Wilderness DumaTau is situated), notably throughout or after wet season from November to April. Medicines can be utilized to forestall the possibilities of contracting malaria. For recommendation on using any malaria prophylaxis, it’s good to contact the well being authorities or your native journey clinic previous to your travels. Along with any prophylactics, the next mitigation measures are really useful: 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
General expertise: distinctive – 9.1/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Itinerary tip: My actual itinerary with Wilderness in Botswana – which included a keep at Jao, Vumbura Plains and DumaTau safari camps – could be discovered right here (this website additionally lets you e book the identical journey).

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

Lower your expenses: learn right here my ideas for getting the perfect deal at a luxurious resort 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 presents year-round safari actions. Whereas every season brings a novel attraction, wildlife numbers are concentrated between June and October. These drier months presents prime alternatives to witness the annual migration of elephants alongside the Linyanti River, in addition to sightings of predators reminiscent of 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 every 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.