Evaluate: Wilderness Vumbura Plains (Okavango Delta, Botswana)

September 12, 2024

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

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 precise itinerary with Wilderness in Botswana may be discovered right here (this website additionally means that you can e book the identical journey). You possibly can learn my journey studies right here:

At the moment: Evaluate of Wilderness Vumbura Plains (Okavango Delta, Botswana)

Vumbura Plains affords vacationers a chic African wilderness journey, with arguably the most effective wildlife encounters in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. A contemporary-style safari camp that wouldn’t look misplaced in an structure journal, Wilderness Vumbura Plains is designed and operated in whole empathy with its numerous environment. Partnerships with native communities on this area of the Okavango Delta have created empowerment alternatives whereas permitting company entry to its many treasures. Fourteen mild, ethereal visitor suites function designer fittings and touches of unabashed luxurious, together with non-public plunge swimming pools and salas, in addition to indoor and outside showers. Safari actions give attention to day and evening sport drives via a wide range of game-rich terrains and on (seasonal) water actions.

Have you ever ever stayed at Wilderness Vumbura Plains? In that case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.

On this assessment (extra information and images under my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

Wilderness Vumbura Plains is without doubt one of the prime lodges within the Okavango Delta – a World Heritage Website as it’s the largest inland delta on this planet – within the northwestern nook of Botswana. The magnificent Okavango River sprawls out over the dry sands of the Kalahari Desert forming this flourishing waterlogged oasis that includes numerous meandering waterways and crystal clear lagoons studded with water lilies, in addition to fertile floodplains and reeded islands inhabited with considerable wildlife. Guests within the Okavango Delta can take pleasure in a variety of great actions equivalent to sport viewing, fishing, chook watching or taking an genuine guided mokoro tour via this wetland paradise in a conventional dugout canoe. Generally noticed animals embrace: lion, rhino, leopard, giraffe, hippos, elephants, crocodiles and numerous species of chook.

Wilderness Vumbura Plains lies within the far north of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The lodge is situated in a 60 000-hectare non-public wilderness space identified for its glorious wildlife recognizing alternatives and water actions. The enthralling mopane bushveld and huge floodplains are residence to an enormous variety of animal species, together with wild canine, lion, hyena, and leopard (these species are essentially the most generally noticed) in addition to giraffes, elephants, Burchell’s zebra, and quite a few antelope species. The reserve affords day and evening sport drives, in addition to guided walks and images excursions. Fringing the world-famous Moremi Recreation Reserve, the lodge’s non-public wildlife reserve is adorned with everlasting waterways, tree islands, and swamps – offering the possibility for kayaking, boat excursions, and chook recognizing.

Wilderness Vumbura Plains is reached by mild plane from Maun (or from different Wilderness lodges). The bush airplane flies at low altitude over golden-grassed floodplains, framed by lush palm islands, which can be inhabited by a staggering number of wildlife which may be noticed from a chook’s-eye perspective. For the flights, Wilderness makes use of its personal fleet of Cessna plane. Wilderness Air has gained a popularity for steadfast operations and glorious visitor service, revered for its diverse fleet of sunshine plane suited to land on dust airstrips in distant areas and for its workforce of passionate, skilled pilots devoted to company’ security, consolation, and satisfaction. In Maun, company awaiting their flights or transfers have full entry to the Wilderness Lounge, which is situated in a constructing adjoining to the airport. The lounge affords seating and eating amenities in its absolutely air-conditioned area. Wi-Fi, showers, snacks and drinks.

Wilderness Vumbura Plains is made up of two satellite tv for pc safari camps – North Camp and South Camp – that are run semi-independently and related by an elevated, timber walkway that hangs over the floodplain. Though North and South Camp have a barely totally different structure, they each are very comparable in design and have equivalent amenities. Every camp includes seven massive pool suites: all suites on the South Camp are single bed room suites whereas two of the seven suites at North Camp are designed with households in thoughts (every with two bedrooms). On the coronary heart of each camps is a communal pavilion, with massive indoor and outside residing & eating areas, a bar and sunken lounges. Each camps embody expansive vistas throughout the huge floodplains and its native wildlife.

Wilderness Vumbura Plains underwent an in depth refurbishment of its exteriors and interiors in 2022. All furnishings was changed or enhanced to mix into the African bush, leading to a refreshed feel and look that showcases a way of place and tradition. The camp’s fashionable design is greatest described as trendy, natural and minimalist, with numerous design parts bringing nature inside. The open-sided lounges at each camps boast art work, screens, and maps on the Delta’s formation and the huge vary of life it helps. One complete lounge wall is hung with colourful regionally woven baskets, whose numerous patterns inform totally different tales or depict explicit animal patterns. The camp’s muted earth colour palette flows in shades of turquoise, blue, purple, and inexperienced, paying homage to the encompassing wilderness.

Wilderness Vumbura Plains’ 14 luxurious suites are break up equally between noth satellite tv for pc camps (North & south Camp), with all suites spaced properly aside and raised up on decks. Every suite options a big outside deck with a shaded lounge space, some solar beds, and a plunge pool. Inside, every suite options excessive thatched ceilings, an enormous kingsize mattress, a sunken lounge space, and an ensuite open-plan toilet with double self-importance and indoor- & outside showers. Enlarged underwater pictures by Andrea Crawford adorn clad wardrobe doorways and bathe screens. Redesigned doorways and home windows all through maximise expansive views of the floodplains, ilala palms, and small islands. The suites function all 5 star amenities you’d count on in a top-notch lodge, equivalent to WiFi and a mini bar, stocked filled with complimentary beers, wine, and spirits.

All meals at Vumbura Plains are included within the room fee. The lodge’s delicacies is intently aligned with conventional native fare. The delicious eating choices have fun the scrumptious native, seasonal elements of the area, its traditions and Wilderness’ partnerships with the native farmers, suppliers and artisans. Components are bought regionally, thereby decreasing the meals miles inherent in each meal, and offering neighboring communities with an alternate income stream. Every meal is a journey into the tradition and traditions of the individuals of northern Botswana, whereas in-camp interplay with cooks and repair employees brings the tales and proverbs related to every dish to life. Signature dishes use the normal powdered root of the Okavango waterlily, ‘tswii’. Native ‘phapata’ bread cooked over the morning camp fireplace is an early morning safari staple.

The 60 000-hectare Vumbura Plains Non-public Wilderness Space is leased from 5 villages via the Okavango Group Belief (OCT), a partnership that spans 20 profitable years of impactful conservation tourism within the space. The advantages of income era, job creation, and different sources of earnings are shared with its neighboring rural stakeholders. The OCT was fashioned in 1996 to characterize the pursuits of the camp’s 5 neighbouring villages – Seronga, Gunotsoga, Eretsha, Beetsha and Gudigwa – within the jap panhandle of the Okavango Delta. In co-operation with the Botswana Authorities and numerous stakeholders, it distributes funds for group upliftment and help to those distant northern communities. Greater than 150 workers from OCT villages are employed throughout Wilderness camps.

Vumbura’s prolific wildlife and diverse habitats – mopane, acacia woodland, floodplains and everlasting swamp – provide company an thrilling year-round water- and land-based actions within the Okavango Delta with extraordinary sport viewing. Wilderness experiences embrace day and evening sport drives in 4WD safari automobiles, bush walks and mokoro rides (dugout canoes), in addition to scenic helicopter flights and scorching air ballooning. It makes Vumbura Plains one of the vital unique locations within the Okavango Delta for the discerning adventure-seeker. Vumbura Plains’ distinctive group concession settlement signifies that lots of the skilled guides right here grew up on this space, including an additional layer of authenticity and cultural relevance to their professional monitoring and identification expertise. Each visitor’s expertise is tailor-made to swimsuit their explicit pursuits.

Wilderness Vumbura Camp is managed by Wilderness Safaris, one in all my favourite safari corporations. 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 individuals. At the moment, 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 among 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 may be mixed with a keep at Wilderness’ different lodges in Botswana to create an genuine and evocative desert expertise, from Jao and Mombo to DumaTau within the far north.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Opposite to different Wilderness premium safari camps in Botswana (DumaTau, Jao and Mombo), Vumbura Plains doesn’t function communal wellness- and leisure amenities, equivalent to a pool space, spa or fitness center. The concept is that company chill out at their huge suites in between safari actions, the place they’ll take pleasure in their non-public plunge swimming pools overlooking the flood plains. And whereas there isn’t a devoted spa, company can request in-tent therapeutic massage therapies (at an extra value). These safari therapeutic massage therapies are fairly in style, so be sure you e book your session once you arrive. The suites on the camp additionally embrace a gym-in-a-basket, consists of an train mat, weights and resistance bands. And whereas there aren’t devoted leisure amenities on the lodge, don’t miss out on the very good curio store (situated between North & South Camp) because it’s probably the greatest in Botswana.

The suites at Wilderness Vumbura Plains are spaced properly aside alongside the boardwalk, so this could imply lengthy up-and-down strolls once you’re staying in one of many suites additional away from the primary lodge. When you have difficulties strolling, be sure that to tell the employees upfront and request a collection nearer to the primary lodge.

Wilderness Vumbura Plains is not fenced off, so company 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. By no means are company allowed to stroll across the lodge at evening, until 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 Vumbura Plains 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 affords phenomenal views of the delta, with wildlife gathering or galloping under. Additionally, Wilderness Air – the flying wing of Wilderness – is revered for its diverse fleet of sunshine plane suited to land on dust airstrips in distant areas and for its workforce of passionate, skilled pilots devoted to company’ security, consolation, and satisfaction. And Wilderness Air provide greater than only a connection, flying fastidiously orchestrated circuits maximizing the time of company within the Okavango Delta. For instance, when transferring from one lodge to a different, you’ll by no means should backtrack through Maun and flight instances are all the time between 11 am and 4 pm, permitting you, as an illustration, 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 Okavango Delta (the place Wilderness Vumbura Plains is situated) and Chobe areas, 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, you must contact the well being authorities or your native journey clinic previous to your travels. Along with any prophylactics, the next mitigation measures are really helpful: 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 (solely non-public plunge swimming pools)
Rooms: 9/10
Meals: 9/10
Breakfast: 8/10
Spa: 8/10 (solely in-room therapies)
Service: 10/10
Wow issue: 9/10
Worth for cash: 10/10
Total expertise: distinctive 9/10

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 – may be discovered right here (this website additionally means that you can e book the identical journey).

Lower your expenses: learn right here my suggestions for getting the most effective deal at a luxurious lodge like Wilderness Vumbura Plains Camp (and/or obtain many free perks).

Learn my suggestions for getting ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Wilderness Vumbura Plains affords year-round safari actions. Whereas every season brings a singular enchantment, wildlife numbers are concentrated between June and October. These drier months additionally enable for seasonal sport drive alternatives.

The perfect time to go to the Okavango Delta is through the dry season from June to September. Though known as the ‘dry season’, the water ranges of the Okavango Delta are at their highest level in these months because the flood waters are arriving from Angola, with animals flocking to the waters from the dry hinterland. That is additionally when many camps can provide water actions (e.g. boat rides, mokoro excursions). Going by the rule of thumb, water within the Delta begins to move in June (when it arrives from the Angolan Highlands), whereas by the tip of August, a lot of the water has handed via the Delta and water ranges begin to drop once more.
In the summertime months (December to February), the temperatures are hovering and thundershowers are frequent. Throughout this time of the 12 months, some areas within the delta change into waterlogged, making highway journey difficult and airstrips trickier to traverse. That stated, glorious sport viewing may be loved in the summertime months too, in the precise areas with good resident sport and everlasting water channels. Additionally, if you’re a birder, the most effective time to go to the Okavango Delta is usually through the summer season months when the Okavango is bursting with resident and migratory birds.

HOW TO GET THERE

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