Little Vumbura

This luxury en-suite family unit accommodates up to four guests, comprising two bedrooms and two bathrooms, each with their own entrance and inter-leading door. Interior is decorated in the classical yet lavish safari style, containing a variety of modern furnishings and amenities designed to elevate the guest experience. A pool and reading area overlook the floodplains and a star deck leads off the dining area.

Amenities Include:

• Two en-suite bathrooms
• Shower facilities
• Two sets of twin beds/king size beds
• Veranda
• Lounge area
• Mosquito nets
• Fan
• Safe
• Hairdryer
• Complimentary internet access
• Complimentary laundry service

These five luxury en-suite units stand elevated above the ground on teak decks, offering views over the waving grasses of the surrounding floodplains. There are five standard tents with four twin bedded tents and one king size bedded tent. Interior is decorated in the classical yet lavish safari style, containing a variety of modern furnishings and amenities designed to elevate the guest experience. A pool and reading area overlook the floodplains and a star deck leads off the dining area.

Amenities Include:

• En-suite bathroom
• Shower facilities
• Twin beds/singular king size bed
• Veranda
• Lounge area
• Mosquito nets
• Fan
• Safe
• Hairdryer
• A small kettle with tea and coffee provided
• Complimentary internet access
• Complimentary laundry service

Little Vumbura’s assembly of talented and dedicated catering staff will ensure the ultimate dining experience throughout the duration of your stay. Three set meals are served throughout the day, as well as a host of lite bites and snacks to enjoy around the clock, ensuring guaranteed appetite satisfaction. A sumptuous and diverse menu, ranging from tried-and-true crowd pleasers to exotic delicacies – with everything in-between, serves to satisfy the pallets of all guests.

Should you have any specific dietary requirements, inform the catering staff and they will be happy to accommodate any specifications you request. With all-inclusive rates you’re free to enjoy a range of locally sourced and imported alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at your own discretion.

Hot-air balloon safaris are few and far between, vacant even amongst many of the infamous retreats that speckle the landscape of the Okavango Delta. This unique and atmospheric excursion across delta skies is not to be missed, presenting the opportunity to view herds of mammals pass beneath you, viewing the expanse of merging ecosystems and immersive landscapes from your exclusive viewing platform high in the sky. Hot-air balloon excursions are accessible via location external to little Vumbura and come at additional fees.

Embark on foot across immersive delta lands in the company of experienced guides and friends alike. Lace-up for an adventure like no other and be sure to bring a camera, as you don’t want to miss the opportunity to photograph the expanse of exotic, meandering animals synonymous with authentic African Style safari game viewing. An area is chosen at the guide’s discretion, in keeping with safe distances from large herds of elephant and buffalo. The distance and area for each walk may differ seasonally.

Set sale for a fishing excursion like no other. The Okavango Delta and its surrounding lakes and lagoons provide the quintessential arena to unwind while you cast a line. Little compares to the sensation of calmly drifting through delta waters, soaking in the atmosphere of the surrounding bushland. Delta’s channels provide an abundance of seasonal fish such as tilapia and spotted silver catfish. For a more intense fishing experience, test your hand against African pike – infamous fighters. Basic equipment is supplied, though avid fly-fishers are advised to bring their own equipment. Please note, catch and release fishing only.

Embark on a tranquil, culturally enlightening maritime safari experience as seasoned guides paddle you peacefully through calm delta waters in a traditional style African dugout canoe – colloquially known as mokoro. Embark before the dawn of a day’s adventure and watch the sun rise over the horizon while calmly drifting down delta channels in search of neighbouring islands and aquatic game.

Set sail for the river delta in this once in a lifetime marine safari adventure. Traverse open waters in hard bottom aluminium boats as professionally licensed guides take you on a journey through the winding channels of the Okavango Delta in search of neighbouring islands and aquatic game, ensuring a truly remarkable maritime safari experience. Boats are equipped with comfortable seats, a foldaway canvas roof and life jackets as standard.

If you desire a taste of the authentic Botswanan way of life and a first-hand experience of local cultures and customs, look no further than Little Vumbura. Embark on a culturally enlightening journey to one of Little Vumbura’s closely situated villages and be greeted by indigenous peoples. Speak with village elders and meet local children, or perhaps visit the local market stalls, bakeries and churches for a truly eye opening and impactful adventure, with activities such as basket weaving, candle making and a host of additional extras.

Take to the skies in this once in a lifetime aerial safari endeavour. View the Okavango Delta as you have never seen it before with exquisite views over the vastness of the Vumbura concession, witnessing elevated sights unattainable via conventional ground-based safari. Witness scores of meandering elephant herds and other large mammals pass beneath you and awe at the remarkable geography that awaits as experienced pilots chauffeur you across the vastness of the delta plains. Scenic Helicopter Flights are accessible via external location and come at extra costs.

Birders flock to the Okavango from every corner of the globe, all eager to view the over 450 species of exotic avian life that call Botswana home. Traverse the interconnected mosaic of habitats and ecosystems with experienced and knowledgeable guides who will point out the various indigenous species for you to view. Be sure to bring binoculars, as not to miss some of the rarer bird species such as African fish eagle, wattled crane or African jacana (just to name a few). December to April is the optimum time for birders as migrants fly inland for breeding.

Guided game drives provide the opportunity to traverse expansive delta lands in open 4×4 safari vehicles. Thriving game populations within the concession make for ample wildlife viewing potential as you travel across open landscapes and merging eco systems. All the big cats await you, as well as the larger safari staples such as elephant, hippopotamus and buffalo, as do herds of giraffe, frolicking zebra, kudu and wild dog – to name only a few. Night drives present the opportunity for a uniquely different game viewing experience, with the appearance of nocturnal delta creatures rarely seen during daytime hours.

With the availability of private safari vehicles, Little Vumbura puts you at the wheel for the bespoke, headlight lit game viewing experience of a lifetime. Be sure to bring a camera, as not to miss out on the immense photographic potential presented by the exotic wildlife and immersive landscapes of the Okavango.

Wilderness Safaris aim is that if the camps ever needed to be moved they could do so without leaving an imprint on the land. All Wilderness Safari camps are built in the most eco-friendly way possible. To reduce their carbon footprint and to help them become carbon neutral in their operations, they invest in new technologies to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.

Wilderness Safaris partner properties all work under the sustainability ethos of conservation, culture, commerce and community. Pack for a Purpose is one of the community projects that Wilderness Safaris has partnered with, it is “a non-profit organisation that provides travellers with up-to-date information about required supplies for community-based projects.”

This is an educational programme created by Wilderness Safaris which aims to educate and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders by teaching them life skills and environmental issues. This programme aims to “create a network of learning sanctuaries that uplifts and cares for our children and conserves the planet.”

Wilderness Safaris created their own Trust in 2003, this is an independent entity that fund-raises for money to be put into various conservation projects. This engages with projects which can be beyond the scope of the areas in which Wilderness Safaris operate, ensuring that “conservation is a driving force in reaching more people, wildlife and places.” The Jao Concession and the University of Botswana have created a committee hoping to “encourage better engagement between local communities and the Jao Concession, specifically regarding curbing poaching and overfishing.”

Both the black and white rhino were declared locally extinct in Botswana in the early 1990s. Since then, Wilderness Safaris have partnered with the Botswana government and other NGOs to reintroduce and establish healthy, breeding populations of black and white rhino in the Okavango Delta. Wilderness Safaris helped to restore these rhinos to the wild “in the largest cross-border move ever completed.”

Wilderness Safaris employs an ensemble of local workers and tradespeople for use in the construction of its facilities and maintenance, as well as the sourcing and training of national citizens to serve the role of guides and in-camp staff. It is essential to impart a positive effect on not only the environment, but on the people and communities that without whom, sustainable tourism would be but an empty proposition.

There are few people more qualified to provide the ultimate safari experience than the locals themselves, and as such, Wilderness Safaris recognises the importance of providing local people with opportunities and employment, stressing careers as opposed to jobs – giving back to the communities who have given so much.

The Vumbura Concession is leased from remote rural communities organised under the Okavango Community Trust. The result of this partnership includes socio-economic benefits, livelihood diversification, and benefits from training and skills development for the native peoples of local villages – as well as more positive attitudes to tourism and conservation.

Wilderness Safaris has partnered with Pack for a Purpose – a non-profit organisation that provides travellers with up-to-date information about required supplies for community-based projects. All guests travelling to Little Vumbura who wish to contribute are invited to view the needs list for Little Vumbura’s community projects on the Pack for a Purpose website. For instance, items may range from stationary, relevant books and texts, children’s clothing and toys, or inflatable balls and pumps.

Little Vumbura is situated within a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) which is leased from five villages through the Okavango Community Trust. This partnership will ensure that the benefits and proceeds generated by ecotourism are shared with the neighbouring rural stakeholders. By doing this, a proportionate amount of the revenue generated by staying at Little Vumbura is pumped directly into community initiatives and local economies.

A Wilderness Wildlife Trust-funded project developed a comprehensive understanding of the past and present genetic structure of the lion population centred on Botswana’s Okavango Delta. This scientific glance into lion genetics, headed by lion researcher Simon Dures seeks to humanely collect DNA samples from the lion populations of the Okavango Delta in order to analyse genetic patterns that could explain how human development and encroachment in and around the delta region is affecting the ability of lions to breed and move across landscapes – as well as numerous other ecologically grounded questions and hypotheses. The research collected through the Lion Genetics Study could impact ecological initiatives for years to come and aid in future conservation efforts.

Little Vumbura, as with many Wilderness Safaris retreats operates on entirely 100% sustainable solar powered energy. By utilising the abundance of sun inherent to Northern Botswana, Little Vumbura can supply a consistent source of energy that is used to power the camps many facilities, offsetting the need for conventional diesel-powered generators that are detrimental to the surrounding wilderness and environment. Through ecologically friendly initiatives such as this, Little Vumbura serves as a shining example of how to successfully operate within the sustainable tourism industry for all to see and take note.

Little Vumbura is constructed from primarily recyclable and locally sourced materials where applicable, negating the need to haul lumber and other construction materials long distances from neighbouring towns and villages. Initiatives such as this greatly offsets potential carbon emissions and negates disruption to the surrounding environments and habitats. Accommodations and camp facilities are constructed from degradable and natural materials, as to ecologically fit with the surrounding environment rather than impose upon it.