"We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right"
...Nelson Mandela
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Little Vumbura Tented Camp |
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Little Vumbura is a beautiful 6-roomed tented camp situated to the north of Mombo in a private reserve bordering the Moremi Game Reserve in the northern reaches of the Okavango Delta.
Little Vumbura offers both water and land activities. Mokoros (dug-out canoes) traverse the flood plains under the guidance of our experienced polers. Open 4x4 Land Rovers allow guests to get close to animals in the savannah areas. Guests usually have the opportunity to see Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Sable and Buffalo, along with all the plains animals, providing an excellent all round wildlife experience in this remote corner of the Okavango. Walks (on request basis only) around the islands as well as night drives give guests the opportunity to enjoy Africa from a different perspective.
The 6 tented rooms are large and comfortably appointed and each has an en-suite bathroom with hot and cold running water, a shower and flush toilet. The camp has a plunge pool.
Access into this area is only by aircraft and then guests are transferred by means of vehicle and then mokoro or boat to the camp from the airstrip. NG 22 - The Kwedi Reserve Vumbura Plains and Little Vumbura are situated in the extreme north of the Okavango, about 30km north of Mombo, in what is known locally as the Kwedi Reserve. More formally the Kwedi is known as areas NG 22 and 23. The entire area of over 100,000 hectares has been ceded by the Botswana Government and the Tawana Land Board to the people who live along the Okavango's northern boundary so that they can derive direct benefits from the wildlife and the environment on their doorstep.
These people live in five traditional villages to the north of the Okavango and the Kwedi. To ensure that the benefits from this arrangement are spread throughout all the people in this area, the annual payments we make go to a trust called The Okavango Community Trust. This trust represents the interests of all the people living in the five villages to the north of the Okavango. They also get the first job opportunities, the training and the benefits of other community projects that we run in the area from time to time. The five villages involved in this joint venture are Seronga, Gunitsoga, Eretsha, Betsha, and Gudigwa.
This trust has selected Wilderness Safaris as their joint venture partner, to run and manage the lodges and the tourism activities in this area. Along with this arrangement comes the right to hunt animals - including a large number of elephants leopard etc. Wilderness Safaris have elected NOT to hunt and in doing so we loose about US$300,000 in nett profit from the hunting operations. The reasons we have elected not to hunt are many and varied, but one of the most important reasons is that hunting and photographic tourism cannot mix in the same area for many reasons. One of them is that the animals in the area quickly cotton on that there is hunting and they either move away or become very skittish. As a result of this "no-hunting" policy in the Kwedi area (and because of the wide ranging habitats and permanent water in the floodplains) the Kwedi now has some of the best wildlife viewing in all of Botswana.
The vegetation ranges from the vast open flood plains to dense mopane bushveld and usually and historically has offered spectacular game viewing and birding opportunities all year round.
Wilderness Safaris operates three camps in this area where both land and water activities can be offered. The camps are Duba Plains, Vumbura Plains and Little Vumbura. Each of these has its own identity and character while subscribing to the very high standards set by Wilderness. Operationally the Kwedi is very difficult for our maintenance people as the open plains become filled with water to extremely high levels. Access to this area is only by air. LOCATION
- Okavango Delta, north side
- North of the Moremi Wildlife Reserve
- In a private concession Pricing /Child Policy
Green Season: December to March
Shoulder Season: April to 14 June and November
High Season: 15 June to October
- Children over the age of 8 years are welcome
ACCOMMODATION
Number of tents:
Six tents in total consisting of:
· 4 x ¾ twin bedded tents
· 1 family tent - accommodates four guests
· 1 king-size bedded honeymoon tent
· 1 twin bedded guides tent (not the same standard as guest tent)
This camp can accommodate 12 guests plus one guide/tour leader.
Tent details:
- Canvas tents with en-suite facilities
- Beds look out over the view
- Verandas at each tent
- Entrance to tent through double door
- Bathrooms en-suite under same canvas roof within same tent as bedroom
- Soaps, shampoos and insect repellents are supplied in each tent
- Fans
- Both the bedroom and bathroom have a view, i.e. they are landscape shaped.
CAMP DESCRIPTION
- Great multi-activity camp with privacy
- Main area encompasses pub, dining room and lounge under canvas on saligna decking
- Reading area overlooking the flood plains
- Plunge pool
- Slide projector
GAME VIEWING
Game viewing in the concession is well balanced for all the different types of activities. Predator sightings of Lion, Leopard and Cheetah are good and Wild Dogs are frequently seen. The plains game numbers are excellent year round - Zebra, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Buffalo, Sable and Impala. Birding is good all year.
ACTIVITIES
Type - 50% game drives 50% water activities (but can change depending on flood levels)
- Game drives via 2 x 10 seater open 4 x 4 Land Rovers each accommodating a maximum of six or seven guests, allowing all guests an outside seat.
- Night drives
- Walks can be arranged on nearby islands (on request basis only)
- Water game viewing in mekoro (a traditional dug-out canoe) 4 x 2 seater mekoro
- One power boat seating8 guests
SUGGESTED DAILY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Below is only a suggestion as to what may happen in camp - as daily wildlife sightings tend to throw the schedule right out of schedule.
Summer/winter
05h00/06h00 - Wake up call. Light continental breakfast consisting of cereals, tee/coffee/juices and pastries to be served in the dining area.
05h30/06h30 - Depart on morning activity, returning to camp at approximately 10h00.
10h00/11h00 - Brunch will be served, this will consist of a selection of breakfast and lunch dishes. From now until afternoon tea, guests will be at leisure.
16h00/15h00 - Afternoon tea will be served - this will consist of a selection of sweet and savoury snacks.
16h30/15h30 - Depart on afternoon game viewing activity - drinks and snacks will be served for sundowners during the course of the activity.
17h30/16h30 - Return to camp (but could be later if good game sightings).
20h00/19h30 - Pre-dinner drinks and snacks will be served at the pub.
20h30/20h00 - Three course dinner - generally speaking the starter and desert is served, whilst the main course is buffet style.
21h30/21h00 - Coffee and liqueurs will be served at the camp fire.
ELECTRICITY & WATER
- Camp has 220v generator powered electricity run in kitchen and main areas when guests are not in camp. When guests return from daily activities, generators generally are switched off (for peace in camp).
- 12w battery power (charged by the generator) is used for lighting and fans in each guest tent 24hrs/day.
- Video battery can be charged when guests on game drives. Hence bring spare battery and charging unit.
- Solar heated water.
DRINKS POLICY
All drinks are included in the nightly tariff, with the exception of premium wines & champagne, and Premium liqueurs & spirits.
LAUNDRY POLICY
Laundry is done on a daily basis and inclusive in the nightly tariff with the exception of "smalls" i.e. underwear, which are not washed due to local customs.
EXTRA PAYMENT
Curios, imported drinks and tip/gratuities can be billed to the tent number and settled on check out. Payment can be effected by cash (US$), travellers' cheques or the following credit cards: Visa or MasterCard.
FLYING TIMES
To/from Maun 38 minutes
To/from Kasane 1hr 15 minutes
Kasane to Victoria Falls 20 minutes but allow additional time for customs and immigration.
AIRSTRIP DETAILS
Located 45 minutes' drive from camp
Is licensed for heavier aircraft up to 5700kg, such as King Airs provided that they have flotation gear.
Uses Vumbura's airstrip.
Airstrip co-ordinates: S18.57.13, E022.48.71. Guests are transferred by boat or mokoro into camp. |
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