Featured Favorite: Little Vumbura

Little Vumbura

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Who it’s best for:

Wildlife lovers, adventure lovers, active travelers, families and photographers

Activities:

Day and night game drives, boating safaris, mokoro rides (traditional wooden canoes), walking safaris, catch-and-release fishing, hot air ballooning, scenic helicopter flights and guided photographic lessons

Why we love it:

Botswana is our favorite country for safaris and Little Vumbura is our favorite place to stay there. Set on its own private island in the heart of the Okavango Delta, this charming camp is everything we love about a safari experience. Between only being accessible by boat and being mere minutes away from one of the most productive savannahs, it’s the perfect way to experience this must-see destination.

Into the Delta

The Okavango Delta is one of the most coveted safari destinations in all of Africa, and easily one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet. In the middle of the vast sweep of the Kalahari, waters that have flown countless miles from the Angolan highlands abruptly break their banks and fan out across 5,800 square miles to form the Okavango Delta. This creates a haven for wildlife unlike anywhere else on Earth.

The delta is a vast tapestry of different habitats ranging from savannah grassland and reedy wetlands to ancient ebony forests and deep lagoons. A huge abundance and diversity of birds and animals are drawn to the watery paradise, creating the most incredible game viewing experience. You’ll see it all, from the usual suspects like elephants, giraffes and zebras to rare species like sitatunga. If birdwatching is your thing, there’s well over 400 species to scope out, from the littlest in Africa (the penduline tit) to the largest (the ostrich).

One of the biggest highlights of visiting the delta is the incredible abundance and diversity of predators that you can see. Alongside the safari classics (think lions and cheetahs), you can also spot rare ones, such as bat-eared foxes, African wild cats and endangered wild dogs. The area around Little Vumbura is rich with towering ebony trees, the favorite hang-out of the ever-elusive leopard, giving you prime opportunities to see one of them.

Photographer’s Paradise

Little Vumbura is one of the best camps for photographers. Located on its own private island right in the middle of deep, year-round channels and lagoons, you can choose whether you want to photograph wildlife around the water or take a five minute boat ride over to one of the most productive savannahs in the entire delta. It is located on the northern side of the delta, so the floods arrive first and dry up the last, making it fabulous year-round. But it will be fantastic whether you go during the green season when the landscape is lush and the wildlife pops against the verdant backdrops, or during the dry season when the flood plains are full and utterly magnificent.

By Land, Water and Air

The activities on offer at Little Vumbura are some of the most diverse and thrilling in the entire delta. With one of the most productive savannahs in the entire delta just a short boat ride away, there wildlife viewing is prolific and incredibly memorable. Beyond the usual game drives in search of big game, you can also explore on foot for an up-close perspective on the delta’s smaller residents, as well as learning about the local use of plants for food and medicine.

There are of course several ways to enjoy the region’s signature waterways. Weave through the maze of channels and lagoons on a motorboat safari or slow down with a ride in a mokoro. These traditional dug-out canoes are how the local communities have moved through the delta for generations, so it’s very special to experience the ecosystem this way. Without the noise of any engines, you can drift peacefully past wildlife as they go about their business. Watch as elephants feed on marshy reeds, red lechwe bound gracefully across flood plains and kingfishers dart about like colorful arrows.

For a breathtaking view of the Okavango from above, Little Vumbura offers both scenic helicopter flips as well as hot air balloon rides. From above you can truly see the forces of water and animals on the earth, etching their trails, channels and lagoons in the vegetation. You can watch wildlife as they wander below…hippos wallowing and snorting, flocks of cranes taking off, maybe even lions lounging in a hidden glen. Though this is incredibly memorable for anyone, this is especially great for photographers. You’ll create images unlike anyone else!

Barefoot Luxury

Life in camp is just as charming as the safari itself. Little Vumbura elevates a laid-back ambiance and tranquil setting with superb service, wonderful food and thoughtfully planned splashes of luxury. The suites are simple and comfortable with plenty of space to spread out, great views and all the amenities and comforts you could ever need. Elevated walkways connect all the suites and main area, so you’re immersed into nature without any inconveniences. There’s nothing better than waking up to birdsong and falling asleep to the sounds of crickets and gently rustling reeds.

Don’t be surprised if there’s elephants wandering around though – a resident herd has taken a liking to feeding on the trees scattered throughout camp. It’s such a treat to just relax on your private deck sipping on a cocktail and watching them stuff themselves silly on figs and marula fruits.

Or imagine turning the corner in your mokoro to find a dreamy sundowner set-up: chairs perched in the shallows so you can cool your toes, the bar (complete with garnishes!) floating on its own tray and the pink light of sunset fading across the gently rippling water. There’s nothing else in the world quite like a stay at Little Vumbura!

Family Safaris

It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of taking your kids on safari, and Little Vumbura is one of our all-time favorites. They have perfected the art of crafting a kid-friendly experience that will keep them engaged while creating lifelong memories. From special activities such as kid-oriented bush walks, basketweaving and campfire s'mores to family suites perfectly designed for togetherness when needed and privacy when desired, there is no better place for your family.

Visit Little Vumbura for Yourself!

Little Vumbura is such a Mango Safaris favorite that we have included it in myriad of our best itineraries. Whether you want a Botswana-centric trip, one that celebrates Southern Africa or an extraordinary journey that ventures all the way from Botswana to the highlights of East Africa and finally Egypt, we have one for you! Or even better, let us do what we do best and customize a trip to perfectly suit your style.

For all things Botswana, check out Amazing Botswana. Here’s why we love it:

Covering three of the Okavango’s top wildlife habitats, you’ll see the best the region has to offer
Huge variety of activities that are perfect for those seeking an adventurous escape
A grand finale at Mombo Camp, one of the top camps in the entire continent

For Southern Africa highlights, check out Taste of Southern Africa, Treasures of Southern Africa or our Highlights of Southern Africa. Each is a little different, but all are wonderful:

Taste and dine your way through the blooming restaurant scene and renowned wine lands of Cape Town
Marvel at the awe-inspiring power and beauty of Victoria Falls
Discover desert magic at its finest – think towering dunes, rare wildlife and dramatic scenery

For the ultimate African experience covering the continent’s most spectacular natural and cultural wonders, check out Cape to Cairo:

Explore the bottomless wine, food and cultural delights of Cape Town
Venture into the heart of iconic wild areas with stops in the Okavango Delta and Masai Mara
Take in the beauty of Victoria Falls in all its misty, thundering glory
Discover the ancient cultural wonders of Egypt’s mighty dynasties