Elite Traveler HRS 2017-2018

CONTACT Kesegofetse Molenga, general manager North Camp; Phenyo Tlalenyane, general manager South Camp, enquiry@wilderness.co.za

STAY Nightly rate From $1,005 to $2,445

Vumbura North and Vumbura South have just 14 guestrooms combined; each standalone suite is raised off the ground and open on three of its sides facing onto the picturesque floodplains, where hippos can be heard wallowing at night. Indoor and outdoor showers feature in each one, along with a step-down lounge area and private outdoor deck with its own plunge pool and soft furnished sala. In line with the contemporary elegance the camp’s communal areas exude, each suite exhibits modern design in its inviting interiors of warm wood and natural materials, with plump cushions scattered throughout. RELAX With a spa manager on site and access to spa therapists, guests here can book treatments to have in the privacy of their suite, with a menu of spa therapies, massages and facials that comprises a number of treatments reflecting local wellness traditions. Contact Tuduetso Baoleki, spa manager, enquiry@wilderness.co.za Signature treatment Full Body Intonga Amasatchi deep tissue massage uses a blend of citrus and geranium essential oils and wooden sticks to massage muscles. EXPLORE The diversity of floodplains, woodland and waterways this environment encompasses affords a number of different safari experiences; go in search of predators by four-wheel drive, glide across the floodplains by mokoro and navigate the channels by boat, or set out on foot to appreciate the subtler characteristics the bush reveals at a slower pace. DINE Each meal here fits around the safari schedule: breakfast at sunrise followed by brunch on return from the morning drive; high tea before heading out on an afternoon excursion, then a long, drawn-out dinner on the outdoor deck after having cocktails in the bush. Combining local specialties such as a hearty slow-cooked oxtail stew with internationally inspired plates such as ostrich tagine, the camp excels in its gastronomic offerings, in which each dish is paired with a South African fine wine. Contact Ruth Thackray, food and beverage manager, enquiry@wilderness.co.za

Listen to hippos wallowing outside from the comfort of your bed

Vumbura Plains OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA

The Okavango Delta is considered one of Africa’s most extraordinary areas of wilderness, as water floods in from the land that surrounds this enormous landscape each year, creating the ideal habitat for a diversity of species, with predators following their prey. The Vumbura Concession covers approximately 150,000 acres of this inland delta of channels, lagoons, swamps, floodplains and wooded islands, and it’s here amid the flooded plains and acacia trees, alongside herds of elephant and buffalo, that Vumbura Plains can be found. Divided into two — the north and the south — this luxury camp sits harmoniously within its surroundings, providing a privileged base for seeking out species such zebra, giraffe, lion and the region’s abundant birdlife. Add to this the decadence of the camp’s expansive suites, encompassing private decks and plunge pools overlooking the floodplains, and open-sided living areas that become the setting for candlelit fine dining and fireside aperitifs by night.

Vumbura Plains Kwedi Concession Okavango Delta Botswana wilderness-safaris.com

AWARDS Best Boutique Bush Home, The Style Junkies Awards, 2014, 2015

Arrive to a truly wild experience

Photos Dana Allen, photosafari-africa.net