Visit Vumbura Concession, Botswana

The Vumbura Concession stretches for 30,000 hectares in the far northern reaches of the Okavango Delta.

There are sweeping floodplains, islands of strangler figs and forests of tall mangosteen. Deep channels are carpeted with day and night lilies and flanked by rustling reeds and wispy papyrus.

Wildlife of Vumbura Concession

On the open plains you will find zebra, tsessebe, impala, giraffe, wildebeest and large herds of buffalo. The Kaparota Lagoon is spectacular at sunset, when herd after herd of elephant come to drink, moving their feet to create waves that keep crocodiles at bay. Lion are plentiful, whilst the shady forests are particularly good for leopard.

The channels and glassy pools are magical. The water is crystal clear, with tiny silver fish darting and jumping in the sun. Little bee-eaters perch in fluffy groups on the papyrus, pied kingfishers flit above the waters and black crakes dart into the reeds. As the mist rises from the water at dawn, you may glimpse the rare spot-necked otter.

Activities

The Vumbura Concession is a community-run concession: camp staff come from local villages. There are three little camps, all of which are excellent. With a mixture of water and dry land, the camps offer game drives, night drives, walks, boat and mokoro trips.