DumaTau Camp
premier Camp | Linyanti / Savuti Reserves, Botswana
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Located near the source of the Savute Channel in the western section of the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, DumaTau provides private and exclusive access to a multiplicity of active wildlife. Built under a grove of mangosteen trees, the camp overlooks a large hippo-filled lagoon where elephant herds and lion prides abound. Situated in an untouched 300,000-acre concession in northern Botswana, DumaTau offers relaxing solitude while providing direct access to incredible wildlife.
Our Expert Says
This beautiful camp in the Linyanti region of northern Botswana overlooks a hippo-filled lagoon and offers day and night wildlife drives and boat rides along the Linyanti River waterways. It's a perfect location to combine with some time in the Okavango Delta.
– Greg Courter
Facilities & Amenities
- En suite bathroom with shower
- Family Accommodation: 2 family units, each with 2 en suite bedrooms with private entrances connected by shared deck
- Shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion and insect repellent
- Room fan
- Tea/coffee in room
- 220v charging outlets in room
- Wi-Fi available
- In-room safe
- Central plunge pool
- Sleep-out platform
- Laundry included
- Local drinks included (house alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks)
- Credit cards accepted (Visa and MasterCard)
- No air conditioning, hair dryer, telephone or cellular coverage
The Camp
Location: Linyanti Reserve, Botswana
Number of Tents: 10
DumaTau, meaning "roar of the lion," is a 10-room luxury tented camp located within the private 309,000-acre Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, which borders the western boundary of Chobe National Park in northern Botswana. The camp rests beneath a shady grove of mangosteen trees, overlooking one of the many lagoons the Linyanti swamp system, a magnet for wildlife. The source of the Savute Channel is close to the camp, and wildlife drives up the dry waterway are a highlight of the area. The elevated tents are open to private, broad wooden verandas for wildlife viewing directly from bed! Whitewashed wood floors, natural wood, leather and canvas furnishings and fine linens add luxurious touches, as do spacious en suite bathrooms, each with an additional outdoor shower. The dining room, pub, lounge and plunge pool all overlook the flowing channel, offering fantastic views of resident wildlife.
Wildlife Viewing & Activities
The diverse habitats in the region make it a haven for a multitude of wildlife. Activities are also diverse, allowing guests time on the water and on land, as well as on foot. Day and night wildlife drives are conducted in open 4x4 vehicles along the Savute Channel and the banks of Linyanti River. Guided walks are also possible, though subject to the availability of a qualified walking guide. There are many hides in the area where guests can enjoy wildlife viewing away from a vehicle. One of the best is right at the source of the Savute, where many species of wildlife and birdlife congregate. The area is famous for its elephant population—huge herds mass here during the dry months along the waterways and lagoons. During this season, sable and roan antelope traverse the flood plains, along with impala, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, lechwe, tsessebe and other plains wildlife.
The below chart helps to illustrate major wildlife sightings often experienced in the Linyanti Reserve adjacent to the Chobe National Park. This area is well known for elephant herds, which are at their peak in the drier months of July to October, and it's a great location to track wild dogs and see lion. A variety of other mammals, birds and reptiles may be seen as well. Exact sightings will depend on weather trends and wildlife movements.
Country | Park/Reserve |
Buffalo
|
Cheetah
|
Eland
|
Elephant
|
Giraffe
|
Hippo
|
Hyena
|
Leopard
|
Lion
|
Sable Antelope
|
Wild Dog
|
Wildebeest
|
Zebra
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Botswana | Linyanti / Savuti Reserves |
Usually viewed | Frequently viewed | Occasionally viewed | Sporadically viewed | Rarely to never viewed |
Climate
Month | Max | Min | Rainfall |
---|---|---|---|
January | 88° F | 63° F | 5.55 in |
31° C | 17° C | 141 mm | |
February | 86° F | 63° F | 4.96 in |
30° C | 17° C | 126 mm | |
March | 82° F | 61° F | 2.99 in |
27° C | 16° C | 76 mm | |
April | 81° F | 61° F | 0.94 in |
27° C | 16° C | 24 mm | |
May | 75° F | 57° F | 0.12 in |
23° C | 13° C | 3 mm | |
June | 72° F | 48° F | 0.0 in |
22° C | 8° C | 0 mm | |
July | 70° F | 45° F | 0.0 in |
21° C | 7° C | 0 mm | |
August | 70° F | 50° F | 0.0 in |
21° C | 10° C | 0 mm | |
September | 75° F | 57° F | 0.12 in |
23° C | 13° C | 3 mm | |
October | 91° F | 64° F | 0.71 in |
32° C | 17° C | 18 mm | |
November | 86° F | 63° F | 2.28 in |
30° C | 17° C | 58 mm | |
December | 88° F | 64° F | 4.53 in |
31° C | 17° C | 115 mm |
Conservation
Botswana has a well-developed network of protected areas, and these include concessions that allow hunting as well as photographic safaris. The operators of DumaTau Camp have chosen not to hunt in the concessions in which the company operates, forfeiting approximately US $1.2 million per year in hunting quotas in preference for photographic safaris. Yet perhaps the most topical issue for Botswana at present is its very large elephant population and possible impacts on vegetation and other animal species. As a result, and in recognition of the fact that in the Selinda and Linyanti concessions, DumaTau’s operator is responsible for one of the two highest-density elephant concentrations in the country, the company has facilitated and partially funded two MSc studies examining vegetation impact and is currently hosting a PhD researcher examining additional elements of this puzzle.