Wilderness DumaTau

"Why book? Following an 18-month closure, this famed waterfront safari camp in northern Botswana returned in April 2021 in next-level form, underscored by a head-to-toe, eco-chic redesign and a new wellness sanctuary that balances safari’s fervent pace. What hasn’t changed? Namely, the natural splendor that thrives all around DumaTau, including the highly charismatic, resident elephants that frequent the camp and frolic endlessly in the surrounding lagoon. Set the scene DumaTau, which means “roar of the lion,” is located within the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, a 275,000-acre private concession adjacent to Linyanti Chobe National Park and near Botswana’s border with Namibia. The camp is accessed by light aircraft, which land at an airstrip roughly 30 minutes from the camp. Like most of north Botswana, Linyanti is an exquisite patchwork of swamps, mopane woodlands, channels, and lagoons, fostering a multitude of habitats plus an epic safari experience that’s achieved by both land and water. Within the unspoiled terrain, DumaTau perches over Osprey Lagoon, a place that thrives with beautiful birdlife, splashing elephants, and lurking crocs. Thanks to a smart design, views from all eight stilted tents direct naturally towards the lagoon, as do the vistas from the wellness sanctuary and other common areas. A floating fire pit, connected to the camp by a floating wooden walkway, extends into the lagoon itself. The backstory Conservation-led outfit Wilderness Safaris is behind some of the biggest names in the safari world, operating across six countries in Africa: Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Their greatest presence is in Botswana, a country known for putting quality over quantity when it comes to safari camps. After opening in 2000, DumaTau quickly became an essential stop on the Botswana circuit thanks to its prime, wildlife-rich waterfront location with access to both the Savuti Channel and Linyanti River. After 19 years, the camp closed pre-pandemic to embark on a complete rebuild that would elevate it from “Classic Camp” to “Premiere Camp” status within the Wilderness portfolio, a category (and price point) reserved for the outfitter’s best of the best. To do so, Wilderness commissioned celebrated design firm Luxury Frontiers to create a new DumaTau that honors its beloved past but reflects what modern travelers crave: personal space, wellness, private pools, and transitional indoor-outdoor design. The new, ultra-luxe incarnation was revealed in April 2021. The rooms Eight tented suites, generously spaced apart, dot the Osprey Lagoon. On land, a series of wooden walkways—with dedicated elephant crossing zones—connects the suites to the common areas. Each oversized tent is an exercise in explorer chic, with billowing maps on canvas in the bedroom, a rugged, handsome leather couch in the living room, and colorful local textiles throughout. Sliding screen doors bring the outdoors in and open to a shaded deck with loungers and a plunge pool, overlooking the lagoon. The outdoor shower, which boasts similar water views, is the highlight of the expansive bathroom. Strong Wi-Fi is present in the suites but intentionally absent in the common areas. There’s great lighting in the room (a rarity in tented camps) and a well-positioned heating/cooling system behind the bed to help with the wildly varying temperatures of the Botswana bush. On the opposite end of camp from DumaTau lies Little DumaTau, a camp-within-a-camp with its own four tented suites, carrying a similar aesthetic as the regular DumaTau, along with a pool and restaurant all its own. Food and drink As with most top safari camps, there’s plenty of excellent food and drink at DumaTau. In line with the camp’s wellness theme, menus emphasize plant-based cuisine, rooted in locally sourced ingredients. Of course, you can still order omelets, burgers, and steaks perfected but the healthy, vegan delights are compelling alternatives to meat-based options. Try dishes with Kalahari truffles, sorghum grain, and baobab seed powder, and don’t miss the “carrot lox” salad with smoked, curry carrot ribbons, avocado, fennel, apple, and creamy nut-based cream cheese. Dishes can be easily customized, and an incredible variety of ingredients means you’ll never get bored with the cuisine. All wines on offer (both part of the all-inclusive program and those with a surcharge) are displayed in glass-encased wine cellars around the main restaurant. If wine isn’t your thing, bar staff are eager to make your favorite cocktail. The spa The camp’s new spa, the Osprey Retreat, is an entire wellness sanctuary among the Botswana wilds. At the heart of the Osprey Retreat is a 12-meter swimming pool, a “cool deck” with submerged water loungers, a shaded area with day beds, a fitness center (with free weights and cardio equipment), and a deli and juice bar (that also serves booze!). Across a wooden footbridge lies a spa complex with two treatment rooms, where therapists perform treatments using award-winning Healing Earth products. The service Like its “Premiere Camp” counterparts, the service at Wilderness Safaris’ DumaTau shines without being dizzying or intrusive. Staff are thoroughly dedicated to making your safari experience one to remember and will gladly cater to all your whims (and never leave your wine glass empty). For families Of Duma Tau’s eight tented suites, just one is a dedicated family suite. But that doesn’t mean this camp isn’t popular with families. For safety reasons, the minimum age at Duma Tau is 12, and most parents wait until the kids are old enough to appreciate a (pricey) safari, say mid-teens. It’s quite typical for the teens to take one tent and the parents another, instead of sharing one big family tent. Eco effort Wilderness Safaris is a company grounded in eco-efforts and funds two nonprofit arms, Wilderness Wildlife Trust and Children in the Wilderness, while also contributing to the Lion Recovery Fund. DumaTau is 100% run on solar energy and carries a light ecological footprint. Even the framework of the previous camp was integrated into the new design as reclaimed wood. To help eliminate the use of bottled water, the camp uses an on-site reverse osmosis filtration system. Most food products are sourced locally or regionally, and only approved eco-friendly detergents and chemicals are used at the camp. Anything left to mention? Most African safaris entail long days in the Land Cruiser but many northern Botswana camps, including DumaTau, are equal parts water and land safaris. It’s glorious to eat a gourmet lunch, enjoy sundowners, or simply observe wildlife on a boat or pontoon, gliding past elephants, hippos, and lesser jacanas. Or to simply birdwatch in the reeds by morning but search for wild dogs by jeep in the afternoon. For the ultimate immersion in combined land- and water-based game viewing, plan a safari that includes DumaTau plus Wilderness Safaris’ top camps in the nearby Okavango Delta: Mombo, Jao, and Vumbura Plains (reopened in April 2022 with its own redesign). Finally, in 100 words or less, what makes this hotel worthy of Hot List? The latest Premiere camp from luxury outfitter Wilderness Safaris is a fresh take on a familiar name. The *new* DumaTau is a collection of eight oversized tented suites overlooking the elephant-rich Osprey Lagoon, each with its own living area, shaded sundeck, plunge pool, and outdoor shower. A new wellness sanctuary, The Osprey Retreat, and plant-based menus reflect the desires of today’s travelers to languish in nature and indulge mindfully while on safari. The combination of land- and water-based game viewing amplifies the immersive experience, as does the chance for close encounters with elephants, wild dogs, and rare birdlife." - Paul Rubio

"DumaTau, from the respected safari lodge company Wilderness, is bang in the middle of the hunting grounds of lion and endangered wild dog in the private 300,000-odd acre Linyanti Wildlife Reserve." - Jane Broughton

"DumaTau, the newest luxury camp from Wilderness Safaris, is notable for wildlife sightings including elephants near the spa." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"DumaTau is the first camp visited after arriving in Botswana. The journey to DumaTau involved a bumpy ride in a Land Cruiser, indicating its remote and natural setting within the Okavango Delta." - Virginia Van Zanten