Bushbuck Safari: Day-by-day
More detailed information of what each day entails, and the various places you’ll stay on the Bushbuck Safari. Everything we do is completely tailor-made so while this is an idea which works well, we’ll always design an itinerary just for you.
Starts: Maun Airport
Maun to DumaTau by light aircraft & 4WD
On arrival in Maun you'll be guided to a light aircraft for a scenic flight of about 40 minutes over the Delta's waterways and woodland. Keep an eye out for wildlife as you come in to land, and during the drive of about 20 minutes from the airstrip to camp.
DumaTau
Originally opened in 2000, Botswana's tented DumaTau Camp has been rebuilt and reinvested a number of times and is now a premier luxury camp sitting beside the Linyanti River, not far from the original camp. It overlooks a lagoon and expansive swamps within the extensive, private Linyanti Reserve, where wildlife safaris are possible year round.
Originally opened in 2000, Botswana's tented DumaTau Camp has been rebuilt and reinvested a number of times and is now a premier luxury camp sitting beside the Linyanti River, not far from the original camp. It overlooks a lagoon and expansive swamps within the extensive, private Linyanti Reserve, where wildlife safaris are possible year round.
We are in the process of updating this lodge page to reflect Duma Tau's latest upgrade.
"very emotional leaving DumaTau.. we cannot thank Peter enough for the experience"
Pete & NancyfromStocktonArrived 24 Oct 2021, 3 nights
DumaTau is a stylish camp with excellent service and a very friendly team including some super guides. We recommend a safari here between about June and October when game viewing is at its best. There's a good population of predators in the area, plus plenty of elephants, buffalo and other game. If you visit towards the end of this peak season or outside of it, you can expect a stunning environment, but you'll have to work harder for good game sightings, as the density of animals in the camp's immediate vicinity will be lower. See our full report on DumaTau Camp
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Fishing
Guided walking safari
Helicopter
DumaTau to Chitabe by 4WD & light aircraft
After your morning activity, you'll be driven to the airstrip, about 20 minutes from DumaTau, for your light-aircraft flight of 35 minutes or so to Chitabe Lediba, on the southern side of the Okavango. During the relatively short drive to camp, watch out for wildlife as there's often lots to see.
Chitabe Lediba
Chitabe Lediba is situated on an elevated island within the private Chitabe Reserve, a fairly dry area towards the south of Botswana's Okavango Delta. Largely surrounded by the Moremi Game Reserve, it is generally regarded as good for game year-round – and the camp's focus is solely on drives rather than water activities.
Chitabe Lediba is situated on an elevated island within the private Chitabe Reserve, a fairly dry area towards the south of Botswana's Okavango Delta. Largely surrounded by the Moremi Game Reserve, it is generally regarded as good for game year-round – and the camp's focus is solely on drives rather than water activities.
"cheetah mom & 5 cubs.. wild dogs.. many lions.. leopard.. hyenas with tiny cubs"
Pete & NancyfromStocktonArrived 26 Oct 2023, 3 nights
Chitabe Lediba is a smart, very comfortable camp in an area that has a great diversity of game. The guiding team is very professional and friendly, keen to get good sightings but also thoughtful about how our interaction may affect the animals' behaviour. While activities are limited to 4WD game drives in this dry camp, it lies within a concession that consistently delivers some fantastic game experiences. See our full report on Chitabe Lediba
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Guided walking safari
Helicopter
Night drive
Chitabe to Vumbura by 4WD & light aircraft
It's usually just a short hop over the Delta from Chitabe to Little Vumbura by light aircraft, so you should have time for a morning activity before you leave. The game drive from the airstrip to camp is part of the experience, too, so keep your binoculars to hand.
Little Vumbura
Little it may be, but this intimate lodge deep in the Okavango still packs quite a punch. From its remote island hideaway, Little Vumbura looks out across the private Vumbura Reserve. With seasonal floodplains criss-crossed by permanent channels, and drier areas punctuated by tracts of woodland, this is an exceptionally varied area.
Little it may be, but this intimate lodge deep in the Okavango still packs quite a punch. From its remote island hideaway, Little Vumbura looks out across the private Vumbura Reserve. With seasonal floodplains criss-crossed by permanent channels, and drier areas punctuated by tracts of woodland, this is an exceptionally varied area.
Key to its appeal is that diversity, which attracts a phenomenal range of wildlife – from big cats and wild dog to elephant and vast herds of buffalo.
It also opens the door for land and water activities, be it a gentle paddle in a mokoro or a leisurely motorboat trip, a guided walk or a full-on 4WD game drive. And if that's not enough, consider fishing, or even a scenic helicopter flight.
Back at camp, lofty roofs rising up from tented structures are redolent of a circus big top – while enhancing the feeling of light and space. Shades of blue and sun yellow define the lounge, the blues echoed in the ceramic basins of each smart but comfortable chalet.
"Beautiful setting...very friendly staff, had a very personal/family feel."
LBfromTorontoArrived 1 Nov 2023, 3 nights
Rouse yourself from your private deck, help yourself to a drink and cool off in the plunge pool – or head for the library See our full report on Little Vumbura
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Fishing
Guided walking safari
Helicopter
Vumbura to Maun by 4WD & light aircraft
There's often time for a last safari drive before you head to Vumbura Airstrip to board your light aircraft. During the half-hour flight, you may spot larger animals crossing the wilderness terrain below, before landing in Maun in good time for your onward connections.
Ends: Maun Airport
Experiences you can add to this trip.
Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst staying at lodges on this trip. These are usually best arranged in advance so talk to us.
Helicopter Flight - Botswana
Various: from 30 minutes to half a day.
Low-flying, agile and offering superb views, helicopters are an ideal way to move around the Okavango Delta.You can use them instead of fixed-wing inter-lodge transfers or as an addition to other wildlife watching activities, and of course, helicopters can hover to allow that perfect pic, whereas fixed-wings can’t.
More about Helicopter Flight