Although less than 2km from its larger sister-camp, Little Vumbura feels quite separate, perhaps because it’s on a small island and always approached by boat (GPS: LVUMBU 19°00.070’S; 22°51.710’E).
Little Vumbura has a small dining area and a comfy lounge/bar section. All is under canvas on decking about a metre off the ground, and attached, via a 50m jetty, to the launch area for the boats.
Over the dining-room/bar stands a large waterberry tree, Syzygium cordatum, and the open sides of the canvas structure (which can be rolled down) are shaded by dense surrounding stands of wild date palms, a couple of fig trees (Ficus sycomorus) and an assortment of jackalberry trees (Diospyros mespiliformis). This all leaves you with the very comfortable feeling that the camp’s been built from within the vegetation, and you’re cocooned in a small, tropical hideaway.
The walk-in tents are comfortable, with wickerwork shelves, wardrobe and furniture. They stand on the ground and have an en-suite shower cubicle, washbasin and toilet inside. A few paces away outside is a much more natural open-air shower, with a view of the surrounding floodplains.
Aside from the main area, there’s also a small curio shop (with a few books, materials and local baskets for sale), a plunge pool and a wonderful open hexagonal section of decking (with a fire pit in the middle) which extends into the reeds and is used for dinner, drinks and stargazing.
Up to 2001, this little camp accepted just eight people and was certainly one of Wilderness’s hottest properties in Botswana. Now to capitalise on this, Little Vumbura has been made slightly larger to take up to ten people, while the main Vumbura Camp been slimmed down in size.