Duma Tau
Linyanti Concession, Botswana
At a Glance
Exciting day and night game drives to find nocturnal and diurnal game
Enjoy gentle boat excursions on the Linyanti marsh
Duma Tau has several hides, perfect for watching game up close
Expertly guided bush walks let you experience the true meaning of safari
Duma Tau's swimming pool is the perfect place to relax after a morning's activity and delicious brunch
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Best time to Visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Botswana’s winter is May to October when the weather is hot during the day (not stiflingly hot) and cold at night. Botswana's summer months (November to April) can be hot and humid and there is a chance of rain. Botswana has one rainy season which runs between mid-December and runs through to mid-March.
Insider's View
Wild dog often den close to Duma Tau.
Duma Tau means "roar of the lion" in Setswana - and the area lives up to its name!
Enjoy sundowners on Duma Tau's unique floating boma!
Change up the scenery and have brunch on the barge. Cruise down the river nibbling on tasty treats while you’re relaxing on the river and coming across wildlife sightings.
Call us on 020 3993 5269 to start planning your vacation to Duma Tau or take a look at our itineraries to Linyanti
Description
Located on raised wooden decks overlooking a lagoon filled with hippos, Duma Tau is a luxury 10-room tented camp set in the heart of a natural haven. This is a perfect place in which to experience the diverse sights and sounds of the game-rich Linyanti.
DumaTau means 'roar of the lion', yet it is it's high concentrations of elephant and outstanding wildlife in general for which it is renowned. Located close to the source of the Savute Channel, in the vast Linyanti Concession in northern Botswana, waterways around DumaTau Camp lure a plethora of wildlife - particularly in the dry winter months.
The 10 luxury tented rooms are spacious, raised off the ground and under thatch with canvas walls, allowing guests to enjoy the night sounds of Africa from the comfort of their rooms. For the ultimate safari experience, spend a night in the luxurious sleep out deck over looking the Zibadianja Lagoon and fall asleep listening to the sounds of the bush come alive around you. Raised up on a wooden deck, the sleep out area is fully equipped with an en suite bathroom, sundowner deck and camp fire.
The region has all the habitat diversity to make it a haven for wildlife, and is well-known for its elephant concentrations as they congregate along the waterways and lagoons during the dry winter months. General wildlife viewing is excellent year round including impala, wildebeest, red lechwe, Burchell's zebra, giraffe, Cape buffalo, chacma baboon, vervet monkey, and warthog. Predator sightings of lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and spotted hyaena are good.
Wildlife viewing is the primary activity at DumaTau Camp, either on day and night game drives or while on foot and on the water (levels permitting). Short nature walks can be taken along the Linyanti River and Savute Channel, while the camp's boat takes visitors along the waters of the Linyanti, with hippo and waterfowl alike to entrance. There are also a number of platforms and hides from which to view and photograph animals and birds. One of the best hides is right at the source of the Savute and many species of game and birdlife can usually be seen from this hide.
Accommodation
Duma Tau has ten luxurious tented rooms, (eight tents, one family unit, one honeymoon tent). The tents are spacious, under thatch with canvas walls, en-suite bathroom facilities and an outside shower. Guests can enjoy the night sounds of Africa from the comfort of their rooms, and shower under the stars!
Childcare
There is a minimum age of 8 years in camp and babysitting/listening can be arranged for those that need it.
Facilities
The camp has a conveniently positioned plunge pool in which to cool off there are is also a viewing hide to watch game from in camp. There is a dining room, pub, lounge and a special guest bathroom with a fantastic view.
Activities
Wildlife viewing is the primary activity at DumaTau Camp, either on day and night game drives or while on foot and on the water (levels permitting). Short nature walks can be taken along the Linyanti River and Savute Channel, while the camp's boat takes visitors along the waters of the Linyanti, with hippo and waterfowl alike to entrance.
Reviews
Anna Hearn (Staff)
I first visited Duma Tau back in 2007, and was amazed by the amount of game we saw, as my previous review will testify to. On our return visit we were not disappointed, and in the three days we spent there, we saw an enormous amount of game. Our most exceptional sighting - in fact, sightings - was wild dog hunting - the camp was aware of a large pack of dogs in the area which had been sighted quite often, either resting in the shade during the heat of the day, or heading off at dusk to hunt. Our first sighting was a midday one; the dogs sprawled in the long grass under a towering sausage tree - but our second sighting was incredible! We found one dog, racing through the bush and giving its peculiar "hoo-hoo" communication calls - dogspeak for "I'm lost! Come and find me!" After a few minutes he was joined by three other dogs, and as we watched, the entire pack coalesced in front of us, with leaping, playing and greeting ceremonies - clearly very happy to be back together! Duma, in the Linyanti, is a great place to see these rare animals; and our guide Mocks was excellent at sensing which direction they were heading, as they surge through the bush at incredible speed.
Duma has undergone a transformation since my last visit - the camp is now situated three miles down the river, and has been completely rebuilt and rethought - it now has a wonderful, old Africa feel to it with a huge library of fascinating books (I wrote down a number of ISBN's and am now eagerly awaiting delivery) and a large bar overlooking the river. The main feature is a floating fire deck surrounded by chairs right out in the river, and a wonderful spot to see the sunset; as the sky darkens the sun turns the water to molten gold. The rooms are redesigned as well with floor to ceiling gauze windows and a large deck; each overlooks the river and as you are enjoying an afternoon with a good book, you will often have an elephant - or seven, in our case - wading slowly past your front window. It's an amazing camp, beautifully designed, with excellent guiding and in an area renowned for superb game.
Anna Hearn (Staff)
When I visited Duma Tau it really lived up to its name - the game was absolutely phenomenal, and just kept coming! On one morning game-drive we came across a pair of stately cheetahs, resting under a bush. A little further on there was a leopard draped up a tree with the remains of her kill. Another few minutes and there were two lions - brothers, we were told - who roused themselves from their shady spot and trotted off to drink. Elephant were everywhere, and huge herds of buffalo, their shiny horns glinting in the sunlight. On the way back we stopped to watch a pack of wild dog as they loped gracefully through the undergrowth very close to the vehicle, yet barely glancing at us. Our cherry on the top was an elephant just outside our chalet window as we headed back to freshen up before brunch.
Duma is a super camp - with lovely views across the Linyanti marshes, and a good deal of game to be seen. It's fair to say that certain times of the year will be better - the dry season between May and October is fantastic - but come here for a really rounded game experience and some gentle guiding. It's hard to beat.
Louisa Verney (Staff)
Duma Tau is in the most lovely spot overlooking the Linyanti. We had a lovely time exploring the river by boat after brunch - lots of elephant came down to drink in the river, which was magical.
Experiences
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Boat safari in the Okavango Delta
Travel through the waterways of the Okavango Delta on a boat safari, exploring the papyrus reeds and hippo habitats with your guide. The smooth ride offers a soothing alternative to time spent in a vehicle. Always subject to water levels.
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Game Drives in Botswana
Viewing wildlife from a vehicle is the best way to get up close to big game. Allow your professional safari guide to cover ground to guarantee you some unforgettable sightings in Africa's premier safari destination.
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Mokoro trips in Botswana
Botswana's northern safari areas are full of water channels just waiting to be explored. Larger boats can be used to explore the wider channels but for the aficionado, mokoro trips into the smaller channels are a real treat. Always subject to waterlevels
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Walking Safaris and Nature Walks
Walking in the African bush with a professional safari guide is a fantastic experience. Enjoy a completely different perspective on foot than from a vehicle.
Location & directions
Linyanti Concession, Botswana
Duma Tau is located in the private 125 000-hectare Linyanti Wildlife Reserve which borders the western boundary of Chobe National Park in northern Botswana. It is situated close to the source of the Savute Channel on one of the many lagoons within the Linyanti Swamp system, which makes game drives along the Savute one of the highlights of a stay here.
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