Wilderness Safaris has completed a sympathetic refurbishment of Vumbura Plains Camp, located in Botswana’s Okavango Delta World Heritage Site. The updates refresh both exterior and interior spaces while reinforcing the camp’s strong sense of place and cultural connection through thoughtful, bespoke design elements.
© Dana Allen
The Vumbura Protected Wildlife Area spans roughly 60,000 hectares and is managed through a lease agreement with five neighbouring villages, ensuring that conservation tourism provides tangible benefits to local communities. The reserve holds a varied landscape—mopane and acacia woodland, floodplains and swamps—supporting a rich diversity of wildlife. That year-round mix of water- and land-based habitats makes Vumbura an ideal destination for travellers seeking authentic wildlife encounters.
Lead interior designer Cate Simpson of Reflecting Africa explains that the camp’s setting and conservation mission guided the refurbishment. “It is this core purpose, combined with Vumbura’s beautiful Delta setting that has inspired the design, décor and furnishings for the refurbishment; not only rejuvenating the camp, but weaving these extraordinary conservation and cultural stories into bespoke design pieces that bring the local culture alive for our guests in a tangible way,” she said.
The Okavango Delta and the ecosystems it supports are reflected across the camp’s new installations. A feature wall in the lounge interprets the Delta’s life and landscapes, while screens and maps provide further visual context around communal areas. The Wilderness design team collaborated with Cate Simpson and artist Gina Waldmann to create installations that celebrate the OCT community, highlighting heritage, traditional basket weaving and local fishing culture in the camp’s central spaces.
© Dana Allen
Basketry plays a prominent role in the visual narrative. Traditional patterns, which often tell stories or echo animal markings, are honoured in a wall-mounted basket installation in the lounge. Nearly 30 baskets handwoven by Vumbura artisans are displayed near the bar, offering guests an immediate, authentic connection to local craft traditions.
Guest accommodation has been redesigned with clear references to the Delta’s aquatic environment. Wardrobe doors and shower screens feature enlarged underwater photography by Andrea Crawford, while tiles and carpets use blue and green tones to evoke Delta waters indoors. Doors and windows have been reworked to frame and maximise the camp’s exceptional views, ensuring guests remain visually connected to the landscape from inside their rooms.
Overall, the refurbishment aims to balance comfort and contemporary design with cultural sensitivity and ecological storytelling. By embedding locally sourced artwork and craft into public and private spaces, Vumbura Plains Camp offers refreshed accommodation that amplifies the unique character of the Okavango Delta and the communities that steward it.