Tubu Tree Camp in the Okavango Delta
Located on Hunda Island, the largest area of permanently dry land in this region of the Okavango Delta, Tubu Tree Camp is surrounded by the palatable grasses which lure many species of plains game. A range of diverse habitats, ranging from dry Kalahari sandveld to mopane and riverine forest on the edge of permanent waterways, also ensures diverse and spectacular game viewing.
Tubu Tree Camp is built in traditional style, with five tents on raised wooden platforms – each with picturesque vistas of the floodplains from a private front deck. En-suite bathroom facilities and an outdoor shower are standard. The main dining, lounge areas and pool are also on raised platforms and have panoramic views of the plains game. There is also an outdoor pub area which lies under the canopy of a large marula tree.
Wildlife seen around Tubu Tree Camp includes elephant, lion, Burchell’s zebra, red lechwe, southern giraffe, tsessebe, and blue wildebeest on the floodplains. Kudu, impala, leopard and bushbuck are also seen in the forested areas. The variety of bird life is impressive, with dry-land species seen on the large islands and all the wetland birds seen on the floodplains and waterways.
Throughout the year day and night game drives in open 4×4 vehicles, as well as guided walks (which must be requested prior to travel), are available. There are two platform hides in the concession, offering incredible up-close viewing. During winter, the water levels rise and the floodplains become covered with water (normally May to late September). This allows for a wide range of water activities from boating and fishing to moroko trips.
Fatcs:
- Game drives in open 4×4 Land Rovers – the camp has 3 x 10-seater Land Rovers each accommodating a maximum of seven guests, allowing each guest an outside seat.
- Night drives with spotlight
- Walking safaris are offered from camp, and must be requested prior to travel
- Mokoro rides – on 7 x 2-seater mokoro
- Boating – 1 x 12-seater boat (subject to water levels permitting its use)
- Fishing – Catch and release; basic rods and reels supplied by camp but fly fishing equipment to be brought by guest.
- A raised hide located about 20 minutes from camp (which can be used for sleep-outs – maximum 6 people at a time – and equipped with a long-drop loo).
Tubu Tree Camp Game Viewing
The Camp is located in the Jao Concession: 60,000 hectares of reserve against the western boundary of the Moremi Game Reserve in the north-western area of the Okavango Delta, Botswana, below the Panhandle.
The Okavango Delta rests between shallow fault lines at the end of the Great African Rift Valley. Deserts are low on annual rainfall and the Okavango Delta isno exception, but the annual floodwaters from the moist Africanhighlands over 1000 km to the north create a unique wetland that supports and sustains a huge diversity of wildlife.
Lying in the very heart of the Okavango Delta, the Jao Concession embodies all the magic and mystique of the region. The Camp is surrounded by narrow water channels cut their way through the papyrus and reed beds in the permanent delta to the north and east of the concession, providing the perfect environment for the elusive sitatunga and the rare Pel’s Fishing-Owl.
In the central region of the Jao Concession, vast open floodplains provide some of the most stunning scenery of the region, with beautiful islands fringed with riverine forests. Further west, the area gets progressively dryer and Hunda Island (which is the tip of a large ‘sand tongue’) on which the Camp is built is the largest area of dry land in the vicinity during the flood season. Hunda Island has sandveld vegetation supporting many species of nutritious acacia and grewia shrubs which provide excellent browsing.
The true wetland areas of the Okavango Delta are best known for their birdlife. The largest concentrations of endangered Wattled Crane are found in this area and Slaty Egrets, Rosy-throated Longclaws and African Skimmer are some of the specials that can be seen. Hallowed species such as Pel’s Fishing-Owl and Slaty Egret are found alongside more conspicuous and commonly seen Coppery-tailed Coucal, Pygmy Goose. The specialised African Skimmer (from which Wilderness Safaris takes its logo) may be seen on the larger lagoons and channels. A trip to Tubu Tree Camp is an absolute must for bird enthusiasts.
The Camp is set in the most densely populated wetland area for sitatunga antelope and red lechwe, and hippo and crocodile are regularly sighted. In the dry season lechwe, tsessebe, elephant, wildebeest and zebra are prevalent, with lion, cheetah and leopard often sighted. The many lion prides in this area have been extensively studied in recent years, thereby building up a more intimate knowledge of their behaviour.
