Wilderness is thrilled to announce that DumaTau, its flagship camp in Botswana’s Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, has taken the No. 2 spot in the Best Resorts in the World, and has been named the Best Resort in the Rest of Africa category, in the 2025 US Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.
These annual awards spotlight the world’s most exceptional travel experiences, as celebrated by Condé Nast Traveler’s discerning readers and Wilderness guests. In the USA, more than 750,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers took part in the survey, and nearly 200,000 readers shared their travel experiences and knowledge in the UK edition of the Readers’ Choice Awards.
“Botswana continues to shine on the global stage, from our diamonds to our athletes and increasingly to the pristine wilds we proudly protect and offer lifechanging experiences through as we support Botswana’s conservation tourism space”, said Joe Matome, Wilderness Botswana Caretaker Managing Director. “This recognition is far more than an honour for DumaTau; it is a testament to Botswana’s place as one of the world’s most exceptional conservation tourism destinations. At Wilderness, we see every guest experience as part of a much bigger story – one that connects people to nature, sustains livelihoods, and protects the wild spaces that define Botswana’s identity”.
DumaTau redefines luxury safaris along the Linyanti River. Nestled between two busy elephant corridors, with 45km of river frontage, guests are spoiled for choice with up-close wildlife viewing, exclusive excursions and generous hospitality. Since 1997, it has been the DumaTau team’s mission to contribute to the protection of these corridors, so that wildlife can continue to move freely between Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
DumaTau was rebuilt in 2021, along with a brand-new sister camp, Little DumaTau. They embody elegance that blends a sense of place with a clear conservation purpose, providing life-changing journeys to this extraordinary wilderness area. The spectacular lagoon-side setting – which regularly attracts herds of elephant and a wealth of other wildlife – is key to the unique experience at DumaTau, with its seven tented guest suites and one family suite, and Little DumaTau, comprising just four spacious guest suites.
“This recognition from Condé Nast Traveler is a vote of confidence from the travellers who experience DumaTau first-hand, and it honours the decades-long conservation and hospitality legacy of the Wilderness family who help protect, and celebrate, this extraordinary place. Being named among the world’s best reinforces the value of purpose-driven hospitality and the strength of our partnerships with communities, conservation agencies, and the tourism ecosystem at large. In fact, this award belongs as much to our staff and local partners as it does to the Linyanti itself; it is a reminder that when we protect nature, we elevate both people and place.”, added Kate.
Wilderness Vumbura Plains, Mombo & Little Mombo, and Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp are also winners in the US magazine’s awards, ranked 3, 7 and 27 on the list respectively. In the UK edition, the following Wilderness camps have earned notable rankings in the “Resorts – Rest of Africa” category:
- Wilderness Mombo & Little Mombo, ranked 18
- Wilderness Bisate, ranked 21
- Wilderness Chitabe, ranked 22
“Each of these remarkable camps reflects the heart of Wilderness – where exceptional hospitality meets a profound sense of purpose. We are immensely proud to partner with Condé Nast Traveler in this vital mission, and together, we will continue to explore new horizons in hospitality and conservation, and weWe hope that this win will encourage many more travellers to join us in Botswana and to experience the magic of its extraordinary wilderness areas”, concluded Joe.