Duba Plains Camp is located on one of the most isolated islands in the famous Okavango Delta. Situated on a tree-covered island in a 30,000ha concession known locally as the Kwedi Reserve, this small, intimate camp is renowned for its unequalled lion and buffalo interaction. The Delta supports an abundance of wildlife, has a rich diversity of habitats, complimented with lush fertile grasses, stimulated by summer rains and winter floods. Access is by fly-in transfers only, with a 5 minute drive from the airstrip. Planes often buzz past the camp on the way out! A stay of 3 or 4 nights is recommended to give you a better chance to see lion and buffalo clashes!

This camp is set on of the many low, sandy islands characteristic to the region and is surrounded by a wide variety of landscapes. It is rustic, low key, very relaxed and welcoming. Visitors to Duba Plains frequently experience spectacular wildlife viewing all year round, that live on the vast open floodplains and grasslands. These features are often isolated from the mainland, by deep waterways to dense mopane bushveld and savannah.

Travellers relax, wine and dine and in the thatch-roofed lounge, dining room and bar areas, elevated on platforms underneath enormous fig, ebony and garcinia (African wild mangosteen) trees that provide plenty of shade. There are magnificent views of the surrounding environment from all sections of the main building. The lounge area is furnished with comfortable sofas and chairs and there is a cupboard which serves as a small library.

The swimming pool is also raised, affording great views of the wildlife as you take a dip, and in the evenings, guest head to the large round boma and fire pit set out to the front, to exchange wildlife stories and travel adventures.

Meals are served buffet style and are reported to be of a consistently good quality. Early morning breakfast, which is taken before the activities, consists of muffins, cereal, fruit and toast and on returning from your game drive, brunch is served on the pool deck, (shaded by large umbrellas notwithstanding an occasional gust of wind!). Generally this consist of a meat or vegetarian option and a selection of salads.

A typical dinner served in the main area could consist of a delicious mushroom bruschetta, followed by roast chicken with seasonal vegetables and a mouth-watering light lemon mousse for afters. There is a very good selection of wine – Chardonnay, Sauvignon/Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon etc. At the end of every meal, a selection of cheeses are passed round.

Accommodation at Duba Plains Camp consists of 6 roomy tents, each decorated in traditional style. The tents all have their own small private decks and meshed windows allowing views from inside. The en-suite bathrooms have double sinks, flushing toilets and showers, and the outside shower and veranda have great views of the grasslands. There are safes in all the rooms.

The region has two prides of lions which compete in the hunt for mainly buffalo every day. Interaction amongst the lions themselves is as fascinating as the plight of the huge herds of buffalo. Lions hunting by day provide any safari with incredible photographic opportunities, especially as the pride close in for the kill. Aardwolf sightings are one of the specialties of Duba Plains, along with the occasional glimpse of caracal. Red lechwe, elephant, tsessebe and warthog share savannah landscape and hippo concentrate in the deeper channels. The area often has productive spotted hyena dens that offer unique hyena pup viewing, whilst leopards can be found on the forested islands.

There is a high risk of dangerous animals might wander around the unfenced Duba Plains Camp. Guests are escorted to their rooms after dark and alarm sirens or whistles are provided in the rooms in case of emergency.

Okavango Delta Lodges | Botswana

Game drive

Morning and afternoon game drives track buffalo or various lion prides around the concession and you can marvel at herds of elephant feeding on the islands, and hippo wading out into the deeper channels. Tsessebe and blue wildebeest dot the plains, and red lechwe can be found on the fringe of the wetter floodplains. Watch out for conflicts between spotted hyena and lion.

Night drives

Night drives are superb and all safari's are lead by experienced, trained and accredited guides.

Boat trips

Cruise around the waterways on a mokoro trip, usually available in times of good floods between May and September.

Ornithology

Most of the Okavango Delta's renowned bird life can be found around Duba Plains Camp, including the swamp boubou, Hartlaub's babbler, rosy-throated longclaw, slaty egret and wattled crane and swamp nightjar. During the annual flooding the abundance of waterbirds is simply astounding - with a multitude of herons, egrets, lapwings. Another interesting photo opportunity is of the African and lesser jacanas; they walk on floating vegetation on lily-covered pans, dams and backwaters.

Children over the age of 12 are welcome at Duba. If a party books the entire camp then children as young as 8 may be accommodated. However the set up of the camp is not generally child friendly.