Duba Plains Camp
Duba Plains Camp is an exclusive luxury lodge overlooking the wide open plains of the private Duba Concession in the far northern Okavango Delta.
Duba Plains Camp is a beautiful Relais & Châteaux lodge in an extremely remote and exclusive corner of the Okavango Delta. It is one of Botswana’s top lodges, and is priced accordingly. The accommodation is spacious and luxurious but maintains an authentic African feel, and the hospitality and guiding is excellent. Being a small lodge with a beautiful location, there is also a serene and relaxing feel to the place. Game viewing is outstanding and also includes sightings of Rhino. It is not quite as varied and guaranteed as some prime areas of the delta, but with walking and boating also on offer, there is plenty to experience.
Rooms
Duba Plains Camp provides luxurious accommodation for 10 guests in five luxury tented suites. Each of the spacious suites is set on a raised timber deck and offers expansive views over the floodplains. The suites comprise of twin/double beds (with built in air reticulation unit) draped with mosquito nets, a raised seating area with comfortable armchairs, a writing table, tea and coffee station, mini bar and dressing area. At one end of the suite is the oversized bathroom with shower, double vanity and freestanding brass bath tub. There is a separate toilet and a further outdoor shower. To the front of each suite is a sunken deck with sun loungers and a small private pool plus a further raised sala with additional seating and an exercise bike! In addition, a Canon camera body with lenses, and a pair of high end binoculars are available for guests use.
For those looking for an entirely private experience, the Duba Plains Suite is an exclusive use residence with its own entrance, comprising two en suite bedrooms (which are designed with the same style and facilities as the other tented suites, including a timber deck with plunge pool to the front of each bedroom) which lead on to a central indoor dining area and two lounge areas. There is also a shared outdoor deck area with dining space and a fire pit with seating. All bookings at the Duba Plains Suite will benefit from a private game drive vehicle, guide and private chef.
Central Areas
The central areas of the camp are under canvas and comprise of a luxurious lounge and reading room, which lead onto an expansive deck where most meals are taken. Further facilities include a media room (for photo editing), an exclusive boutique and an interactive kitchen where, every three or four nights, the chef will present a six course tasting menu with wine pairing.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for charging – Yes
Swimming pool – Private Plunge Pools
Habitat & Wildlife
The Duba Concession is an exclusive section of the Okavango Delta made up of a series of large islands separated by river channels and floodplains that become inundated during the flood season. The landscape is predominantly wide open plains, mixed with patches of woodland and scrub bush, whilst there are extensive reedbeds and papyrus along the waterways. There is excellent birding and a varied range of species to be seen, though the predator viewing is very much focused on the lions who have adapted to local conditions and who are regularly seen swimming in the channels.
Elephant and buffalo are often seen in good numbers, whilst night drives can be productive seeking out species such as serval, genet, African wild cat, aardwolf and aardvark.
Activities
Activities primarily focus on game drives, by day and night but walking can also be arranged as can boating and fishing, subject to water levels.
Seasons
Duba Plains is open all year round, though game viewing will be best from June through to early November, and water activities most guaranteed from February through to September.
Duba Plains Camp accepts children from 6 years and older, though they technically can only accommodate one child under 16 years old in a tent with two adults (or two children with one adult). Children 16 years and older automatically take their own suite at full adult rates. The Duba Plains Suite is perfect for families with children of over the age of 6 years and includes a private guide, host, chef and activities. For a highly exclusive and luxurious family safari adventure the Duba Plains Suite is one of the best options available in southern Africa!
Duba Plains Camp is operated by Great Plains Conservation which exists to conserve and expand natural habitats, using sustainable eco-tourism to protect and restore critical habitats, conserve wildlife, and benefit local communities. All resulting in responsible travel opportunities for guests and achieving the company’s aim of ‘conservation tourism’.
Together with their charitable arm, the Great Plains Foundation, they manage over one million acres of land across Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe. A conservation and community levy is added to each stay with Great Plains Conservation as a contribution to the Great Plains Foundation’s work.
Here are just some examples of the projects carried out and supported:
In Botswana, conservation initiatives include the Great Plains Earth Academy which provides vocational training and supplemental education with a conservation and tourism focus to youth and adults living alongside the Okavango Delta. The goals of the Earth Academy are to improve participants’ understanding of their local environment and wildlife, promote conservation and sustainability, and invest in the skill and capacity of the local community and workforce.
The Solar Mamas initiative was set up to address both lack of economic opportunity and electricity deficit in remote villages bordering the Okavango Delta. Nine ‘Solar Mamas’ left their communities in Botswana and attended a six-month solar power training course in India. They returned with the skills to run a business and build, install and maintain sustainable energy for their communities.
The Great Plains Student Conservation Camps, one of their longest running programmes, have reached students and teachers in both Botswana and Kenya with environmental and conservation education. By engaging and mentoring young people in communities bordering protected land, students see positive examples of local professionals working to protect their fragile ecosystems and are inspired to become champions of biodiversity themselves.
In 2022 Great Plains established an inaugural all-female ranger unit to operate in their concessions, gather essential data and act as an early detection force against illegal wildlife crime. Hiring female rangers builds their capacity as individuals, empowers the communities they represent and offers opportunities to shift gender stereotypes and establish strong female role models for young girls. Additional teams are being trained and activated in Botswana and Zimbabwe.
The Foundation was also a key partner in establishing the successful ‘Rhinos Without Borders’ project which saw the relocation of 87 rhinos, the largest translocation of its kind, from South Africa to safe havens in Botswana.
Through Conservation Roots the Great Plains Foundation is partnering with local communities to restore indigenous trees to landscapes across Kenya, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Working with local communities, partner organizations and school systems Conservation Roots plants indigenous trees and teaches their value and critical role in functioning ecosystems.
In 2024, Great Plains expanded the reach of their impact beyond the areas in which they operate and established a partnership with 4Ocean. Plastic waste is collected from the world’s oceans and turned into fashionable bracelets, which are available for sale in their camps. Every bracelet removes 5lbs of plastic from the sea, provides jobs, and starts a clean-up movement.
