Duba Explorers Camp

OVERVIEW:

Within the verdant 33,000-hectare Duba Concession, Duba Explorers Camp is a small, expedition-style camp surrounded by floodplains and shaded year-round by jackalberry, leadwood, mangosteen, and sycamore fig trees. YZ recommends Duba Explorers Camp for travelers seeking extremely comfortable tented accommodation within a wildlife-abundant region of the Okavango Delta. It’s owned by Great Plains Conservation, with renowned photographers and conservationists Dereck and Beverly Joubert at the helm, a testament to the quality of its mind-blowing location. Rates at Duba Explorers Camp are full board and include accommodation, scheduled activities, all meals, a laundry service, and non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, including premium-brand spirits and champagne. 

ACCESS & LOCATION: 

Duba Explorers Camp is an island camp in the north-east corner of the Okavango Delta’s Duba concession. Access is via a light aircraft flight from Maun, followed by a road transfer 7 minutes from the airfield. Bridges over the surrounding waters access the wooded island on which the camp resides.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT DUBA EXPLORERS CAMP: 

Guest accommodation at Duba Explorers Camp consists of five explorer-style tents with vintage accents that recall the safari of yesteryear – antique trunks, flatweave kilims, gauzy mosquito nets, and raised wooden decking lit up by lanterns – while providing all the modern conveniences of a luxury stay. Each tent is slightly raised on its own deck surrounded by the bush with two foldable safari chairs, a small drinks table, and a day sofa, from where guests can enjoy uninterrupted views of the floodplains. The interiors include a double bed, bedside tables and reading lights, a standing fan, a campaign writing desk, a giant expedition-style wooden trunk at the foot of the bed, and ample storage space. The en-suite facilities comprise a flush toilet separated from the rest of the bathroom by a canvas curtain, twin washbasins, and a walk-in shower.

The camp’s under-canvas communal spaces are open sided and surrounded by floodplains, which guests can enjoy from the large wooden deck where meals are often served. The fire-pit provides an inviting space for early morning coffee and storytelling by night, lit up with storm lanterns to enhance the ambience. There’s a comfortable open-plan lounge and dining area with a communal table and help-yourself bar (though staff are always on hand to assist). Near the main area is a small plunge pool for a refreshing dip during the hotter hours of the day, and the camp also has a safari boutique.

ACTIVITIES AT DUBA EXPLORERS CAMP:

Duba Explorer’s activity list is made up of both land- and water-based activities. However, please note that the availability of mokoro excursions depends on water levels during your stay. Also, walking safaris are only possible when an expert guide is in camp.

• Game drives

  – Duba Explorers is well placed to offer some seriously good vehicle safaris, using customized open Land Cruisers during the day and after sunset. The camp’s private concession consists of over 30,000 hectares of floodplains, woodlands, and islands, providing homes for an impressive assortment of mammals and birds. Elephant, buffalo, and hippo are particularly prolific, but giraffe, greater kudu, tsessebe, and red lechwe are also seen in high numbers here. Big cats such as lion and leopard may be viewed, too, while nocturnal species include brown hyena.

• Guided walks

  – Enjoyed in the presence of an expert guide, walks are fantastic for anyone interested in taking a closer look at the smaller lives of the Delta – its plants, insects, and bird species. Bird highlights include the white-backed night heron, the wattled crane, and the mysterious Pel’s fishing owl!

• Boat trips

  – Motorized boats and mokoros are an invigorating way to explore the permanent and seasonal waters of the camp’s concession (this activity usually only operates between June and September). Keep an eye open for hippo, a variety of waterbirds, and plenty of big game species coming to quench their thirst on the banks of the channels.

• Catch-and-release fishing

  – Catch-and-release fishing is a wonderful way to spend some time out on the water with an expert guide. Please note that there is a moratorium on fishing during January and February.

• Young explorers program

  – There’s plenty on offer at Duba Explorers Camp for younger guests, with various activities designed to keep them entertained. This might include learning some bush survival skills, treasure hunting, or having a go at building a reed hut.

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request a staff member to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.