Duba Explorers Camp

There are five tents within the camp, made from light canvas with netted windows and doors. Beds can be either twins or a double, allowing for a total of 10 guests in the camp. Each tent has been placed on top of a raised deck and leads out to a private verandah with panoramic views of the Delta and floodplains. The tents also contain yoga mats and light weights, as well as a writing desk. En-suite bathrooms consist of a flush toilet, shower and double basins. Hot and cold running water is available and soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and hairdryers are all provided. The camp is run by solar power and has 24-hour electricity. Universal plug points are provided in each tent.

The camp’s common area consists of an open-concept dining and lounge area which is shielded under marquee canvas and stands on elevated decking. Enjoy dining with sweeping views of the floodplains with the background sounds of calling game and maybe even the roar of a lion. Guests are treated to three delicious meals each day, prepared by the Executive Chef and their teams. Picnics can be delivered to you even when out exploring in the bush, and all dietary requirements can be catered for if requested ahead of time. Sit back and enjoy a beverage under the African night sky, with a range of imported spirits and champagnes, and celebrate a unique experience.

Experience the incredible Botswana wildlife up close and venture out into the Duba Plains concession in a customised open land cruiser. An experienced guide will teach you about the vast range of creatures who have made their home on the Okavango Delta, and you will be able to witness first-hand how these animals interact and live in their natural habitat. Drives take place both during the day and at night, and a completely different encounter awaits you each time. During the night, predators are on the prowl and you will be able to discover some of the smaller nocturnal species who do not come out at any other time.

Explore the incredible landscape on foot and discover places that the land cruisers cannot reach. A comfortable pair of walking shoes and neutral coloured clothing is recommended for your comfort and to cause minimal disruption to the wildlife. Sneak up to incredible creatures without the startling sound of engines and observe game in a peaceful natural habitat. Your licensed guide will teach you to recognise tracks and marks, which will lead you on your journey to discover some of Botswana’s fascinating creatures.

Enjoy sitting back and casting a line in the Delta’s waterways with a trained guide. Fishing is done on a catch and release basis, and there is a temporary suspension on fishing during January and February. You can expect to reel in tilapia, bass, bream, or the slightly trickier tiger fish.

Take a motorised boat, or ride in a silent mekoro, through the weaving waterways that vein from the Okavango River. From the water, you will see exceptional views of the birdlife that fills the Delta, as well as the opportunity to catch a glimpse of hippos, buffalo and elephants. Boating is dependant on the water level and may be unavailable during the Okavango Delta’s dry season.

Children can go on explorations of their own in the Young Explorers Programme. In this programme, children will be able to participate in unique opportunities that celebrate the natural world. Build a traditional reed hut, or hunt for treasure. Learn traditional bush survival skills from the friendly guides, and use them out in the plains. Let your children experience fun new skills that will feed their creativity and teach them more about the Okavango Delta and its ecosystem.

Duba Explorers Camp is run by Great Plains Conservation, which believes that sustainability is a key part of responsible tourism. Great Plains Conservation works to “conserve and expand natural habitats; using sustainable eco-tourism protect and restore critical habitats, conserve wildlife, and benefit local communities. We have conserved nearly one million acres of land for Africa’s wildlife across community conservancies, former hunting concessions, and key wildlife migratory corridors. In addition, we have founded the Great Plains Foundation to lead innovative initiatives with a long-term commitment to the environment, wildlife, and local communities in Botswana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. Great Plains Conservation supports the Foundation’s administrative costs and provides in-kind contributions such as transportation, supplies, and staff time so that more resources can be directed to the communities and protected areas we serve.”

In 2008, Great Plains Conservation created their first luxury safari retreat that used power only generated by solar panels. Since then, they have continued to pursue natural and sustainable methods of generating power such as the Tesla solar battery system in place at Mpala Jena Camp.

Great Plains Conservation reuse and recycle a range of resources in order to minimise waste and pollution. They use bio-digesters in order to generate methane from leftover vegetable scraps, which is then reused for cooking. They also use composting, grey water recycling, local resources in order to build camps, and have removed all single-use plastics – which cannot be recycled or biodegrade – from their camps.

Great Plains Conservation are conscious of their carbon footprint and strive to keep it as light as possible. One of the pollutive aspects of travel is air travel. Great Plains Conservation encourage guests to participate in their tree planting and solar lantern distribution schemes in order to make up for the emissions generated by travelling to and from the camp, which on average is between 2-4 tons of carbon emissions per guest. By donating, guests can raise money for trees to be planted, or solar lanterns to reduce power consumption and reduce their impact on the environment.

Project Ranger was set up to help with wildlife monitoring, surveying, and protecting animals from poachers. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, where industries have been decimated, travelling is severely limited and tourism has been put on hold, endangered animals are more at risk from wildlife crime than ever. Project Ranger’s emergency support targets those who protect wildlife from poachers by working with partners and donors to fund salaries, training and the operations necessary to monitor and protect these creatures.