The final approach to Duba Explorers crosses bridges laid over the floodwaters, after guests have transferred in from the airstrip. The camp holds one wooded island in the north-east corner of this private reserve in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Open water channels and marsh run away in every direction. There is no large lodge here and no long guest list, just a small camp reading a floodplain that changes by the week.
Open water channels and marsh run away in every direction.
Lechwe wade the shallows below camp and hippos hold the deeper channels. Elephants and buffalo move past the tents on their own schedule rather than a guide’s. The Duba concession covers roughly 330 square kilometres of private ground, which lets guides leave the road and keep working after dark in pursuit of lion, leopard and African wild dog, the very things Botswana’s public reserves do not allow.
The canvas tents sit raised on decking, linked to an open-sided lounge and dining area under a single roof, with a firepit set on a deck that reaches toward the water. The interiors lean 1920s expedition. Campaign writing desks, day beds and antique trunks sit among kilims, storm lanterns and gauzy mosquito nets. Coffee is served on the deck before the first drive, and the storytelling by lantern light tends to run long after the last.
Coffee is served on the deck before the first drive.
Duba Explorers runs as a joint venture between the local community, represented by the Okavango Community Trust, and Great Plains Conservation. That is the operation of conservationists and filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, whose long association with this floodplain shows in every corner of the camp. Its exploration-led character is built deliberately around a vintage safari feel rather than a modern lodge look.
Water dictates the rhythm at Duba Explorers. The island sits ringed by channels and seasonal floodplains, and the same water that draws lechwe and hippo to the margins also decides what a given day can hold. When levels rise high enough, mokoro and motorboat excursions open the channels between papyrus and lily. When the flood retreats, the emphasis shifts onto land, and the open plains reward patient, unhurried game drives. The landscape is never quite the same from one visit to the next.
Sightings are not confined to the vehicle. Because the tents and communal areas look directly onto floodplains and channels, wildlife often turns up unannounced. Elephants graze past the deck, buffalo stand on the far bank, and hippos surface in the swamp beyond the firepit. Game drives run morning and afternoon, with night drives extending the later outing, and the private concession allows the off-road following and after-dark searching that public reserves restrict. Guided walks add a slower, ground-level read of the same terrain.
The sounds of the surrounding bush carry easily to the table once the light has gone
Meals are taken at a communal table in the open-plan lounge and dining area, or out on the wooden deck above the floodplain, with a help-yourself bar and staff close at hand. With only five tents, the camp keeps an intimate scale. The interiors carry vintage safari detail, from the campaign writing desk and day bed to the antique trunks, kilims and mosquito nets. The sounds of the surrounding bush carry easily to the table once the light has gone, and dinner tends to give way to talk that lasts.
Children are looked after through a Young Explorers programme, and catch-and-release fishing runs alongside the water activities when conditions allow. The camp operates as a joint venture with the Okavango Community Trust, so tourism revenue on this concession returns directly to the community that holds the land. That reserve covers roughly 330 square kilometres of private ground managed for wildlife. What Duba Explorers offers is a small, water-rich corner of the Okavango Delta, worked closely and on foot, by mokoro and by open vehicle rather than from a distance.
01
accommodation
Duba Explorers has five expedition-style tented suites raised on decking, each with a private veranda overlooking the floodplain. The interiors carry vintage safari detail, from the campaign writing desk and day bed to the antique trunks, kilims and mosquito nets. Each tent is en-suite, with a flush toilet, twin vanities and a shower.
02
activities
Game drives run morning and afternoon, with night drives extending the later outing, and off-road driving permitted on the private Duba concession. Guided walking safaris are offered year-round. Mokoro and motorboat excursions, plus catch-and-release fishing, run when water levels allow. A Young Explorers programme caters to children.
03
conservation
Duba Explorers operates as a joint venture with the Okavango Community Trust, so tourism revenue returns directly to the community holding this land. The camp sits within a private reserve of roughly 330 square kilometres managed for wildlife.
Get in touch and let’s start the conversation. An initial consultation helps us understand what you’re looking for, whether that’s specific experiences, luxury touches, or marking a special occasion, and from there we’ll guide you through what’s possible so you can decide if we’re the right fit.
01
The Okavango Delta
02
The Okavango Delta
03
The Okavango Delta
04
The Okavango Delta
05
The Okavango Delta
06
The Okavango Delta
07
The Okavango Delta
08
The Okavango Delta
09
The Okavango Delta
10
The Okavango Delta
11
The Okavango Delta
12
The Okavango Delta
13
The Okavango Delta
14
The Okavango Delta
You fly from Maun by light aircraft, around half an hour over the Delta to the airstrip serving the reserve. The last stage is unusual: the transfer runs out along a line of bridges laid across the floodwaters to the single wooded island the camp sits on, so arrival is part of the experience.
Charters are shared and set the day before to fit everyone's routing, sometimes with a stop en route. If you would prefer your own aircraft, we can arrange a private charter, typically a Cessna Caravan or Pilatus PC-12, timed to your arrival in Maun and flown direct to the strip. Luggage goes in soft bags of about 20kg, which we confirm before you pack.
Yes, this corner of the Delta lies within northern Botswana's malaria belt, so it is not malaria-free. The risk is seasonal, lowest in the dry winter from June to October and higher through the wet summer.
Since guidance can change year to year, we suggest confirming the current advice with a travel clinic or your doctor before you go. Duba sits among open water and marsh, so cover up and use repellent once the sun is down.
The dry winter from June to October is the heart of the season, with July to September the sweet spot as the flood peaks and game concentrates. October is the hottest and most dramatic, and the green summer from November is the birder's season.
Duba is a true waterworld, and the floodplain changes by the week, so the mix of water and land activities depends on levels at the time. In higher water, mokoro and motorboat outings open up; as it drops, more of the day moves onto vehicles and on foot. We check the state of the flood for your dates so you know what to expect before you travel.
Winter days from June to September sit in the mid-twenties and are reliably dry, but the early drives start cold, sometimes near single figures with a windchill in the open vehicle. Pack layers: a fleece and windproof jacket for dawn, lighter clothes for midday. October brings real heat, occasionally above 40 degrees.
Keep to neutral tones, bring a hat, sunglasses and sun cream, and add a light waterproof for the summer storm season from around November.
It can be. The camp takes children from age six and runs a Young Explorers programme for younger guests. With only five tents, Duba also lends itself to a family or group taking the whole camp for exclusive use, which gives the freedom to set your own pace.
Tell us the children's ages when you enquire, and we will confirm which activities suit them, as walking and some water outings carry minimum ages.
There is wifi in the tents, but it is deliberately limited and low in bandwidth, enough for the occasional message or email rather than anything heavier. There is no mobile phone signal in the reserve.
This is a small, remote camp built around being out on the floodplain, so it is best to plan on being largely offline and to enjoy it.
rated five stars by our clients
our approach
Every journey starts with a conversation. We take the time to understand your vision before we start planning.
Whether by phone or in person, we work with you directly to shape something that is considered, personal, and expertly delivered.
