A lush safari camp in the Okavango Delta

We often talk about the animals we see on safari but we need to start focusing on sharing the exquisite lodges which we stay at. There are so many beautiful camps in the Okavango Delta, Botswana and it’s surreal as you would never know there are so many to choose from as they are all secretly tucked away and feel like their own private paradise amidst the lush greenery and crystal clear tributaries.

We love Duba Explorers Camp in Northern Botswana. Why?

It’s tucked away in the northeast corner of the Duba concession in a 33 000 hectares private reserve. Due to its location at the northern reaches of the Okavango Delta, the surroundings are dominated by permanent floodplains, interspersed with seasonal floodplains and grasslands and pockets of mopane and acacia woodlands. Under a canopy of mature jackalberry, leadwood, mangosteen and sycamore fig trees the camp has year-round shade. The camp’s location provides clear, unobstructed views across the surrounding water channels and allows cool breezes through the camp and guest tents.

They say a picture says a 1000 words and we think the below is a case in point!

The camp, part of the Explorers Collection and designed by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, explorers themselves, embraces the golden age of safaris and the spirit of Africa.

Richard recently hosted a safari at Duba Explorers Camp and in one morning was able to experience a rich abundance of game that included wild dog close to camp, a lioness in the sun as well as a special sighting.

He recalls: ‘En route, a young female leopard captured our attention. Her calm demeanour allowed us to approach closely, and we watched in awe as she gracefully navigated the terrain. From 100 meters to just a few feet away, she moved stealthily through the landscape. Just as we lost sight of her in the underbrush, a guest’s pointed camera revealed her perched regally in a tree overhead, having ascended without a sound. 

We observed as she descended and continued her hunt, moving through the shallow waters with a predator’s grace. Her surprise encounter with a reedbuck led to a swift and silent kill. The leopard’s efficiency was stark—within moments, she subdued her prey, later dragging it into the dense bush to feast in solitude. 

The journey home promised rest, but the wild had one more twist in store. A sudden clunking noise alerted us to a new crisis: our Land Cruiser’s wheel was barely hanging on. With a calm born of necessity, we changed the tire, redistributing the remaining wheel nuts to secure the journey back. Each moment of the day, from the futile initial search to the mechanical mishap, was a reminder of the unpredictability and thrill of the wilderness, all wrapped up neatly with our safe return just in time for lunch.