Key Takeaways
- Duba Plains sits on a private 33,000-hectare concession in the far north of the Okavango Delta
- Just five (plus a two-suite private villa) tented suites — one of Botswana's most exclusive camps
- World-famous for its lion prides and buffalo herds — the "battle" filmed by the Jouberts
- Owned by Great Plains Conservation (Dereck & Beverly Joubert), a conservation-first operator
- Rates run roughly $2,500–3,500+ per person per night, all-inclusive
- Ideal for honeymooners, photographers and repeat safari-goers who want water, cats and total privacy
First Impressions: A Private Island of Palms and Floodplains
Some camps announce themselves the moment your light aircraft banks over the airstrip. Duba Plains is one of them. As you descend over the northern Okavango, the landscape below dissolves into a mosaic of shining water, palm islands and emerald floodplains — and somewhere in that watery labyrinth sits one of the most private addresses in all of Africa.
Duba Plains is the flagship of Great Plains Conservation, the company founded by legendary National Geographic filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert. It occupies a 33,000-hectare private concession in the far north of the Delta, shared with no other camp. That exclusivity is the whole point: here, you and a handful of other guests have an entire wilderness to yourselves.
The camp channels the romance of 1920s safari — canvas and campaign furniture, leather and brass, Persian rugs underfoot and copper baths gleaming in the afternoon light. But make no mistake: beneath the nostalgia is thoroughly modern comfort, and beyond the deck is some of the most dramatic wildlife on the continent.
The Suites: Canvas, Copper and Cool Air
Duba Plains has just five tented suites (plus the separate two-bedroom Duba Plains Villa for families or friends travelling together). Each suite is enormous — raised on a timber deck above the floodplain, wrapped in canvas and glass, and furnished with the kind of restrained elegance that never dates.
Inside you'll find a four-poster bed draped in mosquito netting, an indoor and outdoor shower, a copper bathtub, a writing desk, a private plunge pool and a shaded veranda where you can watch red lechwe splashing through the shallows. Air-conditioning keeps things cool in the heat of the day, and a personal butler ensures you want for nothing. It's romantic without being fussy — the kind of room you never quite want to leave.
The Wildlife: Lions, Buffalo and the Famous Battle
Duba Plains built its reputation on lions. The Jouberts filmed their acclaimed documentary Relentless Enemies here, chronicling the extraordinary, ongoing conflict between the resident lion prides and the great buffalo herds that share the floodplains. That drama still plays out today, and Duba remains one of the very best places in Africa to watch big cats hunt.
But it isn't only about lions. The concession teems with elephant, red lechwe, tsessebe, hippo, leopard and an astonishing variety of birdlife. Because so much of the terrain is water, game drives here often become water crossings — vehicles wading through channels, cameras poised, the light bouncing off the floodplain. It is, quite simply, some of the most cinematic safari on Earth.
Dining and Service
Meals at Duba are a highlight in their own right. Breakfast is often taken in the bush after the morning drive; lunch is a leisurely affair on the deck; and dinner ranges from convivial communal tables to intimate private dining under the stars. The kitchen is genuinely excellent — modern, seasonal and beautifully presented — and the cellar is stocked with fine South African wines.
Service, as you'd expect at this level, is warm and near-telepathic. With a staff-to-guest ratio that borders on the absurd, someone always seems to appear with exactly what you wanted a moment before you thought of it. The guiding, too, is outstanding — Great Plains attracts some of the best guides in Botswana, and their knowledge of the resident prides is encyclopaedic.
Who Is Duba Plains For?
Duba Plains is a superb choice for honeymooners and couples who want romance and drama in equal measure; for photographers drawn to its lions, water and light; and for seasoned safari-goers who value privacy above all else. Its water-based setting makes it a wonderful contrast camp — pair it with a big-cat land camp like Mombo or a desert camp like Jack's for the full Botswana spectrum. See our guide to the best luxury safari lodges in Botswana for combinations.
It is less suited to families with very young children (the minimum age is typically higher at premium water camps) or to travellers on a tight budget — this is unapologetically top-of-market. But if your priority is a private, cinematic, lion-rich corner of the Okavango, few camps anywhere can match it.
Getting There
Duba Plains is fly-in only. You'll take a scheduled or private light-aircraft transfer from Maun (usually 30–40 minutes), landing on the concession's private airstrip where your guide meets you. The flight itself — low over the Delta's channels, islands and elephant herds — is an unforgettable overture to the days ahead.
Private Tours Cape Town arranges every detail of your Duba Plains stay — from the light-aircraft flights to the perfect multi-camp pairing across Botswana.
