Welcome to Duba Explorers Camp

Imagine being here 100 years ago, the flapping canvas and splashing sounds of ‘dragons’ in the swamp – crocodiles rising and taking prey in a blur.

Duba Explorers Camp offers an exciting, affordable safari in Botswana with the safari camp perched on an island surrounded by Botswana’s Okavango Delta waters.

I always include this safari camp in any friend’s Botswana safari, as it offers a deeper insight into the real story of this ecosystem. That story is defined by termites and their role in constructing islands like this, one that plays a significant part in our film series for National Geographic, Okavango: River of Dreams.”

– Dereck Joubert

Welcome to Duba Explorers Camp

“Imagine being here 100 years ago, the flapping canvas and splashing sounds of ‘dragons’ in the swamp – crocodiles rising and taking prey in a blur.

Duba Explorers Camp is an exciting, affordable, and unique Botswana safari camp. This Explorer-Collection safari camp is perched on an island surrounded by the Okavango Delta’s waters.

It is a safari camp I make sure I include for any friend’s Botswana safari, offering them a deeper insight into the real story of this ecosystem. That story is defined by termites and their role in constructing islands like this, one that plays a significant part in our film series for National Geographic, Okavango: River of Dreams.”

– Dereck Joubert

The Camp

Duba Explorers Camp, an Explorer-Collection and unique Botswana safari camp, is tucked away in the northeast corner of Botswana’s Duba Concession, a private reserve.

Look no further when considering an affordable Botswana safari option that does not compromise on the safari experience, cuisine, guiding, or wildlife-viewing opportunities.

Duba Explorers Camp is your perfect safari camp for any unique Botswana safari adventure. Due to its location in the Okavango Delta’s northern reaches, the permanent floodplain dominates the surrounding landscapes. The floodplains are interspersed with grasslands and pockets of mopane and acacia woodlands.

Duba Explorers Camp is situated on an island surrounded by the pristine Okavango Delta. It offers guests a separate traversing area from Duba Plains Camp.

This affordable Botswana safari camp is tucked away under a canopy of mature jackalberry, leadwood, mangosteen, and sycamore-fig trees. Clear, unobstructed views across the surrounding water channels allow cool breezes to pass through the camp and your tent.

Under an expansive and sweeping marquee canvas, the central area of this safari camp is on raised decking, offering guests an open-plan concept of dining and lounge areas.

Guests staying at Duba Explorers Camp should also consider extending their safari to our Selinda Explorers Camp and Okavango Explorers Camp in Botswana’s Selinda Reserve. Both are Great Plains Conservation Explorer-Collection safari camps.

Safari Tents

Duba Explorers Camp is designed by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, National Geographic Explorers and embodies the golden age of Botswana safari explorations.

This unique Botswana safari Explorer-Collection camp consists of five airy canvas tents, each raised on decking, stylishly furnished with a campaign writing desk, private veranda, and en-suite bathroom facilities. Each guest tent features an environmentally friendly air-conditioning system, installed over the bed, to ensure a comfortable climate while resting.

Listen out for the prolific birdlife during your siesta, as you lounge on the daybed on your private veranda, absorbing the peacefulness and tranquillity of your surroundings.

As the waters rise around the camp during the flood season, you might even be lucky to catch sight of spotted-necked otters swimming and eating. At night, let the hippos sing you to sleep. Sometimes, the roar of a lion cracks through the night as he calls out to his pride.

Rates

From $1,450 per person sharing per night

More Details

The above rates are in US$ and are based on a per person per night sharing basis. Single guest, child rates, private safari drive and guide rates are available on request.

These rates include accommodation, scheduled activities, all meals, laundry service, and non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, including premium brand spirits and champagne. Return scheduled seat in plane inter-camp transfers, including air transfers from Maun and/or Kasane Airports, are included in the US$ nightly rate – subject to a minimum 2-night stay.

Safari Experiences

During a stay at Duba Explorers Camp, guests ‘step’ into the shoes of the early adventurers.

Explore the water channels associated with the Ngoga River system by boat or traditional canoes (mokoro), meandering through channels created by hippos and elephants.

A mokoro, poled by our expert wildlife guides, allows you to glide silently through the channel systems and experience a peaceful water world around you. Enjoy the excitement of catch-and-release seasonal fishing, allowing you to study the various delta fish species up close. Water activities are water level dependent.

With over 400 bird species, birding is unsurpassed, with spectacular species like the malachite kingfisher zipping past you in a burst of colour.

Open vehicle safari drives in this paradise ensure exciting encounters with the resident predators nearby as well as prolific herds of antelopes and other iconic African wildlife.

No affordable safari in Botswana can be considered complete without heading out with your guide on guided walks, exploring the islands, wetlands, and plains, following the tracks and interpreting the signs of the wild. Guests might even be lucky to glimpse a rare sitatunga or an elusive leopard.

The unique flooding cycles of Botswana’s Okavango Delta create a mosaic of habitats from permanent wetlands to seasonal floodplains to woodlands and grasslands around Duba Explorers Camp. This ecosystem fosters an incredible diversity of wildlife. Grassland plains, created by receding water levels in the dry season (December to April), form a perfect habitat for zebra, wildebeest, kudus, and tsessebes. In the wetter season (May to November), the area transforms into a water wonderland with aquatic diversity.

The year-round healthy herbivore population, including elephant, buffalo, and lechwe, and suitable hunting terrain attract predators such as lions, leopards, and wild dogs—all highlights of any Botswana safari.

Safari Activities at Duba Explorers Camp

Water-Based Safaris

Explore the crystal-clear channels of the Ngoga River system by boat or traditional mokoro canoe
Glide silently among papyrus reeds and watch malachite kingfishers dart past
Seasonal catch-and-release fishing introduces you to the diverse fish species of the Delta

Safari Drives & Walking

Open 4×4 vehicle drives through floodplains, woodlands, and grasslands
Track predators like lions, leopards, and wild dogs
Encounter antelope herds, zebra, buffalo, and possibly the rare sitatunga
Walking safaris offer insights into animal tracks, plant medicine, and bird calls

Wildlife Highlights by Season

Green Season (December to April):

Receding waters expose lush plains — ideal for zebra, wildebeest, kudu, and tsessebe
Fewer guests and spectacular lighting make this a photographer’s dream

Dry Season (May to November):

Rising waters transform the region into a mosaic of aquatic wonder
Water-based safaris, prolific birding, and predator activity peak

Elephants, red lechwe, and buffalo roam year-round, creating ideal hunting grounds for big cats. As night falls, listen to the calls of lions, the chorus of hippos, and, if you are lucky, the splash of a swimming otter beneath the stars.

- Explore our other Great Plains Camps

Spot a rare Pel’s fishing owl

Mekoro through the Okavango Delta

Take a refreshing dip in our unique swimming pool in the rear of a World War 2 army truck.

Ready To Explore?

Begin Your Journey

Lasting Impact

Conservation Education: Building a Legacy

Duba Explorers Camp plays a vital role in the Great Plains Foundation’s long-running Student Conservation Camps, which engage youth from surrounding communities in Botswana and Kenya. These immersive programs foster curiosity, environmental stewardship, and a love for nature among Africa’s next generation of conservation leaders.

Read more about this initiative