Duba Plains Camp
botswana, botswana · ★★★★★
The Verdict
Worth it for your honeymoon?
Duba Plains is the camp for honeymooners who want the private, old-world safari fantasy made real. Great Plains Conservation, led by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, built it on a private island inside the 77,000-acre Duba Plains Concession — the floodplain where the couple filmed the National Geographic lion-buffalo documentaries that put this part of the Delta on the map. With only five tented suites plus two private villas, it is extraordinarily intimate, and the vintage safari aesthetic — persian rugs, campaign furniture, copper bathtubs, old leather trunks — reads as if Redford and Streep might walk in at any moment. What sets Duba apart is the private concession, the miniature camp size, and the almost disturbingly cinematic predator-prey interactions the Jouberts made famous. It is one of the most romantic addresses in Africa.
- ✓Trust couples-verified reviews
- ✓Are willing to invest in once-in-a-lifetime
- →Need a strictly adults-only resort
- →Have a budget under $1,000/night
- →Want a direct beachfront
- →Prefer boutique & intimate properties
Score Breakdown
95/100
At a Glance
Room Recommendation
Which room to book
The five standard tented suites are all you need — each has a private deck, plunge pool, copper bath, outdoor shower and a sweeping view onto the floodplain. If budget allows, the Duba Plains Suite is a two-bedroom private villa with its own chef, vehicle and guide, which is an extraordinary setting for a pair of honeymooners who want the whole place to feel like a private estate. Request the northern-end suite for the best sunrise exposure.
No Surprises
True cost breakdown — 7 nights for two
Based on mid-range rooms, premium-economy flights from Europe, full dining and signature experiences. Adjust for your actual travel profile.
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Room (7 nights avg $3,250/nt) | $22,750 |
| Flights (2 pax, economy/premium) | $1,800 |
| Airport transfers / seaplane | $200 |
| Dining & drinks (beyond room) | $34,125 |
| Excursions & experiences | $700 |
| Spa / signature treatments | $300 |
| Tips & service (8%) | $4,550 |
| Total estimated | $64,425 |
Book Your Stay
Check availability
We compare Duba Plains across partners and redirect to the cheapest option.
Day by Day
Your 7-night honeymoon itinerary
Arrival and floodplain evening
Light-aircraft transfer from Maun onto the Duba airstrip, a vintage Land Rover pickup, champagne orientation in your suite, and an easy evening drive ending with sundowners on the floodplain.
Lion morning
Pre-dawn coffee, a full morning drive tracking the Tsaro or Skimmer pride — the lions the Jouberts made famous — brunch back at camp, a plunge-pool siesta and an evening drive with a surprise bush dinner under lanterns.
Water safari
A boat cruise and mokoro glide through the permanent channels with your private poler, a bush breakfast on a remote island, and an afternoon game drive focused on leopard and elephant.
Full-day expedition
Packed picnic, a full-day exploration deep into the concession with your guide and tracker, lunch under a shady tree and sundowners on a termite mound looking back across the floodplain.
Photographic day
Use the camp's photographic vehicle kit and dedicated guiding to spend an entire day chasing the light — predators in the morning, elephants crossing channels at midday, and sunset silhouettes in the evening.
Slow day and private dinner
Late breakfast, a couples spa treatment in-suite, an afternoon drive with a leopard focus, and a private candlelit dinner served on your own deck above the water.
Farewell drive and transfer
A final unhurried dawn drive with coffee and rusks, a long brunch, and a light-aircraft hop onwards or back to Maun.
Honest Assessment
What to know before you book
Access is by light aircraft from Maun only — 20 kg soft-sided duffel limit per guest, no hard suitcases, and flights may be rerouted for weather or game-movement reasons.
Duba is a water-forward concession — May to September brings the high flood and the most dramatic boat and mokoro activity, while October to April is drier, hotter and often best for classic big-cat drives.
This is a malaria region — speak to your travel doctor about prophylaxis, and expect the usual bush-camp insect reality (mosquitoes, tsetse in some areas), which the camp mitigates with netting and repellents.
Pre-Arrival
Email to send the hotel
Subject: Honeymoon booking enquiry — Duba Plains Camp, 7 nights Hello Great Plains Conservation Reservations team, We are planning our honeymoon and would love to spend seven nights at Duba Plains Camp. Our tentative dates are [DATES], travelling as two adults. Please confirm availability for a standard tented suite and, as an option, pricing for the Duba Plains Suite on an exclusive-use basis. We'd also appreciate current fully inclusive per-night rates and Maun flight timings. We are considering pairing Duba with Zarafa for a classic Great Plains Botswana itinerary of 10-14 nights — please send your recommendations and combined rates. Finally, your current deposit and cancellation policy would be appreciated. Thank you — we look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, [Your names] [Phone] | [Email]
Send 2 weeks before arrival. Fill in names, dates, and preferences. Hotels respond to personalised requests.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Are the Jouberts often at Duba Plains?
Dereck and Beverly spend part of their year here filming and working on conservation projects and occasionally host guests at the camp. Even when they are not in residence, the camp's DNA is unmistakably theirs — it is their vision made physical.
How does Duba compare to Zarafa, the sister camp?
Zarafa on the Selinda Reserve is even more intimate (four suites), with a more dry-land aesthetic. Duba is on permanent water and famous for lion action. Many honeymooners combine both camps for a classic Great Plains itinerary.
Is the game viewing predictable year-round?
Duba is one of the most dependable lion concessions in Botswana — the floodplain geography forces predators and prey into close proximity, which makes action less seasonal than in drier reserves. October is the peak hot-season month for drama.
Are children allowed?
Duba Plains Camp accepts children aged eight and above, and the private Duba Plains Suite is a natural choice for families. The main camp remains couple-led and the atmosphere feels adult-focused in practice.
What's included in the rate?
All meals, all drinks including premium wines and spirits, all scheduled activities (game drives, boat, mokoro, walks), laundry, park fees, Wi-Fi in the main area and light-aircraft transfers to and from Maun — true all-inclusive.
Is there photographic equipment?
Yes — Great Plains Conservation is famous for its in-vehicle photographic kit, with Canon bodies and lenses available to borrow on game drives. Guides are trained in photographic tracking, and image-sharing is set up in camp.
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