Duke's East

Duke’s East is the latest offering from the Natural Selection portfolio. Set on an island, in the enormous 220,000-acre concession slightly north of the renowned Vumbura and Duba Plains concessions on the Northern side of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. This wonderfully rich habitat of savannah country, seasonal floodplains and permanent waterways supports varied and diverse wildlife, including everything from buffalo, elephants, big cats, wild dogs and phenomenal birdlife.

Duke’s East is the sister camp to Duke’s Camp, and perfect for exclusive-use groups. Boasting 4 stylish canvas tents raised wooden decks, and perfectly shaded under the trees, each tent offers a mesmerising view of the lagoon. There are 2 twins, 1 double room and a family unit with its’ own plunge pool, each with an ensuite bathroom, indoor and outdoor showers plus private veranda.

The camp itself is pitched on an island along the shores of a permanent lagoon, all but hidden amid the boughs of indigenous leadwood and ebony trees. The camp is a seamless blend of yesteryear charm, safari savoir-faire and deep respect for the surrounding natural ecosystems. The main area is a delight with its old-world glamour, well-stocked drinks cabinet, library and lounge furnished with intricately carved tables, antique oriental rugs, and campaign furniture. Meals are a lavish affair of crystal glasses and antique silverware, three-course dinners that celebrate the Bousfield tradition of honouring guests with fine food and wine in the African bush.

About the Okavango Delta

The largest inland delta in the world, the Okavango Delta is the most unexpected wonder – water present in a desert. The broad Okavango River sinks into the dry sands of the Kalahari Desert, creating a lush and waterlogged oasis with crystal clear lagoons and channels, reeded islands and fertile floodplains. Dubbed “the river that never finds the sea”, this magical oasis spreads over more than 15 500 km² (almost 6 000 square miles) and yet is so fragile that, if it were denied water for even a decade, it would revert to a semi-desert.

This breathtaking environment constantly adapts and changes with the ebb and flow of the floodwaters that seasonally inundate large portions of the Delta. Although dry for two-thirds of the year, during the winter months the rising floodwaters create a maze of marshes, small wooded islands and shallow lagoons. Water lilies and other aquatic plants flourish in the shallow water, while water birds inhabit the banks of papyrus. As relatively little water can be found elsewhere during this time, the wildlife is drawn to the clear waters of the Delta.

On the edges of the Delta, where land blurs with water, breeding herds of elephant splash gently through shallow channels, the long necks of a family of giraffe materialise slowly out of the Delta skyline and graceful sitatunga antelope hide in the reeds. It is a place where you can wonder at the antics of wild dog in the morning and cast a line for tiger fish in the afternoon, wake in the dappled shade of a forest and enjoy dinner beneath the boughs of a massive baobab at full moon.

Beautiful little reed frogs cling to the water grasses and a variety of incredible bird species make their appearance, from jewelled kingfishers and bee-eaters to ponderous herons and cranes and solemn-looking owls. Red lechwe scamper through the shallows and wild cat, serval and pangolin can be spotted at night, when the moon reflects off the backs of a family of hippo coming out of the water to graze, turning them into slabs of shining silver.