With something like 7,000 hectares per room, Wilderness Safaris specialises in remote camps. Duba Plains is by far their most remote in Botswana. The camp is in a 30,000-ha community-owned reserve in the far north of the Okavango Delta where the flood waters begin their great fanning manoeuvre. On a small island that becomes swamped in high water, the lodge has just six tented rooms in the typical east-African style. They all have en suite bathrooms and secluded decks that look out over the endless plains.

The main lodge is also raised on a large deck and the dining room, bar and pool area all share that same view of the wild African bush. The whole camp is shaded by splendid ebony, fig and mangosteen trees. Wildlife activities are affected by the level of the floodwaters and usually offer a mix of day and night game drives, walking safaris and water safaris in traditional mekoro and delta boats.

Duba Plains: game-viewing hides

Two hides offer fantastic photo opportunities and an unobtrusive look at the behavioural habits of the animals. The riverine and mopane savannah habitats support a staggering assortment of wild animals. The reserve is well represented in the wildlife department: huge herds of buffalo, elephant, hippo, lion, leopard, cheetah, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, warthog, wild dog, lechwe, hippo, tsessebe, kudu and sable antelope. Birdlife is also impressive with high numbers and endemic specials like wattled cranes and slaty egrets.