Duke's Camp represents an exciting new chapter in Botswana's luxury safari scene, brought to life by the creative team behind the world-famous Jack's Camp in the Makgadikgadi Pans. Opened in 2022, this stunning property sits on Kgao Island within an expansive 89,000-hectare private concession in the northern Okavango Delta, adjoining the renowned Moremi Game Reserve and positioned just above the famous Duba Plains and Vumbura concessions. The camp is named in honor of Sarefo 'Duke' Sarefo, a member of the local Wayeyi tribe who was born eighty years ago on the very island where the camp now stands. His family has served as custodians of this remarkable piece of wilderness for generations, and the camp has been thoughtfully designed to honor their legacy while working in partnership with them to ensure conservation and community benefits.
With just eight luxurious canvas tents plus a sister property Duke's East nearby with four additional tents, the camp maintains an intimate, exclusive atmosphere that's become synonymous with the Ralph Bousfield properties. The vintage 1940s aesthetic is carried throughout – from the Persian rugs and hand-carved four-poster beds to the crystal glassware and antique silverware used at meals. The main area features an elegant Persian tea-tent, a library with well-stocked drinks cabinets, and dining around a magnificent vintage table, either in the communal tent or beneath the shade of giant leadwood trees. There's a swimming pool for cooling off between activities, and every evening guests gather around the fire pit overlooking the permanent lagoon to share stories under star-filled skies.
The concession showcases the Delta's incredible diversity, with varied habitats including palm-fringed islands, shimmering lagoons, winding channels, savannah grasslands, and shaded woodlands that support exceptional wildlife populations. Activities include morning, afternoon, and night game drives in specially equipped vehicles with rooftop seats offering giraffe's-eye views, plus mokoro canoe excursions and motorboat trips when water levels permit. The area hosts healthy populations of lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, and wild dog, with buffalo often roaming in large herds and plains game including giraffe, zebra, red lechwe, tsessebe, and various antelope species. For the adventurous, additional options include hot air balloon flights, night fly-camping on remote islands, and scenic helicopter trips to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tsodilo Hills to view ancient rock art.
