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Duke's Camp Okavango

New York City
13 posts
65 helpful votes
Duke's Camp Okavango

Has anyone been to or heard anything about Duke's Camp? It just opened in late June, and we're staying there next month. I know it's operated by the same company that runs Jack's Camp, but I have not yet seen any reviews of Duke's.

15 replies to this topic
Maun, Botswana
936 posts
1. Re: Duke's Camp Okavango

Im not sure if you are one of the people moved from Mapula to Dukes?... if so you could be in for a treat.

Natural Selections will not be marketing Mapula lodge anymore and as such the Mapula bookings are being moved to the new Dukes Camp... although I thought that this was for any bookings from January 2023.

Dukes Camp is in the same area but is definitely a more premium camp,... its got an interesting history actually linked to Jacks Camp in the Makgadikgadi which was a 5 star camp

Jacks underwent a complete rebuild, and whilst this was going on they built Jacks Migration Camp to fill in whilst the rebuild took place... Now that the new Jacks is open, they closed the Migration Camp...

Dukes is using the Migration camps tents etc... and Im pretty sure that the main area is actually the original Jacks Camp main area, which was impressive to say the least.

Its a unique camp and very very different to all others, very elegant with an emphasis in services. Ornate interiors etc... Certainly not your average lodge and its rare to have a lodge which is a point of interest in itself.

Personally I think you will love it.

Roger

Owner of Safari Lifestyles

Local Operator

Wayzata, Minnesota
Destination Expert
for Botswana, South Africa, Kruger National Park
3,533 posts
5 helpful votes
2. Re: Duke's Camp Okavango

Roger is 100% correct. One of the owners of Natural Selection, from Maun, was staying at my house here in Minnesota in early April when this was announced. We moved all our guests from Mapula to Duke's based on our inherent trust in the brand. I have been to every Natural Selection/Uncharted lodge currently open (except Dukes) and I am very confident you will be in good hands. The are is wedged between Vumbura Plains and Duba Plains and highly productive for animal viewing in August.

Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond

New York City
13 posts
65 helpful votes
3. Re: Duke's Camp Okavango

Thank you, I appreciate your reply. But I'm really looking for reviews from people who have stayed at Duke's.

Wayzata, Minnesota
Destination Expert
for Botswana, South Africa, Kruger National Park
3,533 posts
5 helpful votes
4. Re: Duke's Camp Okavango

Only a tiny fraction of overall upscale tourists use Trip Advisor so I think it is a needle-in-a-haystack search since the camp just opened. I have clients arriving next week and will share their feedback but this might be too late for you. Do you have a chance to change properties?

Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond

New York City
13 posts
65 helpful votes
5. Re: Duke's Camp Okavango

Mapula Lodge is still being marketed by Natural Selection, and there are reviews of it right now. If it is closing, Natural Selection has not noted this. I'm confused by the fact that Duke's Camp has already opened, and no one has reviewed it.

Maun, Botswana
936 posts
6. Re: Duke's Camp Okavango

As mentioned in my post, Natural selections will no longer be marketing Mapula... not sure about it closing down... The lodge will no longer be part of their portfolio from 1st January 2023.

Very few people have actually been to Dukes thus far... our first guests should only be going there in a few months I'm afraid.

Roger

Owner of Safari Lifestyles

Local Operator

World
8,852 posts
279 helpful votes
7. Re: Duke's Camp Okavango

I will go even if the camp is crappy. the location where Craig described is excellent. but my point is natural selection will not put you in a dump. if anything, I consider it an upgrade

Redlands, California
9,383 posts
50 helpful votes
8. Re: Duke's Camp Okavango

I found Jack's to be over the top but it was certainly luxe--but no morning coffee on game drives!

Los Angeles...
1,033 posts
1 helpful vote
9. Re: Duke's Camp Okavango

Shocked at no coffee on morning game drives. San Camp is more our style but many really like Jacks. I'm not sure if "ornate" means crystal chandeliers and butlers, but that is not our style. We had coffee on a mobile safari for our morning break. Maybe tea is their only choice. Hope Dukes is a hit with everyone transferred there. Different strokes for different folks. Cherie

Pismo Beach...
1 post
10. Re: Duke's Camp Okavango

Sounds great. We have been to Africa 15 times, much of it it in the Delta. We have been to several “new” camps in the Delta, Qorowke and Okavango Explorers.to name two. While the camps were well run and service and guiding was great, at both those camps the game was more skittish than other Delta camps. As an example we were recently at Duba plains and Duba Explorers. Antelope , zebra, and giraffe would simply stare at you as your vehicle approached, only running off if you got too close. At the aforementioned “new” camps the game would be moving away as soon as they saw you. Before going to any new camp, I would always give it at least a season or two get used to vehicles and people before I went.

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