Introducing the new Duke's Camp - opening June 2022
THIS YEAR THE ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT OF JACK BOUSFIELD VENTURES INTO THE OKAVANGO DELTA… AND WE COULDN’T BE MORE EXCITED…
For more than 30 years, Jack’s Camp has been an icon of African safaris, pioneering under-canvas luxury on the fringes of Botswana’s ethereal Makgadikgadi Pans. This year the spirit of Jack Bousfield ventures into new territory, with the June opening of Duke’s Camp in the magical wilderness of the northern Okavango Delta.
While Jack’s has long taken its cue from the desert, Duke’s Camp draws its inspiration from the crystal-clear channels and bountiful islands of the Okavango Delta. This landmark permanent camp is named in honour of Sarefo ‘Duke’ Sarefo, the custodian of this special piece of wilderness. Duke was born 80 years ago on the very island that the camp now occupies, and his ancestral roots run deep into these sandy soils.
With expert guides honed in the bushcraft and lore of the Delta, there are few better ways to discover this wild landscape. Glide quietly on a mokoro through the channels, go on enthralling game drives or boat rides with some of the best safari guides in the business, and enjoy a scenic hot-air balloon ride or helicopter flight over the Delta.
Pitched on raised wooden decks beneath a canopy of ebony and leadwood trees, the camp will open with eight luxurious safari tents, with a further four coming in March 2023. Each room reveals a much-loved vintage safari aesthetic of plush fabrics, Persian rugs, and hand-carved four-poster beds. Think mahogany sideboards filled with African memorabilia; richly-patterned kilims atop wooden floors and a butler tray decked with a steaming pot of filter coffee come morning. It’s a seamless blend of yesteryear charm, safari savoir-faire and deep respect for the surrounding natural ecosystems.
The main mess area at Duke’s Camp is a delight with its old-world glamour and elegant Persian tea-tent. Grab a drink from the well-stocked drinks cabinet and settle into the small lounge furnished with intricately carved tables, antique oriental rugs, and campaign furniture. At day’s end, guests gather to trade tales amidst the cabinets of curiosities filled with Africana and collectables gathered by the Bousfield family through generations of African travel.
Meals are a lavish affair of crystal glasses and antique silverware, with three-course dinners that celebrate the rich Jack’s Camp tradition of honouring guests with fine food and wine in the African bush. Beside the flickering lanterns you’ll find, of course, pots of the Bousfield’s legendary hot chilli relish. After dinner, gather by the firepit to watch the mopane wood smoke curl up into the southern skies, hinting at tomorrow’s promise of yet more African adventure.
Duke’s Camp is a striking new safari destination, waiting to be discovered.
For all enquiries and to find out more contact
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www.naturalselection.travel