Renew Your Vows in Africa with Great Plains’ Best of Botswana Safari Experiences

July 2023…// Great Plains, the conservation tourism organization founded by National Geographic filmmaker-explorers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, is delighted to unveil a selection of romantic bucket-list-in-the-bush experiences across its luxurious Botswanan camps.

From gliding along in a poled mokoro at sunset down the Okavango Delta and a champagne helicopter safari to private bush dinners under the stars, there’s something for every couple with Great Plains. Available at a selection of stunning properties, including the brand-new Sitatunga Private Island Camp, these wildly romantic safari experiences will see guests fall in love all over again.

‘Whether couples are renewing their vows, planning to pop the question or honeymoon in style, there’s nowhere more romantic than our camps across the Okavango Delta in Botswana’, says Great Plains co-founder Dereck Joubert. ‘We have created a selection of memorable offerings for our guests which aim to bring them closer to nature, and each other. With sunsets straight from the movies, floating sundowners and dinners in the bush with only the stars, wildlife and each other for company, our team takes huge pride in creating an entirely bespoke safari experience that will see all of your romantic dreams come true.’

The experiences include…

Magical Mokoro at Sitatunga Private Island Camp

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At the new Sitatunga Private Island Camp, opening mid-July 2023, couples can swap the hustle and bustle for complete silence with being personally poled along the waters, and along the channels, of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Couples will gently drift through the shallow channels of the Okavango Delta system, surrounded by water lilies and colorful birds nesting on the banks, towards a private sundowner setup. The ultimate spot for a truly unique proposal or a toast to recent nuptials, if a moment of peace and calm is what’s desired, a trip on a mokoro is a must.

Set to open later this month, Sitatunga Private Island Camp will provide guests with the most authentic Robinson Crusoe experience and a refuge for the soul in the Okavango Delta. The new Réserve-Collection safari camp, is made entirely out of recycled materials, designed by Dereck and Beverly Joubert. Providing adventurers with the opportunity to explore the scenic area’s permanent channels by mokoro, stretch their legs on guided morning walks, take part in fishing or photographic safaris, it is one of the few locations in the world where one can spot the rare aquatic antelope – Sitatunga – from camp and on the water. For the ultimate hideaway experience, couples can check into the two-bedroom Sitatunga Private Island Suite. Built on a raised, wrap-around railway sleeper private deck complete with plunge pool, the Suite can accommodate up to four adults (or two adults and up to three children).

Nightly rates at Sitatunga Private Island Camp start from $1,550 per person, per night based on two sharing.

Private Bush Dinner Under the Stars at Selinda Camp

Accompanied by a bottle of bubbly, fine dining, the sounds of the bush and a sky full of stars overhead, a private bush dinner for two on the Selinda Spillway is the ultimate setting for a celebration of love. This Relais & Châteaux culinary experience, available at Selinda Camp, can be tailored entirely to couples’ tastes by expert chefs, from bringing in special sparkling wine preferences for the occasion or whipping up a personal favorite dessert.

Resting on the banks of the Selinda Spillway as it enters the Linyanti River, Selinda Camp is situated on the private 118,000-hectare Selinda reserve. This pristine area is home to elephants by the thousands, wild dogs, and the famous Selinda Lion Pride, recently featured in Birth of a Pride, the National Geographic film by Dereck and Beverly Joubert. The camp can accommodate up to six guests sharing three tented suites, including the 2-bedroom Selinda Suite is also perfect for families. Children are welcomed to Selinds Camp aged 8 and up. Each suite has a private pool and in-room exercise equipment to assist in working off the sensational food and wine served at the camp’s fine dining show kitchen. Activities include morning and evening game drives, guided walks, and motorized boating opportunities. In-room spa and wellness treatments can be arranged at an additional cost.

Nightly rates at Selinda Camp start from $1,820 per person, per night based on two sharing.
Floating Sundowners at Zarafa Camp

The phenomenon of the Zibadianja Lagoon in the Selinda Concession is an experience like no other and the private sunset cruise from Zarafa Camp, which provides a floating bar and dining experience, is the most indulgent way to enjoy it. Couples will take to the waters of the lagoon as they drift on a floating bar fully equipped with everything needed for a romantic sundowner. Here, lovers can watch the sky change color by the second as the birds fly home overhead, while they enjoy a selection of gourmet dishes and wine pairings.

Zarafa means “the beloved one” in Arabic and comes from a giraffe that was presented to Charles X of France in 1826 by the Viceroy of Egypt. Today Zarafa, Botswana’s first Relais & Châteaux property, is an exquisite camp located on the private 118,000-hectare Selinda Reserve. The Reserve links the Okavango Delta with the Linyanti and Savuti water systems. Every area of the camp offers stunning views over the Zibadianja Lagoon, the source of the Savuti Channel. Each of Zarafa Camp’s recently refurbished four guest suites are 1,000 square foot (100m2), set on raised decking, under flowing canvas. Entering through a Lamu door, guests will find a lavish space of deep reds and browns, where the bedroom is connected to a full lounge and open layout bathroom complete with copper claw-foot bath. Outside, extensive decking includes a private plunge pool and outdoor shower.

Nightly rates at Zarafa Camp start from $1,820 per person, per night based on two sharing.

Private Dining in the Wine Cellar at Duba Plains Camp *Also available at Zarafa and Selinda Camps

The ideal pick for loved-up duos who enjoy the finer wines in life, Great Plains’ private dining in the wine cellar offers a chance to sample a gourmet tasting menu accompanied by wine pairings selected by Dereck Joubert himself. As guests dine, surrounded by the history and beauty of the finest winemakers in the world, couples can toast to one another while reminiscing on the day’s adventures.

Duba Plains Camp is located in the center of the Okavango Delta among a matrix of palm-dotted islands, flood plains and woodland on a 33,000-hectare private reserve boasting incredible game viewing. The exclusive camp evokes classic African 1920’s style and accommodates up to 10 guests sharing tented suites. Guests will enjoy their own plunge pool with veranda and shaded sala, indoor showers and sweeping views of the surrounding floodplains and passing wildlife from the privacy of their own room. An interactive kitchen allows guests to relax around the bar area whilst the camp chefs whip up culinary delights in front of them. Activities available include morning and night game drives, mokoro and motorized boating activities.

Nightly rates at Duba Plains Camp start from $1,820 per night based on two sharing.

Champagne Helicopter Safaris, In-Suite Dining, Couples Massages, Decadent Bubbles and more *All Botswana Camps

In addition to the camp-unique offerings, Great Plains provides a menu of ‘Wildly Romantic’ experiences available across all Botswana camps, ensuring there is truly something for everyone! These include:

• Champagne Helicopter Safaris. One of the most breathtaking ways to see the magic of the Okavango Delta is to see it from above. The meandering water channels, the ambling elephant herds, the open space for wildlife to explore, seeing the Delta from above brings a different level of feeling connected and in awe of nature. Great Plains’ helicopter scenic flights include the option of a romantic island stop-off where guests will land on a remote island to a champagne stop in the wilderness, providing a jaw-dropping setting for a vow renewal or spontaneous proposal!
• Private In-Suite Dining. The feeling of being connected and present, the ‘us united against the world’ moment, comes true with the in-suite private dining experience at Great Plains. Guests are welcomed home from their game drive to a bubble bath and private dining setup from the comfort of their private suite, where they can expect mouth-watering culinary dishes, expert pairings of wine and some extra special touches from the team.
• Couples Massages. The ultimate way to unwind post safari, couples can enjoy a massage à deux with Great Plains’ expert on-site massage therapists. Spacology products and essential oils help one unwind and loosen any tension, while the sounds of nature all around soothe the soul, providing a truly grounding experience.
• Decadent Bubbles. The most indulgent way to experience Great Plains’ iconic large copper baths is with a bubble soak! Explorers will arrive back at camp to a prepared bubble bath with a bottle of champagne and two glasses at the ready. The perfect way to wind down after an exciting game drive spotting elephants, lions, leopards and more, couples can soak up the memories of their day.