Author: James

The renowned Duba Plains Camp sits at the the northern edge heart of the Okavango Delta, on a permanent channel, ensuring year-round water access.
A matrix of palm-dotted islands, flood plains and woodland, the 33 000-hectare private reserve is typical of the region’s unique landscape, and is brimming with wildlife uniquely adapted to take advantage of the the specific habitat.

Duba Plains Camp offers five bespoke suites, in addition to a separate 2-bedroom suite aptly named the Duba Plains Suite, all designed by Dereck Joubert to blend into the riverine forest and to take advantage of the shapes and textures of the shade but also to evoke the old classic African safari style of the 1920’s. It is a wildlife connoisseur’s getaway with literally thousands of animals in an almost endless pattern across the flood plains. Elephants splash their way through the papyrus whilst lechwe feed in the shallows nearby, and the ever-present lions criss-cross the channels, looking for their next meal.

All the rooms are raised on recycled railway sleeper decking and offer guests amazing views of the surrounding floodplain and the steady stream of animals parading past. The camp is very active, with elephants visiting almost daily, banded mongooses feeding along the pathways, baboons frolicking in the trees, and the local warthog population rummaging under the rooms for the freshest roots and grass.

At Iconic Africa, we believe that we all have an obligation to make each and every day Earth Day in our own worlds. Environmental consciousness should not be limited to one day a year, and it is the continuation of a mindset that will make the lasting differences to our planet.

According to the Earth Day Network, April 22nd marks the anniversary of what many people would consider to be the “birth of the modern environmental movement” that began in 1970.

The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.
Today, Earth Day is observed in 192 different countries and is considered to be the largest secular holiday in the world, bringing together more than a billion people each year. From the very start, Earth Day has served as a powerful platform for citizens of the world to send a loud message to world leaders that they care about the environment and that we must make protecting our planet a priority.

The beauty of Earth Day is that the theme changes every year.

“Healthy Environments for Children”, “Trees for Earth” and “Water for Life” have been some for the campaigns over the course of the Day’s history, as organisers recognise a rapidly changing world and the environmental threats that accompany it.
Ultimately, although the difference a single day of action can make may be negligible, the greater result that Earth Day aims to achieve is awareness. A subtle shift in the zeitgeist, with new buzzwords entering mainstream consciousness.

This year’s theme is “Planet vs Plastics”, with Earthday.org calling for a 60% production in plastics by 2040. By and large, the safari industry has already been embracing this approach for some time now. Lodges are providing glass bottles for their guests, or refillable multi-use versions; food that comes in packaged in cling-wrap is no longer acceptable; anything single-use is on the way out…
We are very much in favour of lodges that have a strong sustainability approach.
The use of solar, electric vehicles, and paraffin lanterns in the rooms all call for our approbation. Using local produce and co-opting farmers in the area to encourage a micro-economy gets two thumbs up.
As much as we can, we try to do business with lodges and companies that reflect the same values that Earth Day promotes each year. In short: sustainability and a drastic reduction of environmental impact.

Is it too late? Have we damaged the planet irrevocably?

We don’t believe so, although we’re teetering on the brink.

But one day a year is not enough. We need to live and breath Earth Day every day in order to save Mother Earth. She is an organism too. And it’s us that are slowly pushing her towards needing life support.
A focus on the outcome isn’t the way to go. We need to focus on the behaviours; the small changes in behaviour that over time become habit, which, also compounded over time, is where the real change lies…

The north-western corner of Namibia is one of the harshest environments imaginable.
Rolling dune fields, harsh gravel plains and mountains with barely any vegetation growing on them characterise the landscape.
Yet amidst all this, in an area that at least superficially seems unable to sustain life, is one of the most remarkable and enchanting ecosystems on our planet.

The Kunene River forms the northern border of this region. Across the river lies Angola, and to the south lies the Marienfluss;a large valley which provides grazing for the cattle and goats of the indigenous Himba population. The Marienfluss conservancy was registered in 2001 and covers 3,304 km2. There are a mere 340 people in the area – around one person per square kilometre. Grasslands dominate the broad, central Marienfluss and Hartmann’s Valleys, with dunes covering the western section. Wildlife includes leopard, cheetah, giraffe, duiker, steenbok, gemsbok, springbok, ostrich, mountain zebra, crocodile, kudu.

And the overwhelming impression that forms as you sit and take in all this grandeur… is silence.

Maybe the slight sussuration of the wind in the grass, or the far off cry of a Fish Eagle soaring over the Kunene river, but essentially there is silence. And peace. No traffic, no helicopters overhead, no police sirens.
This part of the world truly lets you appreciate stillness, and how much noise we as a species make.

And perfectly positioned for to experience the magic of this quiet wilderness is Serra Cafema.

Set amongst shady trees on the banks of the Kunene River, Serra Cafema is one of the most remote camps in southern Africa.

Its Portuguese name originates from the mountains that dominate the northern skyline. Guests fall alseep to the sound of rushing water, while by day they explore one of the driest deserts in the world. The camp’s eight unique canvas and thatched chalets, each with its own en-suite bathroom, show great attnetion to detail; the elevated decks and simple structures of wood, canvas and thatch create a camp that is at one with its surroundings.

The dining room and pool look out over the Kunene River. Activities here are varied, including boating (seasonal), walking, viewing breathtaking landscapes,as well as carefully guided quad-bike excursions that tread lightly on the dunes. In this isolated region, the Himba people continue their nomadic, traditional way of life and when in the area, offer guests the opportunity to learn about their lifestyle and traditions.

Serra Cafema is not a typical safari destination.
It is not about encountering an enormous volume of wildlife or watching predators interact or having a breeding herd of elephants stroll sedately past you.
It is about switching off, listening and soaking it all in. It is about fully appreciating the minutiae of a place, and the
It is about stillness, solitude, and realising that there are few places on earth when you can feel as remote yet so comfortable at the same time.

It is about connecting fully with what the real definition of wilderness is…

If this sounds like the kind of experience you are after, drop us a mail on info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start planning your trip…