The green season in Duba Plains (located in the Okavango Delta of Botswana), also known as the rainy season and low season, is actually one of the most amazing time periods to visit this spectacular destination. The green season is considered to be the months of November through April, and it offers travelers with a wide variety of perks and excitement.
Below are 5 of the best reasons to visit Duba Plains, Botswana during the green season:
Fantastic Photography Opportunities: Lush landscapes and puffy clouds play a huge role in the colors and lighting that one can capture through photography during the green season. Passing showers can often characterize the afternoons at Duba Plains during the low season. But as the clouds gather in the backdrop behind a super lush landscape, this is when the best photographs can be taken!
In the afternoons, the sun starts to move towards the horizon, creating a kaleidoscope of colors, as puffy storm clouds gather in the distance and reflect a mixture of ominous and vibrant light onto the landscape below. This complexity of natural elements often produces some of the most riveting and surreal photographs.
Also, during the green season, rainbows and lighting are frequently spotted and always make for unique photographs!
Discounted Rates: Great Plains Conservation—an exceptional organization that supports conservation efforts through all of their properties and business practices—operates some of our favorite camps and lodges in Botswana.
During the 2013 / 2014 green season, they are offering fantastic rates at the Duba Plains Camp (one of my favorites!), as well as two of their other properties in Botswana: Selinda Camp and Zarafa Camp.
To learn more about the green season discounted rates for these Great Plains Conservation accommodations, please contact the Hills of Africa Travel Safari Concierge Team today. Click here to send an email to us or call us at 800-940-9344.
Image above of Duba Plains Camp taken from the Great Plains Conservation website
Exceptional Birding: The rains in the Okavango Delta during the green season attract some of the world’s most spectacular birds! Avid birders can experience walking safaris and game drives, specifically focused around birding, or simply enjoy sightings from the comfort of their accommodations. The waterways and forests surrounding Duba Plains Camp, for example, are a prime habitat for birds and offer visitors an exceptional glimpse into the birdlife of Botswana. It’s also important to note that there are a variety of bird species found in Botswana that are endemic to the country as well as Africa in general.
Some of the birds frequently spotted in the Duba Plains area during the green season include Pel’s fishing owl, carmines bee-eaters, martial eagles, southern ground hornbill, pygmy geese, and many others!
Wonderful Game Viewing: The game viewing in Duba Plains is truly recognized as some of the BEST in southern Africa. During the green season, you’ll most likely witness lots of baby animals, as well as live births! This time of year travelers on Botswana safari tours can also witness an increase in predators in the area, especially lions.
One of my absolute favorite things about Duba Plains are the residential lions—specifically Ma Di Tau and Silver Eye. These two lionesses have been featured in The Last Lions and Eternal Enemies documentaries and are truly spectacular to witness in real life. I was fortunate to see Ma Di Tau on my recent adventures in Botswana.
Fewer Tourists: Duba Plains is a fairly remote destination to begin with, so travelers to the area on a Botswana safari vacation are not often bombarded with other tourists. However, the “high season” (which is considered to be May through October) attracts a great deal more tourists than the green season.
Many travelers believe that since November through April is considered the rainy season that it will always be gloomy and impossible to go out on game drives. Although the likelihood of rain is much higher during the rainy season than during other parts of the year, rain often appears in passing showers as oppose to day- and week-long episodes. Therefore, travelers on a Botswana safari vacation during the green season can enjoy exceptional game viewing throughout most days without other tourists.
