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Jao Camp

 

Jao Reserve - NG 25

Jao Camp Lodges own gradingLodges own gradingLodges own gradingLodges own gradingLodges own grading

Jao Camp is situated in a private reserve on a remote large island, to the west of the Moremi Game Reserve in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Across the waterway in front of the camp, guests have access to open floodplains and savannah for a wonderful Okavango experience.

Guests are accommodated in nine large and spacious rooms. Each of the unique and beautiful twin-bedded canvas and thatched rooms has been individually handcrafted under the direction of renowned architects Sylvio Rech and Leslie Carstens. The rooms are built under a canopy of shady trees, with en-suite bathroom, hot and cold running water, a large bath and double vanity. There is an additional outside shower under the stars for those more adventurous guests who want to shower closer to nature. There is an outdoor "sala" for guests to enjoy midday siestas with a view and a breeze. The rooms are raised off the ground and offer wonderful views of the surrounding floodplains.

A raised walkway connects the rooms to the dining room and lounge area. There is a plunge pool and an outdoor 'boma' for dining under the stars, as well as an excellent wine cellar.

The area is extremely seasonal and the annual flood transforms the habitat from dry green open plains in summer to shallow floodplains in the winter. Access to this area is only by aircraft.

Accommodation at Jao Camp:

Room Details
Via raised walkways from the main communal area
Luxuary canvas cottages, raised off-ground on poles, wood doors, thatch roof
En-suite facilities with bath, his & hers basins and outdoor shower, slippers and gowns for guests.
Each room has a veranda with with a spectacular vista over the floodplains, as well as a 'sala'
Fans in all guest rooms
Soap, shampoos and insect repellents are supplied in rooms.

Camp Description
Dining room, pub & lounge under thatch, on poles, overlooking the floodplains
Curio shop
Landscape view from lounge & dining area.
Boma for dining under the stars (weather permitting)
Library
Evening campfire
2 plunge pools
Wine cellar
Massage salon with full time therapist
Slide projector available
Private dining arranged

Inclusions / Exclusions

Rates Include:
Fully inclusive tariff includes accommodation, all meals, all activities, park fees and all drinks (except premium imports)

Rates Exclude:
Curios, imported drinks and tips/gratuities

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Extra information

Safaris, Game drives and other activities

30% Game Drives and 70% Water Activities (but very much dependant on flood levels & time of year. In the summer months activities tend more towards game drives, whereas in the winter months mainly water-based activities are offered.)

Jao also offers a Salon with a full-time therapist, offering a wide range of massage treatments. The activities at Jao include mokoro (dug-out canoe) excursions, boats, fishing, day and night game drives and guided walks. During an unusually high flood season, game drives begin by boating out to a nearby island - Hunda Island - where the vehicles are waiting, and the drive begins from there.

Game Viewing

A variety of habitats ensures diverse and interesting game viewing. The wildlife at Jao depends largely on the water levels in the area. The lagoons are home to Hippo and Crocodile and the permanent waterways and floodplains attract large numbers of waterfowl. In the permanent waters, Sitatunga can be tracked silently by mokoro.

From October to March the waters subside and extensive green open plains are the highlight. This is where the game viewing is the most diverse. Lion, Cheetah and Leopard are plentiful, while Tsessebe, Red Lechwe, Zebra, Giraffe, Warthog and Wildebeest dot the flood plains. Large herds of buffalo move in and out of the reserve at will. Night drives are good for spotting creatures not often seen such as Porcupine, Spotted Hyena, Pangolin, Spring Hares, Bushbabies, Civet and Genets.

During our winter months, the water levels at Jao rise and the savannah areas become inundated with water. Huge herds of Lechwe can be found on the floodplains and the Lion prides are adept at hunting and drowning their prey in the water. Leopards are still often seen and Elephants are more prevalent at this time. Plains game such as Impala, Zebra, Wildebeest and Tsessebe stick to the dry islands. During this time the focus at Jao switches more to water activities with limited game drives on the larger islands. A greater choice of activities is also possible at this time of year due to these higher water levels.

Children

Children over the age of 8 years are welcome

Laundry

Laundry is done on a daily basis and inclusive in the nightly tariff with the exception of "smalls" i.e. underwear, which are not washed due to local customs.

Climate

Botswana's climate is semi-arid. Though it is hot and dry for much of the year, there is a rainy season, which runs through the summer months. Rainfall tends to be erratic, unpredictable and highly regional. Often a heavy downpour may occur in one area while 10 or 15 kilometres away there is no rain at all. Showers are often followed by strong sunshine so that a good deal of the rainfall does not penetrate the ground but is lost to evaporation and transpiration.

Summer (Rainy season)November - March
It usually brings very high temperatures. Cloud coverage and rain can cool things down considerably, although only usually for a short period of time.

Winter (Dry season)May - August
Virtually no rainfall occurs. Days are invariably sunny and cool to warm; however, evening and night temperatures can drop below freezing point in some areas, especially in the southwest.

The in-between periods - April/early May and September/October - still tend to be dry, but the days are cooler than in summer and the nights are warmer than in winter.

What to take

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