About Jao Camp
Jao Camp is situated in the Jao Reserve, a 60,000-hectare area in Botswana's Okavango Delta.
The Jao Reserve borders the Moremi Game Reserve, to the west of Mombo Camp, on a densely wooded, oval-shaped island.
This area boasts a superb variety of habitats, ranging from permanent waterways and lagoons to thick Kalahari soils.
In the central region of the concession, vast open floodplains provide some of the most stunning scenery Botswana has to offer.
Jao Camp lies on the southern side of the plains, amidst beautiful islands fringed with riverine forests.
Accommodation
Jao Camp features nine spacious, beautiful tents, each individually handcrafted.
These twin-bedded canvas and thatched rooms are located beneath a canopy of shady trees and have en-suite facilities, as well as an outdoor shower for the more adventurous.
Built on raised decks, each tent has a private sala for afternoon siestas and offers wonderful views of the surrounding floodplains.
In addition to the lounge and dining area, there are two plunge pools and an outdoor boma for dining under the stars, complemented by wines from an excellent wine cellar.
Jao Camp also has a salon offering a wide range of massage therapies.
Features of Jao Camp
Jao Camp offers both land and water activities, depending on the fluctuating levels of the Okavango's floodwater.
From May to late September, the floodplains fill with crystal-clear waters as the floods arrive, shifting the focus to water activities. Game drives are conducted on the larger islands.
From October to April, the floodwaters recede, and the floodplains transform into savannah grasslands.
Jao is a multi-activity camp, offering mekoro (traditional canoe), boating, walks, game drives, and night drives throughout the year.
The focus of activities shifts according to the season and flood levels.
Wildlife
A variety of habitats ensures diverse and interesting game viewing. The wildlife at Jao Camp depends largely on the water levels in the area.
The lagoons are home to hippos and crocodiles, and the permanent waters attract large numbers of waterfowl. In these waters, sitatunga antelope can be silently tracked by mokoro.
From October to March, as the waters subside, vast open plains become the highlight, with excellent game viewing.
Lion, cheetah, and leopard are plentiful, while tsessebe, red lechwe, zebra, and wildebeest roam the floodplains.
During the winter months, rising water levels transform the savannah into wetland habitats.
The Jao Concession
The Jao Concession covers 60,000 hectares in the north-western Okavango Delta, below the Panhandle.
The Moremi Game Reserve forms the eastern boundary of the concession.
The Okavango Delta rests between shallow fault lines at the end of the Great African Rift Valley.
Deserts, including the Okavango Delta, receive low annual rainfall.
However, each year, floodwaters flow into the Delta from their source in the African highlands over 1,000 km away.
These floodwaters create a unique wetland that supports the incredible diversity of wildlife in the Okavango Delta.
The Jao Concession embodies the magic and mystique of Botswana. Narrow water channels cut through the papyrus and reed beds of the permanent delta in the north and east, providing an ideal habitat for the elusive sitatunga and the rare Pel's Fishing-Owl. Lush palm islands dot the waters, inviting exploration.
Further west, the landscape becomes progressively drier, with Hunda Island — the tip of a large 'sand tongue' — being the largest area of dry land during the flood season.
Hunda Island supports sandveld vegetation and provides excellent browsing for many species of wildlife.
Birdlife
The true wetland areas of the Okavango Delta are renowned for their birdlife.
The largest concentrations of endangered wattled cranes are found in this area, along with slaty egrets, rosy-throated longclaws, and African skimmers.
Pel's Fishing-Owl and slaty egret are frequently spotted alongside the more conspicuous coppery-tailed coucal and pygmy goose.
The Okavango's wetlands provide critical habitat for sitatunga antelope, red lechwe, hippos, and crocodiles.
During the dry season, lechwe, tsessebe, elephants, wildebeest, and zebras are commonly sighted, with predators like lions, cheetahs, and leopards regularly seen on the floodplains.
Lion prides in this area have been extensively studied in recent years, offering insights into their behaviour.
Where is the Jao Camp?
Access to Jao Camp is via a fly-in transfer, followed by a vehicle transfer to the camp. Occasionally, transfers are by boat during the green season.