Okavango Delta
Jao Camp
Arguably the most luxurious of all the water camps, Jao is situated in the Jao Reserve, an area of 60,000 hectares in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. It is built in a private reserve bordering the Moremi Game Reserve, to the west of Mombo, on a densely wooded, oval shaped island. The camp is positioned to afford excellent views of the floodplains and savannah, which can be enjoyed from the privacy of your private balcony or from the communal boma.
Accommodation is in nine twin-bedded tented rooms under cool thatch, overlooking the hippo-filled lagoon in front of the camp. Each of the suites has its own large bedroom area, lounge and a deluxe en-suite bathroom with an outdoor shower. The private deck allows you to view the game and wildlife in total seclusion. The thatched main dining and lounge area is positioned for you to enjoy sundowners while you watch the sunset or a candlelit meal in the open air boma. For more private dining, meals can be enjoyed al fresco on your tent’s deck. Jao also has a salon where a wide range of massage therapies are offered.
The Jao area encompasses a contrasting variety of habitats, ranging from permanent waterways and lagoons on the one extreme to thick Kalahari sands on the other. Jao Camp offers both land and water activities, depending on the fluctuating levels of the Okavango’s floodwater. Day and night game drives provide an opportunity to explore this magical reserve. Water levels permitting, boating and mokoro excursions in traditional dugout canoes offer a tranquil escape on the winding waterways of the delta. There are two platform hides in the Jao Concession for secluded game viewing, up close but in safety, providing amazing photographic opportunities.
Facilities
Thatched tented suites with large bedroom area, lounge and a deluxe en-suite bathroom with outdoor shower. Thatched dining and lounge areas, and open air dining within the boma. Two plunge pools, gym and salon where a wide range of massage therapies are offered.
Local Wildlife
The camp focusses mostly on water birds and mammals including otters, the rare sitatunga and red lechwe. Bird highlights include Pel's fishing owl, African and lesser jacanas, slaty egret and African pygmy-goose. Game drives frequently reveal elephant, lion and leopard.
Optional Activities
Boat safaris, mokoro excursions, fishing and game drives are included on a shared basis.
Jonathan Morris
Area Specialist
Book a night out on their Star Bed. Sleep under the stars and then at sunrise watch the waterways wake up around you.
If you have any questions regarding our Botswana tours, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
It is long overdue, but we want to thank you for meticulously organising exceptional wildlife adventures for us for the last 26 years.
That right, 26 years! Our first trip was to Madagascar for our honeymoon in 1999. I fondly recall Alan saying, “ it isn’t a typical honeymoon destination”. You have come to know us well over the years and you know we don’t want “typical”, we want exceptional wildlife adventures.
Thank you, Reef & Rainforest, for being our agent of choice for over 26 years and for consistently recommending and organising incredible tailor-made wildlife experiences which exceed expectations.
We are passionate about wildlife and photography, whether that is on land or snorkelling happily in pristine reefs. We have been fortunate to visit some wonderful places organised by you, including Madagascar, Costa Rica, Peru, Chile, India, Africa, and Indonesia, often returning to discover new and exciting places. Each trip has exceeded expectations. This is attributable to your deep local knowledge, meticulous planning, relentless attentiveness to our wishes and generous time spent discussing the trips. You have often delighted and surprised us with personal touches such as organising a surprise birthday cake.
We just returned from Botswana having thoroughly enjoyed the wildlife adventure by tented camp. It was exceptional in all respects, and we are delighted to see that you have quoted us on your website. Apologies that we have failed dismally to acknowledge your efforts to date. We will share some pictures when we have edited them !!!
We are looking forward to Belize at Christmas and Misool in February next year.
Thank you, Reef and Rainforest.