Read 2 traveller reviews of Jao Camp

Jao Camp is one of Wilderness Safaris' flagship camps. Situated on a remote island in the middle of a large private reserve in Botswana's Okavango Delta, it is a majestically imposing camp nestled among tall shady garcinia (African wild mangosteen), leadwood and ebony trees, overlooking a wide waterway. Wide open floodplains and savannah surround the camp, giving a feeling of total seclusion.

Jao has been stunningly designed with an Asian longhouse/African fusion style by italian interior designers. No expense has been spared – gorgeous and expensive looking ornaments decorate the main areas, and original artworks can be found in the dining room and bar.

The camp offers a wide range of safari activities – day and night game drives, walking safaris and various water activities including mekoro trips and motorised boat cruises (the sundowner cruise is a particular highlight). Fishing activities are also offered and the camp has fishing rods for clients to borrow. Large numbers of red lechwe and lion dominate the reserve's big game. At its driest, around September to February, you're also likely to find buffalo, elephant, many other plains' game species and the occasional cheetah.

Jao is a romantic camp, but usually commands a substantial supplement - ask us for details.

Click on a link for more details of:
Suite at Jao Camp

Lodge overview

Lodge type: Safari

No. of bedrooms: 9

Season: Open Year Round

Ideal length of stay: 3 nights.

Central facilities: Jao's central area is arranged over two levels - the lower level reveals an intimate and tucked away sitting area, a library and incredibly polished floors leading through to a giant boma decorated with the largest cow bells I have ever seen. Wooden walkways lead to not one but two pools – both splash pools, but each with a different design and both tucked away in the shade of the Okavango date palms which surround the camp. On the other side of this level you can find a richly stocked curio shop, which, along with the ubiquitous kikoys, african necklaces and Okavango baskets, sells such gems as original signed photographs from well-known safari photographers and beautiful African wood sculptures by local carvers. Through this shop, along a shady walkway is Jao's wellbeing salon – which offers massages and facials – both Botswana and Swedish style – and such romantic sounding treatments as Milk and Honey Body Scrub, Mask and Massage or Rosehip Body Polish. In the centre of this lower level, a vast staircase lovingly created from highly polished rosewood (and decorated with mokoros to give an idea of the scale) leads up to an enormous high thatched deck with a large bar and sitting area on one side and a dining area (complete with cappuccino machine) on the other. Running the full length of one side of this deck, and accessed by a couple of steps, is the viewing deck, which is not under thatch. Dotted with comfortable chairs and loungers, and with a scope for guests to use, this has superb views over the Okavango floodplains and the savannah beyond. From the upper level, a high walkway connects to the nine guest rooms, winding through the tall shade trees dotted around the camp.

Geographics

Location: Okavango Delta Safari Reserves, Botswana

Directions: Fly in and transfer by vehicle to camp. Occasionally transfers are by boat during the green season.

Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Key personnel

Owner: Wilderness Safaris.

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board

Dining style: Group Meals

Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Room service: No room servcie - this is a safari camp.

Cost of meal e.g. lunch: Included

Drinks included: Bottled water, soft drinks, local beers and spirits, and a limited selection of South African red and white wines are included. Champagne and imported wines and spirits will cost extra and may need to be requested in advance.

Special interests

Honeymoons: Jao Camp is perhaps one of the Okavango Delta's most romantic camps – luxurious and very stylish. Water-based activities also seem to be a lot more relaxed than 4x4 safaris – which adds to the chilled ambience. - See more of our suggestions of the best places for Honeymoons

Birdwatching: Spectacular birding including possible sightings of yellow-billed storks, hadeda ibis, painted snipe, black egret, a variety of kingfishers including the pied and malachite, storks, stonechat, nightjars, quelea, spoonbills, slaty egret, sacred ibis, woolly-necked storks, carmine bee-eater, little bee-eater, wattled crane, oxpeckers, goliath heron, etc. - See more of our suggestions of the best places for Birdwatching

Photographic: The Jao Flats are one of the most picturesque areas of the Okavango Delta: here you'll find picture-postcard scenery of endless smooth green floodplains, dotted with photogenic little islands sprouting feathery date palms. So for pictures of the Okavango at its best – combined with some stunning wildlife, and a stylish camp – camps don't come much better than Jao. - See more of our suggestions of the best places for Photographic

Wildlife: Jao is best known as a water-based camp, for its excellent boat and mekoro trips, but also offers 4WD safaris on the dry-land areas within the Jao Reserve. Expect large herds of red lechwe, reedbuck and tsessebe – and smaller groups of buffalo and elephant. Big prides of lion are the norm, and leopard sightings are increasingly good. Obviously crocodile and hippo are abundant – and it's a good place to try and see sitatunga. - See more of our suggestions of the best places for Wildlife

Wellbeing: It's all good for the soul: massages and therapies at a stylish camp in the middle of a pristine wilderness - See more of our suggestions of the best places for Wellbeing

Children

Attitude towards children: Children are welcome with the restrictions below.

Age restrictions: The camp may accept ages 8 – 12 if a private vehicle is booked but this must be requested in advance. 12 years and over are welcome. 7 years and under are not accepted.

Activities: Activities such as card making, candle making, fishing, basket making and local crafts are offered for children.

Equipment: None.

Generally recommended for children: We would recommend this camp for children of 12 years and over.

Notes: This is not a very suitable camp for younger children – the walkways to the rooms are very high and open, and there is a lot of dangerous game (large and small) around. The rooms are raised and the balcony may not be suitable for small children.

Central communications

Power supply: Generator

Communications: Jao Camp has a CB radio link in case of emergencies, but for all intents and purposes you should consider yourself out of contact. There is no mobile reception. The camp does have a satellite phone which can be hired to guests if need be.

TV & radio: There is no TV and no radio - this is the bush!

Health & safety

Malarial area: Yes

Medical care: All camp managers are first aid trained and various medications are kept in the camp. In more serious cases, there is an affiliated nurse contact in Maun - Alison Brown - who can give advice over the radio. In severe emergencies Wilderness can arrange for clients to be flown out either via helicopter or medical rescue plane.

Dangerous animals: High Risk

Security measures: Because of the Okavango Delta's large population of dangerous game, and the fact that Jao Camp is unfenced, guests are escorted to their rooms after dark. Alarm sirens or whistles are provided in the rooms in case of emergency.

Fire safety: There are extinguishers outside all the rooms although no fire drills as such.

Extras

Disabled access: On Request

Laundry facilities: Full laundry service is included, except for underwear, for which washing powder is provided in the bathrooms.

Money: No exchange facilities offered. There are safes in all the rooms.

Accepted payment: Mastercard and Visa credit cards are accepted. Diners Club and Amex are not accepted. Credit card transactions attract no commission. Rand, US Dollars, Pounds, Euros and Botswana Pula are accepted.

^ Top of page