Jao Camp Hotel is a luxury camp situated in the Jao Reserve, an area of 60,000 hectares, in Botswana's Okavango Delta. Jao Camp It is built in a private reserve bordering on the Moremi Game Reserve, to the west of Mombo, on a densely wooded, oval~shaped island. Jao can offer both land and water activities, depending on the fluctuating levels of the Okavango's floodwater. This area comprises a superb variety of habitats, ranging from permanent waterways and lagoons on the one extreme to thick Kalahari soils on the other.

Jao ranks as one of the best lodges & Tented Camp in Southern Africa according to the July 2000 issue of Harpers and Queen.  Jao Camp is located on a large, remote island in a private concession in Botswana, bordering the Moremi Game Reserve in the heart of the Okavango Delta. In the central region of the concession, vast open floodplains provide some of the most stunning scenery Botswana has to offer. Jao Camp lies in the southern side of the plains, an area with beautiful islands fringed with riverine forests. Huge herds of red lechwe can be seen, followed by their primary predator - prides of lion. Other game includes elephant, buffalo, leopard, tsessebe, zebra and wildebeest, hippo and crocodile.

Jao Camp stands in a private reserve on a remote large island. Across the waterway in front of the camp, guests have access to open floodplains and savannah for a wonderful Okavango experience. This area comprises a superb variety of habitats, ranging from permanent waterways and lagoons on the one extreme to thick Kalahari soils on the other. The wildlife at Jao depends largely on the water levels in the area. The lagoons are home to Hippo and Crocodile and the permanent waters attract large numbers of waterfowl. In the permanent waters, Sitatunga can be tracked silently by mokoro. From October to March the waters subside and enormous open plains are the highlight. This is where the game viewing is the best. Lion, Cheetah and Leopard are plentiful, while Tsessebe, Red Lechwe, Zebra and Wildebeest dot the flood plains. During our winter months, the water levels at Jao rise and the savannah areas become covered with water. The focus at Jao switches more to water activities with game drives on the larger islands.

Jao Camp Hotel Owners
Cathy and David Kays and their families, and Kingsley Mogalakwe are the long-term leaseholders of Jao Reserve. The Kays are one of Maun's oldest families. David's great grandfather first came to Ngamiland in 1887. In 1912 the Kays family settled in Tsau, at that time the headquarters of the Batawana tribe (Maun was not yet founded). When the Batawana tribe decided to establish a new village at Maun and move its headquarters there in the mid~twenties, the Kays family moved with them. David's father, Ronnie, was instrumental in advising the Batawana Tribal Authorities on the formation of Moremi Game Reserve and assisted in the demarcation of the reserve's boundaries. Kingsley Mogalakwe is from a prominent and well-known Maun family. His uncle, Montsho Mogalakwe, was also instrumental in the formation of Moremi Game Reserve and has now retired from service in Maun as the deputy chief for Ngamiland. Like all families raised in and around the Okavango, wildlife was in their blood, and they spent most of their lives out in the bush. When they won the rights for the Jao Reserve in the recent tender process, they were determined to make this Botswana's finest reserve.

They turned their backs on hunting, even though it is allowed in this reserve. They are only the second reserve in Botswana not to hunt, when hunting is allowed. They have decided to focus all their efforts on developing Jao into a superb photographic reserve, but in the process they lose about US$300,000 in hunting revenue every year to ensure great game viewing and a superb wildlife product in the long term. The two camps they have built ~ Jao Camp and Kwetsani Camps ~ are two of the top camps in Okavango.
The only way to access Jao is by air. The Jao Airfield is 1100m long and is situated about 135km from Maun and 320km from Kasane, the small frontier town in northeast Botswana closest to Victoria Falls. Flying time depends on what aircraft one is flying in and it is usually about a 35-minute flight from Maun to Jao.

Jao Camp Accommodation
At Jao Camp, 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. The camp sleeps a maximum of 16 guests in unique and stunningly beautiful, luxury rooms. The whole of Jao is raised on wooden decks above the lush palms below and is beneath a dense canopy of ancient indigenous trees. Each room has thatched roofs with canvas walls. En suite facilities include a bath, flush toilet, basins, as well as an outdoor shower.

Jao Camp Restaurant
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. 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. 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.

Jao Camp 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.

The Jao Reserve (Wildlife Management Area NG25) is 60 000 hectares in extent and is in the north-western area of the Okavango Delta below the panhandle. The Moremi Game Reserve forms the eastern boundary of the reserve. Lying as it does in the very heart of the Delta; the Jao Reserve embodies all the magic and mystique of the Okavango. Narrow water channels cut their way through the papyrus and reed beds in the permanent delta to the north and east of the reserve, providing the perfect environment for the elusive Sitatunga and the rare Pel's Fishing Owl. Beautiful lush palm islands dot the water, begging to be explored, and Jacana Camp is built on one such lush and thickly forested island. In the central region of the reserve, vast open floodplains provide some of the most stunning scenery of the region. Jao Camp lies in the southern side of the plains and Kwetsani Camp is 5 miles further north on the same floodplain system. This area of the reserve has beautiful islands fringed with riverine forests. Further west the reserve gets progressively dryer and Hunda Island which is the tip of a large sand tongue is the largest area of dry land during the flood season. Hunda Island has sandveld vegetation supporting many species of nutritious acacia and grewia shrubs which provide excellent browsing. Tubu Tree Camp is built on the western side of Hunda Island.

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