JAO CAMP – JAO CONCESSION – OKAVANGO DELTA

A Wilderness Safaris Camp – Jao is a luxurious and sophisticated camp with individually designed tents in the heart of the Okavango Delta with access to Hunda Island in the dry season.

LOCATION

Jao Camp is set in the private Jao Concession in the heart of the Okavango Delta – amongst islands fringed with riverine forests and vast, floodplains in an area with prolific wildlife.

CAMP

Shaded by a canopy of trees the nine spacious tents offer en-suite facilities with both indoor and outdoor showers and there are stunning views from the private sala at each tent.

In addition to the main lounge and dining area there are two plunge pools and a boma for dining under the stars. Jao also has a spa where a wide range of massage therapies are offered and a gym.

Jao is 100% solar powered, with electricity and hot water provided via solar panels and inverters. Waste water (sewage and grey water) is treated in an Above Ground Sewage Plant, ensuring that the water is clean before being allowed to enter the natural environment. In order to reduce use of bottled water, reverse osmosis filtration is done on site to provide guests with high-quality drinking water – this is managed and monitored against very strict in-house environmental standards, so only approved eco-friendly detergents and chemicals are used.

ACTIVITIES AND WILDLIFE

The game viewing at Jao is superb. Huge herds of red lechwe can be seen, followed by their primary predator – prides of lion. Other game typical of the area includes elephant, buffalo, leopard, tsessebe, zebra, hippo and crocodile as well as the uncommon sitatunga and spotted-necked otter. Many bird species are resident such as Meyer’s parrot, African harrier hawk, black heron, coppery-tailed coucal, and black crake.

Activities include morning, afternoon and night game drives. Enjoy a full-day game drive, along with a picnic on wildlife-rich Hunda Island.

There is no better way to view the Delta and its wildlife than by traditional mokoro (dugout canoe). A boating excursion allows you to reach and explore the more distant waterways and clear, deep channels.

Tucked away under magnificent African ebony trees overlooking cool, calm water, the Jao Spa is an enchanting setting. Choose from a full menu of spa therapies and massage treatments.

You can also spend some time at the photographic hide located around 20 minutes’ drive from the camp or enjoy a romantic sleepout and really get closer to Africa!

GIVING BACK

As a camp dedicated to the sustainability of conservation and community, Jao is intimately involved in projects that support the local community.

More than 85% of camp staff come from remote, rural communities. Through regional training programmes, Wilderness Safaris provide local people with the skills to become some of the best guides, managers and ecotourism operators in the African tourist industry.

Jao Concession and the University of Botswana (Biokavango Project) formed a committee to encourage better engagement between local communities and the Jao Concession, specifically regarding curbing poaching and over-fishing.

Wilderness Safaris have developed a strategy to reduce the use of bottled water across all operations. Through the use of reusable bottles for guests and installing on-site water purification systems at camps, they have reduced plastic water bottle usage by 75%.

JAO CAMP IS OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND

THE CAMP WELCOMES CHILDREN AGED 6+ – FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED 6 – 12 WILL HAVE TO BOOK A PRIVATE VEHICLE IN ADVANCE