Stunning 5 star camp in the Jao Concession
Jao Concession - Okavango Delta
2018 $1155 - $2425
Day Drives
Walking
Night Drives
Family Tent
Pool
Mokoro
Spa
Gym
Fishing
Boating
Okavango Delta - WET Camp
Price Range (2018)
$1155 - $2425
Our Rating
Client Rating
Jao Map
Jao is one of Wilderness Safaris' Premier camps and justifies its high rating. This is stunning camp with beautiful views.
It is not a big game area so you should not consider Jao if your main interest is in seeing huge herds of buffalo and elephant. Jao is a place of relaxation and contemplation, perhaps after visiting some other lodges. It is however one of the most beautiful lodges in Botswana and you really do get one of the best "aquatic" safaris.
The beautiful accommodation is complimented by one of the best main lounges in the country, here you can relax after a session in their spa and then consider whether or not to go on a mokoro or boat ride. We think that Jao is a picture postcard location with a beautiful lodge and is one of the top 5 destinations in Botswana.
Botswana Wildlife Safaris
+267 76061186 | info@safarilifestyles.com
Destinations
Safaris
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Mainly wet camp with mokoro, boating trips and fishing. Seasonal game drives
Jao Concession, Okavango Delta
By Light aircraft transfer to airstrip then private boat transfer to camp
Premier lodge with 9 suites, with 1 family unit and 2 honeymoon suites.
Children of all ages accepted with conditions
Up to 16 Years: A child must share a room with an adult
Up to 12 Years: A private vehicle needs to be booked
Suitability Graph...
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It is perhaps the birds for which the true wetland areas of the Okavango Delta are best known however. The largest concentrations of endangered Wattled Crane are found in this area and Slaty Egrets, Rosy-throated Longclaws and African Skimmer are some of the specials that can be seen. Hallowed species such as Pel's Fishing-Owl and Slaty Egret are found alongside more conspicuous and commonly seen Coppery-tailed Coucal, Pygmy Goose, while the specialised African Skimmer (from which Wilderness Safaris takes its logo) may be seen on the larger lagoons and channels in the Jao Concession.
The Jao Concession is set in the most densely populated wetland area for sitatunga antelope and red lechwe, and of course hippo and crocodile are regularly sighted. In the dry season lechwe, tsessebe, elephant, wildebeest and zebra occur here, and lion, cheetah and leopard are often sighted on the floodplains. The lion prides in this area of the Okavango Delta have been extensively studied in recent years, thereby building up a more intimate knowledge of their behaviour.
Activities
DAY DRIVES
NIGHT DRIVES
BOATING
MOKOROS
WALKING
FISHING
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 .
With varied habitats ranging from waterways and lagoons to dry Kalahari grasslands and open floodplains, Jao Camp can offer both land and water experiences, depending on the current flood levels. This luxury camp is a tranquil base for a wonderful Okavango Delta Safari experience.
The main area is an elaborate two-storey building with lounge and dining area, two plunge pools, a small library, curio shop and a boma for dining under the stars, complemented by an excellent wine cellar. Jao’s spa offers a wide range of massage therapies, and a gym.
The main area is quite an imposing structure; seemingly built on very high stilts it is similar in structure to jacana Camp in that it is on two levels. The lower level comprises of a seating area with a library. The open veranda extends out to the fire pit, which juts out into the wetlands and is where guests can sit under the stars and enjoy the atmosphere at night.
On the upper floor of this interesting structure you will find the bar and lounge where one can sit with a glass of wine and take in the views that the high levels this structure affords you. Adjacent to this area is spacious dining suite for your post activity dinners, again this area takes full advantage of the tree top views.
Separate to the main area, but all connected by walkways can be found 2 pools to relax by, a well stocked gym and a fabulous spa and treatment centre which is exceptionally good considering you are in the floodplains of the Okavango Delta.
Overall, the lodge is built in a Balinese style that is very pleasing to the eye and fits perfectly within its palm tree island.
Jao Camp has nine spacious, beautiful tents, each individually hand-crafted. These twin-bedded canvas and thatched rooms are situated 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 has a private sala for afternoon siestas and offers wonderful views of the spectacular surrounding floodplains of Botswana.
From the veranda, which runs the length of these long chalets you, you can witness the spectacular views. Inside, the accommodation is finished to a very high "bush" standard. The beds are large and very comfortable and sit underneath an ornate mosquito netting which acts as a feature.
The bathroom area has free standing his and hers basins and a Victorian style claw and ball foot bath. A lounge seating area provides a settee and armchairs with soft furnishings with ornate rugs placed around the chalet on the wooden flooring. Fans keep you cool during the heat of the day.
Simply put, you will not be disappointed with the accommodation, its quite beautiful, large and stylish and is an incredibly relaxing place to sleep.
In the central region of the concession, Jao Camp sits on a small island dominated by large Delta trees and vegetation. The camp blends in perfectly to its environment with the structures seemingly forming part of the trees themselves. 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.
The Okavango Delta rests between shallow fault lines at the end of the Great African Rift Valley. Deserts are low on annual rainfall and the Okavango Delta is no exception. However, each year floodwater flows into the Okavango Delta from its source in the moist African highlands over 1000 km away. These floodwaters flow from their catchment southwards and into the Kalahari Desert to create a unique wetland that supports and sustains the huge diversity of wildlife in the Okavango Delta.
Lying as it does in the very heart of the Okavango Delta, the Jao Concession embodies all the magic and mystique of Botswana. Narrow water channels cut their way through the papyrus and reed beds in the permanent delta to the north and east of the Jao Concession, 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.
Further west the area gets progressively dryer and Hunda Island, which is the tip of a large 'sand tongue,' is the largest area of dry land in the Jao Concession during the flood season. Hunda Island has sandveld vegetation supporting many species of nutritious acacia and grewia shrubs which provide excellent browsing.
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