Okavango Delta Botswana
Jao Camp
Here in the Okavango, your perfect hideaway awaits. Jao Camp sits on a secluded private island west of the Moremi Game Reserve, deep within Botswana's Okavango Delta. The surrounding waterways open up to floodplains and savannah, offering guests an exhilarating Okavango adventure. Jao’s diverse landscapes provide an array of habitats, ensuring a variety of wildlife sightings. Depending on the water levels, the lagoons become home to hippos and crocodiles, while the waterways and floodplains attract abundant birdlife. Positioned at the heart of the Okavango, the Jao Reserve captures the essence of this unique ecosystem, with narrow channels cutting through papyrus and reed beds. These waterways offer refuge to rare species like the elusive Sitatunga and the Pel’s Fishing Owl. Lush palm islands dot the landscape, inviting exploration.
Choose between five expansive safari suites or two exquisite villas at Jao Camp, each featuring private plunge pools and dedicated butlers, chefs, guides, and vehicles. These accommodations offer the ultimate hideaway, perfectly balancing opulence with the untouched beauty of the wilderness.
The safari activities at Jao Camp include mokoro (dug out canoe) excursions, boats, fishing, day and night game drives and guided walks. If the area has a large flood, we usually have to boat to a large island, called Hunda Island, where vehicles would be waiting and the game drives would start. The area is very seasonal and the annual flood transforms the habitat from dry green open plains in summer to shallow flood plains in the winter.
"We saw buffalo, about 200 of them, very frequently on Hunda Island along with a variety of other game, such as lion - both male and female - ostrich, warthog, kudu, red lechwe, impala, reedbuck, elephant, hippo, crocodile, giraffe in good numbers, and even leopard hunting sitatunga - can you believe the two most sought-after animals in the Delta - in one picture!"
Jao Safari Diaries
“Autumn at Jao transforms the landscape as floodwaters journey down, inundating the floodplains and keeping the surroundings lush and vibrant for several more months. This annual arrival brings vast herds of Red Lechwe to the Jao plains, offering a bountiful feast for local predators. With the rising waters, crocodiles often venture onto the floodplains, becoming a more common sight, and the rare Sitatunga antelope can frequently be spotted on Jao Island. The channels brim with pristine, crystal-clear water, revealing the delicate, swirling stems of water lilies beneath the surface. This season also marks the return of majestic elephant herds to the area. Winter introduces crisp, cool mornings occasionally veiled in mist, while water levels reach their zenith. Spend a day exploring drier terrains teeming with wildlife, and indulge in a delightful picnic along the way. The allure of this place is timeless — one can never tire of its enchanting beauty."
Field Notes
BIRDING PARADISE
Jao Camp is a paradise for birders, with its stunning scenery and rich avian diversity. Notable sightings include Slaty Egrets, Pink-throated Longclaws, and African Skimmers. Jao concession is home to the largest population of the endangered Wattled Crane.
Jao Camp
Safari Film
Jao Camp
Safari experience
Jao Camp seamlessly blends natural and repurposed materials, creating an architectural masterpiece that harmonizes with its surroundings. The camp’s spa offers unrivaled privacy, with flexible doors that open up to nature. Guests can stay active in the well-equipped gym or relax under the unique canopy pavilion at the main pool, which evokes the feel of a peaceful bird's nest. Indulge in signature Terres d’Afrique treatments, inspired by Africa’s rich botanical heritage. There is an outdoor 'boma' for dining under the stars, as well as an excellent wine cellar. Jao also offers a Spa with a fulltime spa therapist, offering a wide range of massage treatments.
Jao is the heart of the Okavango Delta. Keep your ears open for a hundred different bird calls. Spy a tiny painted reed frog, or elephants padding silently past camp. Follow lions across the floodplains on a high-thrill chase.
JAO SUITES + VILLAS
At Jao, every corner invites exploration. Whether visiting the gallery and museum, relaxing in the library, or soaking in the ambiance of the main lodge surrounded by the sounds of the Delta’s wildlife, each moment is a memory in the making. Choose from five opulent safari suites or the ultimate retreat in one of two villas, each equipped with a private plunge pool and a dedicated team of butlers, chefs, guides, and vehicles.
Guests are accommodated in seven large and luxurious Tree suites. Each of the unique canvas and thatched suites has been individually handcrafted. The suites are built under a canopy of shady trees, with en suite bath facilities featuring a large claws-foot bathtub and double vanity. There is an outdoor nature shower for an added romantic aspect to your Tree suite, and an outdoor "sala" (sundeck) for guests to enjoy midday siestas with a view. The suites are raised off the ground and offer spectacular views of the surrounding flood plains. A raised walkway connects the suites to the main dining room and lounge area.
We offer daily flights from major African airports to our private airstrip, located just 10 minutes from camp. Guests are provided with complimentary road transfers upon arrival. For those seeking a more exclusive experience, private charters on luxury aircraft or helicopters are available upon request.
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Jao Camp
Jao concession
During the dry 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, which the Lion prides are adept at hunting in the water. Leopard are sometimes seen and Elephant are also more prevalent. Plains game such as Impala, Zebra and Wildebeest stay on the dry islands. During winter, Jao offers 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.
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Situated in the heart of the 150,000-acre Jao Concession, the camp offers an incredible blend of permanent swamps and dry land. To the east, the Jao Flats boast water channels that wind through the papyrus and reed beds, making it a haven for wildlife.
Discover the revitalized wilderness of Jao, a premier sanctuary for the elusive sitatunga antelope (Tragelaphus spekii), a swamp-dwelling species unique to the expansive wetlands of south-central Africa. Beneath the shimmering waterways of the Okavango Delta lies a rich tapestry of peatlands—layers of decayed organic matter abundant in carbon. Traditionally submerged, these peatlands have recently become more exposed due to extensive peat fires that have affected approximately 30% of the Delta's peat and sedge areas.
This natural transformation has unleashed trapped nutrients back into the ecosystem, fostering the growth of open plains lush with palatable, highly nutritious grasses. As a result, Jao has become a haven for plains game, attracting impressive herds of herbivores. Witness hundreds of Cape buffalo, blue wildebeest, and Burchell's zebra roaming freely across the landscape. Common reedbuck and warthog populations are thriving on the rejuvenated floodplains, while sightings of the southern giraffe have become delightfully frequent. Elephants grace the area in abundance, from nurturing family groups to solitary bulls exploring the vast terrains. Notably, herds of tsessebe — a rare and special antelope seldom seen in other parts of Africa — are a remarkable highlight at Jao.
This exclusive Guided Safaris® journey takes you from the permanent channels of the Jao Concession to the thrilling game plains of Mombo Concession for a truly epic safari experience.
Jao Camp
The Jao Family
Meet David, Cathy, and Martin Kays—the passionate stewards of the Jao Reserve. Their family's roots in the Okavango Delta stretch back generations, entwined with the region's history and development. David's great-grandfather first arrived in Ngamiland in 1887, drawn by the allure of unspoiled African landscapes. The Kays family settled in Tsau in 1908, living in harmony with the indigenous Batawana tribe. When the tribe established the village of Maun around 1915, the Kays moved alongside them, fostering deep mutual respect and understanding. David's father, Ronnie, played a pivotal role in conservation, serving as an advisor to the Batawana Tribal Authorities during the formation of the Moremi Game Reserve. His expertise was instrumental in defining the reserve's boundaries, reflecting a lifelong dedication to preserving the region's natural heritage.
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