Luxury
Botswana

Jao Camp

Camp Jao offers a truly unique and well rounded safari experience, utilising the surrounding Okavango landscape to its maximum potential with a host of exciting activities. Accommodation is built from locally sourced and recyclable materials, luxurious by even the highest standards, with an array of modern furnishings and lavish features such as a private plunge pool and air-conditioning. All inclusive food and beverages will keep you lavishly sustained while embarking on a host of land, sea and air based game viewing activities, while in-camp facilities such as a bar, pool, spa, gym and library will keep you thoroughly occupied in-between. Complimentary internet access is available in-camp, and families with children age 13 and older are warmly welcome.

Jao Camp, Botswana

Situated within the heart of the Okavango, Camp Jao is set amongst islands fringed with riverine forests and vast floodplains. As Jao Camp is located within the boundaries of the Moremi Game Reserve – a UNESCO world heritage site protected under international treaty, the surrounding landscapes benefit from thriving, undisturbed natural game populations that make for perfect game viewing activities. Jao Camp is accessible via light aircraft transfer to Jao airstrip for Maun Airport, followed by a short drive to Jao Camp.

  • 5 Star rated
  • All inclusive rates
  • Tented suites and private villas
  • Air-conditioning
  • Game viewing activities
  • Complimentary internet access
  • Scenic helicopter flights
  • Mokoro excursions
  • Private vehicle available
Luxury Villas

Each luxury villa is comprised of two identical tents, including four separate beds for one single unit, each with individual en-suite facilities, a shared lounge and dining area, a private butler, kitchenette with private chef, fire deck and private plunge pool. These villas are designed in the contemporary luxury safari style, constructed from locally sourced and recyclable materials, ensuring a continuous and comfortable room temperature. These spacious and airy units cater to the utmost standards of lavish luxury, guaranteeing a truly unique and pampering experience for all residents.

Amenities Include:

  • En-suite Bathrooms
  • Indoor and outdoor shower facilities
  • Bathtub
  • Veranda
  • Private plunge pool
  • Sala
  • Lounge area
  • Fireplace
  • Air-conditioning
  • Mosquito nets
  • Electronical outlets
  • Mini-bar
  • Hairdryer
  • Fan
  • A small kettle with tea and coffee provided
  • Complimentary internet access
Luxury Tented Suites

Each of these luxury tented units are lavishly decorated in the classical safari style with a hint of modernity. The airy construction from materials such as teak and thatch ensure a a comfortable temperature, regardless of the fluctuating heat and cold inherent to the landscape. Each unit comes with a host of luxury features and furnishings meant to elevate the guest experience to new heights, such as a veranda, en-suite bathroom, private plunge pool, air-conditioning any many more lavish fixtures.

Amenities Include:

  • En-suite bathroom
  • Indoor and outdoor shower facilities
  • Bathtub
  • Veranda
  • Private plunge pool
  • Sala
  • Lounge area
  • Fireplace
  • Air-conditioning
  • Mosquito nets
  • Electronical Outlets
  • Mini-bar
  • Hairdryer
  • Fan
  • A small kettle with tea and coffee provided
  • Complimentary internet access
Dining at Jao Camp

Jao Camp’s assortment of talented and dedicated catering staff will ensure the ultimate dining experience throughout the entirety of your stay. Three set meals are served throughout the day, as well as a host of lite bites and snacks to enjoy around the clock, ensuring guaranteed appetite satisfaction. A sumptuous and diverse menu, ranging from tried-and-true crowd pleasers to exotic delicacies – with everything in-between, serves to satisfy the pallets of all guests. Should you have any specific dietary requirements, inform the catering staff and they will be happy to accommodate any specifications you request. With all-inclusive rates you’re free to enjoy a range of locally sourced and imported alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at your own discretion.

Catch and Release Fishing

Bountiful delta channels make for a unique and exciting fishing experience for those who wish to unwind while they cast a line. An abundance of fish such as Tilapia and spotted and silver catfish will ensure a lively experience for all who partake. Should you desire something more intense, test your might against the infamous fighters of delta waters – African pike. Please note, catch and release fishing only.

Cultural Tours

Enrich yourself in the customs and culture of closely situated villages for an authentic insight into the real Botswanan day to day life. The opportunity to meet and engage with locals will provide an invaluable and enlightening experience for those who seek a memorable and impactful out-of-lodge adventure. Activities include hut building, basket weaving, fishing, meeting village elders and local children, as well as opportunities to browse the local market, bakery and churches present.

Scenic Helicopter Safari

Experience the Okavango Delta like never before with this once in a lifetime bespoke helicopter safari. View the breath-taking expanse of inaccessible lakes and islands – remote and otherwise unseen, as well as the abundance of roaming wildlife that can be seen passing beneath your feet. This experience will allow you to truly absorb the full magnitude and beauty of Okavango Delta from high above the sky, covering a considerably larger expanse than what is possible with conventional land-based safari. Scenic helicopter safaris are accessible via external location and come at additional fees.

Game Walks

Guided game walks allow you to take in the sights and sounds of the delta wild at a more intimate and leisurely pace than is applicable with other modes of safari game viewing. Experienced guides will lead you safely through the undisturbed Okavango flat and wetlands while brushing elbows with scores of exotic, thriving game populations. For a chance to get up -close-and-personal with meandering elephants, frolicking zebra and all the big cats – just to name a few, a guided game walk is a unique and enriching experience that’s not to be missed.

Bird Watching

Okavango birding is a unique experience that attracts wildlife enthusiasts and birdwatchers alike from all corners of the globe. Over 450 species make for a unique and unparalleled viewing experience. Knowledgeable guides, familiar with the many indigenous birds and their beckoning calls will familiarise you by pointing out different species as you progress. Some of the rarer avian species include the illusive Pel’s fishing owl, endangered wattled crane and the majestic African fish eagle.

Motorised Boat Excursions

An invigorating and thrilling marine safari adventure. Motorised boats present an enthralling means with which to experience the sights and sounds of the Okavango Delta, as well as opportunities to sample exotic barge cuisines and exquisite culinary surprises. Savour the deep orange savannah sunset while enjoying a refreshing beverage in the company of friends. Lifejackets are provided.

Mokoro Excursion

The ultimate maritime safari experience. Indulge in a tranquil, culturally enlightening water-bound excursion that see’s you silently glide across open delta waters in a traditional style African dugout canoe (colloquially known as mokoro) as you pass scores of aquatic creatures and vegetation. Drifting calmly onward will reveal intricate waterlilies, papyrus grasses, brightly coloured frogs, kingfishers and dragonflies, as well as the elephants that rear in close to feed on the reeds and drink from the river.

Day and Night Game Drives

Guided game drives provide the opportunity to traverse expansive delta lands in open 4×4 safari vehicles. Thriving game populations within the reserve make for ample wildlife viewing potential as you travel across open landscapes and merging eco systems. All the big cats await you, as well as the larger safari staples such as elephant, hippopotamus and buffalo, as do herds of giraffe, frolicking zebra, kudu and wild dog – to name only a few. Be sure to bring a camera, as not to miss out on the immense photographic potential inherent to the Okavango.

Sleep Outs

Cast your gaze upon the sprawling canvas of stars and galaxies that illuminate the night sky while submerged in the lap of luxury. Undisturbed delta lands, free from light pollution provide ample conditions for star gazing amidst the landscape of the open bush. Travel out from camp with your experienced guide for an evening game drive deep within the bush where your evenings accommodation, a luxurious sky suite awaits. Such a suite ensues a deep sense of immersion with the surrounding environment while also providing shelter and security. A light breakfast is served in the morning before the ensuing game drive back to camp.

Sustainable/Eco Tourism

Wilderness Safaris aim is that if the camps ever needed to be moved they could do so without leaving an imprint on the land. All Wilderness Safari camps are built in the most eco-friendly way possible. To reduce their carbon footprint and to help them become carbon neutral in their operations, they invest in new technologies to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.

The 4 Cs

Wilderness Safaris partner properties all work under the sustainability ethos of conservation, culture, commerce and community. Pack for a Purpose is one of the community projects that Wilderness Safaris has partnered with, it is “a non-profit organisation that provides travellers with up-to-date information about required supplies for community-based projects.”

Children In The Wilderness

This is an educational programme created by Wilderness Safaris which aims to educate and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders by teaching them life skills and environmental issues. This programme aims to “create a network of learning sanctuaries that uplifts and cares for our children and conserves the planet.”

The Wilderness Wildlife Trust

Wilderness Safaris created their own Trust in 2003, this is an independent entity that fund-raises for money to be put into various conservation projects. This engages with projects which can be beyond the scope of the areas in which Wilderness Safaris operate, ensuring that “conservation is a driving force in reaching more people, wildlife and places.” The Jao Concession and the University of Botswana have created a committee hoping to “encourage better engagement between local communities and the Jao Concession, specifically regarding curbing poaching and overfishing.”

Rhino Conservation Projects

Both the black and white rhino were declared locally extinct in Botswana in the early 1990s. Since then, Wilderness Safaris have partnered with the Botswana government and other NGOs to reintroduce and establish healthy, breeding populations of black and white rhino in the Okavango Delta. Wilderness Safaris helped to restore these rhinos to the wild “in the largest cross-border move ever completed.”

Careers for Local People

Wilderness Safaris employs an ensemble of local workers and tradespeople for use in the construction of its facilities and maintenance, as well as the sourcing and training of national citizens to serve the role of guides and in-camp staff. It is essential to impart a positive effect on not only the environment, but on the people and communities that without whom, sustainable tourism would be but an empty proposition. There are few people more qualified to provide the ultimate safari experience than the locals themselves, and as such, Wilderness Safaris recognises the importance of providing local people with opportunities and employment, stressing careers as opposed to jobs – giving back to the communities who have given so much.

Eco Friendly Architecture

Jao Camp is constructed from primarily recyclable and locally sourced materials where applicable, negating the need to haul lumber and other construction materials long distances from neighbouring towns and villages. Initiatives such as this greatly offsets potential carbon emissions and negates disruption to the surrounding environments and habitats. Accommodations and camp facilities are constructed from degradable and natural materials, as to ecologically fit with the surrounding environment rather than impose upon it.

100% Solar Status

Jao Camp, as with many Wilderness Safaris retreats operates on entirely 100% sustainable solar powered energy. By utilising the abundance of sun inherent to Northern Botswana, Jao Camp can supply a consistent source of energy that is used to power the camps many facilities, offsetting the need for conventional diesel-powered generators that are detrimental to the surrounding wilderness and environment. Through ecologically friendly initiatives such as this, Jao Camp serves as a shining example of how to successfully operate within the sustainable tourism industry for all to see and take note.

Children Welcome

Jao Camp welcomes all families with children age 13 years and over. However, due to the potentially hazardous nature of the environment, children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

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