Jao Camp

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Overview

Situated on a private island within the Jao Reserve, in the Okavango Delta’s western region, this is Botswana’s most luxurious camp.

Key Features

  • Jao Camp is located on a remote island in the heart of Okavango Delta in the Jao concession
  • A luxurious camp with two exclusive villas and five suites all with private plunge pools
  • Activities on offer include day and night game drives, seasonal boating and fishing, mokoro trips, seasonal walking and sleep
  • The two villas come complete with an exclusive vehicle, guide, chef and butler

Location

Set on the Jao concession in the north-western Okavango, Jao Camp is surrounded by pristine wilderness and some of the most beautiful scenery. Thanks to its location within this 150,000-acre wilderness, the camp benefits from being both hidden amongst waterways and lagoons and also close to the Kalahari woodlands which makes for excellent game viewing (think red lechwe, leopards, elephants, buffalo and hippo).

Design

Located on a large island, Jao Camp was completely rebuilt in 2019 and the tents – there are five tents and two villas in total – overlook the Delta. The accommodations are made from canvas and thatch, meaning they blend seamlessly into the natural surroundings. Connected via raised walkways through the trees, they boast plenty of living space inside, and outside on the front deck there’s entertaining space, a private sala and breathtaking views over the reserve’s seasonal floodplains. Looking for more space? Opt for one of the villas, perfect for a group of friends or family.

Central Camp

The central camp is spread over two storeys and is in itself a showpiece. With a heavy West African and Indonesian influence (think antiques, rich leathers and African driftwood chairs), the space is comprised of a lounge and dining area with two plunge pools, a curio shop, a small library and a boma where you can enjoy dinner under the African stars. There’s also an award-winning spa and gym to soothe your aching muscles after a long day out on safari.

Sustainability

As part of the Jao Concession, Jao Camp is involved in a project with the local community to reduce conflict regarding poaching and over fishing in the area. Power is solar, water is filtered using reverse-osmosis and air is cooled by energy-efficient Climate Wizard systems.

Why we love it

The varied landscape – seasonal floodplains, permanent wetlands and dry islands – means there a wealth of wildlife, so get out on guided walk or game drive to see it all (these are also offered at night where you can sight some of the more elusive species). And with such a location, it would be foolish not to get out on the water. From a boat trip to a mokoro (a dug-out canoe) excursion, there’s so much to see: hippo, Nile crocodile and abundant waterbirds that call these waters their home.

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