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Jao Camp At Glance
The camp sleeps a maximum of 16 guests in unique and stunningly beautiful, luxury rooms. The whole of Jao is raised on wooden decks above the lush palms below and is beneath a dense canopy of ancient indigenous trees. Each room has thatched roofs with canvas walls. En suite facilities include a bath, flush toilet, basins, as well as an outdoor shower. Each room has a "sala" for midday siestas with a wonderful view. The main dining, lounge and pub area is under cool thatch beneath the tree canopy. The camp has a pool. We also have an outdoor "kgotla" (Botswana's version of a boma) for dining under the stars. Raised walkways connect the rooms to the dining room and lounge. The camp is open all year.
JAO CAMP FACT SHEET
LOCATION
To the west of Mombo
In private concession (called the Jao Concession) bordering the Moremi Game Reserve
PRICING
January - end June - shoulder rates
July - end October - highest prices
November - end December - shoulder rates
ACCOMMODATION
Number of tented rooms:
8 tents in total consisting of:
6 ¾ twin bedded tents
2 kingsize-bedded honeymoon tents
This camp can accommodate 16 guests. 1 twin guides tent
Room details:
Luxury canvas cottages, raised off-ground on poles, wood doors, thatch roof
En-suite facilities with bath, his and hers basins and outdoor showers
Each room has a veranda with a spectacular vista over the floodplains
Fans in all guest rooms
Soaps, shampoos and insect repellents are supplied in each room
Each room has veranda and "sala" resting area with a great view.
CAMP DESCRIPTION
Communal Area - The Long House:
Dining room & lounge under thatch, on poles, overlooking the flood plains
Landscape view from lounge & dining area
Evening campfire
Plunge pool
Curio shop Kgotla (boma) for dining under the stars
Raised walkways
GAME VIEWING
The game viewing depends on the time of year and the water levels in the Okavango. Elephant, lion, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, warthog, African wild cat, lechwe, hippo, leopard, impala, waterbuck, sitatunga and wild dog.
50% Game Drives and 50% Water Activities (but very much dependant on flood levels & time of year.) In the summer months activities tend more towards game drives, whereas in the winter months mainly water based activities are offered.
Game Drives:
Land game drives in 3x 10 seater open 4x4 Land Rovers each accommodating a maximum of 7 guests, allowing all guests an outside seat.
Night drives.
Private vehicles available on request.
Walking Safaris:
Game walks.
Water Activities:
Water game viewing in 10 x 2 seater mekoros
4 x 2 seater mekoros with glass bottoms
2x 7 seater boats in the waterways to the east of camp.
ELECTRICITY & WATER
Camp has a 220v generator. Electricity is run in the kitchen and main areas when guests are not in camp. When guests return from daily activities, generators generally switched off (for peace in camp).
220v battery power (charged by the generator) is used for lighting and fans in each guest tent 24hrs a day. Hairdryers etc cannot work here.
Video battery can be charged by the generator when guests on game drives. Hence bring spare battery and charging unit.
Solar heated water for showers etc.
DRINKS POLICY
All local drinks beers, wines and mineral water are included in the nightly tariff, with the exception of premium wines & champagne, and premium liqueurs & spirits.
LAUNDRY POLICY
Laundry is done on a daily basis and inclusive in the nightly tariff with the exception of 'smalls' ie underwear, which are not washed due to local customs.
EXTRAS PAYMENT
Curios and or imported drinks will be billed to the guest and settled on check out. Payment can be effected by cash (US$), travellers' cheques or the following credit cards: Visa or MasterCard. If guests feel that they want to tip, our recommended tipping schedule is as follows:
Guides - US$5.00 per person per day
General Camp Staff - US$3.00 per person per day
Specialist Guides (if applicable) - US$10.00 per person per day
(This is the suggested gratuity schedule only and is subject to service standards)
FLYING TIMES
to/from Maun 35 minutes
to/from Kasane 1hr 25 minutes
Kasane to Victoria Falls 20 minutes but allow additional time for customs and immigration
AIR STRIP DETAILS
Jao airstrip is located 10 minutes' drive from camp and a +- 5 minute boat trip.
Airstrip co-ordinates: S19.23.16, E022.44.51
Airstrip services Jao, Jacana and Kwetsani camps.
THE OWNERS
Cathy and David Kays and their families, and Kingsley Mogalakwe are the long~term leaseholders of Jao Reserve. The Kays are one of Maun's oldest families. David's great grandfather first came to Ngamiland in 1887. In 1912 the Kays family settled in Tsau, at that time the headquarters of the Batawana tribe (Maun was not yet founded). When the Batawana tribe decided to establish a new village at Maun and move its headquarters there in the mid~twenties, the Kays family moved with them. David's father, Ronnie, was instrumental in advising the Batawana Tribal Authorities on the formation of Moremi Game Reserve and assisted in the demarcation of the reserve's boundaries. Kingsley Mogalakwe is from a prominent and well~known Maun family.
His uncle, Montsho Mogalakwe, was also instrumental in the formation of Moremi Game Reserve and has now retired from service in Maun as the deputy chief for Ngamiland. Like all families raised in and around the Okavango, wildlife was in their blood, and they spent most of their lives out in the bush. When they won the rights for the Jao Reserve in the recent tender process, they were determined to make this Botswana's finest reserve. They turned their backs on hunting, even though it is allowed in this reserve. They are only the second reserve in Botswana not to hunt, when hunting is allowed. They have decided to focus all their efforts on developing Jao into a superb photographic reserve, but in the process they lose about US$300,000 in hunting revenue every year to ensure great game viewing and a superb wildlife product in the long term. The two camps they have built ~ Jao and Kwetsani ~ are two of the top camps in the Okavango.
