The Camp
Jacana Camp has five small meru-style tents accommodating a maximum of eight guests. Each tent is on a wooden deck overlooking the floodplains and has an en suite bathroom with flush toilet and shower. The main dining area is on the top floor of an elevated wooden deck between two magnificent sycamore figs and surrounded by dense wild date palms. Downstairs, there is a cosy pub and lounge with an area for an open fire under the stars.
Safaris and Game Viewing
The game viewing depends on the time of year and the water levels in the Okavango. Lechwe, Hippo, Crocodile, Sitatunga, Elephant, Lion, Zebra, Wildebeest, Giraffe, Warthog, African Wild Cat, Leopard, Impala and Waterbuck.
Safaris can be divided into 20% Game Drive Safaris and 80% Water Based Safaris (but very much dependant on flood levels & time of year.)
Land game drive safaris are conducted in a 10 seater open 4x4 Land Rover each accommodating a maximum of 7 guests, allowing all guests an outside seat.
Private vehicles available on request.
General
Electricity & Water
Camp has 220v generator powered electricity run in kitchen and main areas when guests are not in camp. When guests return from daily activities, generators generally switched off (for peace in camp). Video battery can be charged. Hence bring spare battery and charging unit. No facilities for hairdryers or electric shavers. 220v battery power (charged by the generator) is used for lighting and fans in each guest tent 24hrs/day. Solar heated water.
Laundry
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.
Flying Times
To/from Maun 35 minutes to/from Kasane 1hr 25 minutes Kasane to Victoria Falls 20minutes. Jao airstrip is located 35 minutes’ drive and boat ride from camp. Airstrip co-ordinates: S19.23.16, E022.44.51. The aAirstrip services Jao, Kwetsani and Jacana 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.