Jao Camp Botswana

In the heart of the Okavango, on a remote island, Jao invites you to discover one of the richest experiences of the Delta. Where Earth meets river meets wetland, lies Jao. Surrounded by riverine forests and vast floodplains, Jao is the archetypal Okavango Delta camp, and a lush haven for wildlife.

Boat in when the waters rise or travel by game drive vehicle when summer warms the land. At Jao, the endlessly dynamic waters provide a continuous element of surprise and all manner of experiences to explore this Botswana paradise.

Botswana’s Jao is a sculptural marvel of natural and recycled materials, of steel, wood, and glass, of towering, spacious interiors that embrace the light, the bush. Feel your senses come alive at this quintessentially Delta safari camp.

At Jao we invite you into a world where nature and architecture collide. Built into the tall trees, the unique bird’s nest-styled pool gazebo on the edge of the water provides the perfect place to rest. The extravagant wine cellar calls for a pre-dinner drink, while the award-winning spa with gym alongside, beckons you to experience the highest standards of safari luxury.

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. You’ll soon discover why we work tirelessly to protect the unique ecosystem of the Okavango Delta. Jao is a place dedicated to the conservation of the waters and the dry land, and the plants, birds, and wildlife that call Botswana home.

The 60,000-hectare Jao Reserve in the heart of the Okavango is bordered by the renowned Moremi Game Reserve to the east, and allows for year-round access to Hunda Island. Look out over the magnificent floodplains from almost everywhere. There is no better place to discover the Delta.

ACCOMMODATION
Striking design elements impress at every turn. Marvel at the gallery and museum, relax in the library, or simply just be in Jao’s elaborate main area, surrounded by the trees and bird song of the Delta.

Choose between five expansive safari suites or two sublime villas with private plunge pools and their own private butlers, chefs, guides, and vehicles. The perfect Okavango hideaway.

DINING
The food experience at Jao is a journey in itself. To reduce our foodprint, strengthen our ties with the community, and create a healthier, more harmonious environment for all of us, we use locally grown ingredients in traditional recipes. Feel indulged as you discover Botswana at its best through touch, smell, and taste.

GAME DRIVES
Get closer to thrilling wildlife interactions and see creatures big and small on morning and afternoon game drives. Gear up for thrilling game drives on a safari with Wilderness. A wildlife sighting is always unpredictable and that’s what makes a game drive so exciting.

Look out for tracks. Listening for alarm calls and be on the alert for nearby predators. There’s so much to see, and being the first to spot something brings a whole new level of satisfaction to your day.

Enter the habitats and homes of magnificent wild animals. Staying respectful of their space and keeping you safe is our top priority. Game drives allow you to enjoy nature while still being comfortable and camera-ready.

The curious among us will discover endless opportunities to learn about nature in its purest form, with our expert guides on hand to share their knowledge and passion with you.

NIGHT GAME DRIVES
A jackal’s cry. A lion’s roar. The gentle rumble of elephants. The bush comes alive at night, awakening all senses. Bundle up warm to venture out after dark for a night drive with our expert safari guides.

Wildlife-friendly infrared spotlights seek out nocturnal animals not seen during the day. Bushbabies, spring hares, servals, and genets are all regularly seen and, if you are extremely lucky, the elusive pangolin, aardwolf, or even a leopard, may make an appearance.

Under cover of darkness the bush takes on a primal feel. The tension is palpable. Predators and prey are on high alert. And so too you’ll be. Keep your eyes and ears trained for the smells, sounds, and sights that could mean an animal lurking nearby. Get up close to elusive nighttime creatures, see owls and nightjars, witness battles for survival, and learn more about the awe-inspiring night sky.

BOAT SAFARI
View wildlife from the water on a thrilling boat safari, past hippos, sunbathing crocodiles and a dazzling array of birds. The flap of an elephant’s ear. The snort of a hippo. A startled crocodile sliding into the water with barely a splash.

Watch and listen for these special moments on a boating safari, in search of aquatic wonders in the wild. Spy rare birds in the reeds, antelope and predators slaking their thirst, herds of elephant crossing a channel. Up close, in the wilderness, on an unforgettable boating safari.

Binoculars ready, round a bend in a Delta channel, and spy a pair of rare wattled cranes. Camera ready, watch a herd of elephants wade across the Linyanti River. Delight in a cruise down the Kunene River or a glowing sunset on the Zambezi. A boat safari with Wilderness brings you closer to encountering iconic African wildlife. On their level, on their terms, in their habitat.

PRIVATE SAFARI
Create treasured memories with family and friends on an exclusive private safari across Africa’s most iconic destinations. In today’s connected world, privacy has become a rare luxury. One which we respect and protect as you journey with us.

Immerse yourself in the wild, and disconnect as you explore iconic wildlife as you wish: on a private game drive, tracking animals with your personal guide, drifting over the Okavango Delta solo. Or book exclusive camps and experiences for your family or friends to share.

Want to visit a selection of handpicked camps? Enjoy exclusive game drives, personal guides and unforgettable experiences with your family. Or surprise a loved one with a romantic sundowner floating on a lagoon in the Okavango.

We can tailor-make your private African safari dream. From thrilling adventures to intimate wildlife encounters that will stay with you long after you’re home.

GUIDED WALKING SAFARIS
Slow down and pay attention to the smaller details of the safari experience on a walking safari with our professional guides. Swap your safari drive for a guided walking safari and marvel at the smaller things you may miss when seated on a game vehicle.

Walk along ancient wildlife paths, focus on the intricacies of the bush and learn more about the insects, birds, trees and bees with one of our knowledgeable guides. When you do encounter a towering giraffe or a curious zebra on foot, it’s bound to be an experience you’ll remember forever.

Get up close to the wilderness on a walking safari in the company of an armed guide. This is an opportunity to stretch your legs and fully appreciate the finer details of the bush, from the hard-working dung beetle to majestic trees. Look out for the spoor and tracks of animals, stop to smell the plants, and take your time to admire the smaller and often unnoticed animals.

RHINO TRACKING
Experience the heart-thumping thrill of rhino tracking on safari. Rare. Remarkable. Walk in the footsteps of Africa’s largest free-ranging populations of Critically Endangered desert-adapted black rhino in Namibia, and Zambia’s only white rhino, in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.

Feel your heart catch in your throat as a rhino gets wind of you, nostrils flaring. Revel in the privilege of observing them on foot. In the wild. Just as nature intended.

Both black and white rhino populations across the continent are in danger. Cherish the chance to encounter them on foot, led by seasoned Save the Rhino Trust rangers and Zambian National Parks & Wildlife scouts. Follow these majestic creatures as they lumber about their natural habitat, protected by your visit.

GORILLA TREKKING 
Spend a precious hour with wild mountain gorillas on a trek in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. An unrivalled wildlife encounter. Hike Rwanda’s lush Volcanoes National Park for some of the most accessible mountain gorilla trekking in Central-East Africa.

For one precious hour, enter the lives of these remarkable creatures. Infants playing, just as you’d expect a toddler to, adults foraging, completely unconcerned. If you’re lucky, an encounter with a mighty silverback, heart-racing and never-to-be-forgotten.

Nothing will prepare you for the profound impact spending time with mountain gorillas will have on you. Watch mothers cradle their young, toddlers tumble about in the forest, family members pick leaves lovingly from one another’s coats. Revel in the privilege of witnessing these familial interactions, so similar to our own ways.

HELICOPTER SAFARI
Soar above the lush and wildlife-rich Linyanti and Okavango Delta on a breath-taking helicopter safari. Perspective is everything. And as you take off and climb you can truly appreciate the enormity of the landscape below.

And the pristine, filter-free beauty that still exists on Earth. It will inspire the storyteller in you, as you share a bird’s-eye view and become a natural witness to the perfect give-and-take balance of nature below.

Be part of our conservation team as you take to the skies on a helicopter ride along the tail of Africa’s Rift Valley, spotting and recording the rich diversity of wildlife below. Travel along the curves of the legendary Savuti Channel and marvel at the huge amount of wildlife. Massive pods of hippos, and crocodiles and elephants, and a huge density of antelopes.

STAR BEDS
Sleep out under the African night sky with our Star Bed experience. Nothing is quite as thrilling or as romantic on safari. Ditch the conventional four walls and choose to sleep out under the stars, whether on the rooftop of your suite in Namibia or at one of our Star Beds in Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the night, a jackal’s cry in the distance, or the gentle rumbling of elephants. See if you can count how many thousands of stars you can see in the clear night sky.

Fall asleep on a raised platform enveloped by the magnificent African night sky. The sky is the darkest you’ve ever seen, and yet, it’s also the brightest. Who knew there were so many stars.

The only sounds are those calls of the creatures of the night. Listen carefully for the whooping of a hyena or the roar of a far-off lion. Wake up to watch the sunrise and look out for other early risers.

NATURE WALKS
Have your camera ready and lace up your walking shoes – once your feet touch African soil, you’ll understand the magic. Meander along a dry riverbed close to camp, or venture off on a forested walkway at your own pace, exploring the area on a self-led walking safari.

Stop to photograph the plants, identify birds, or simply sit and appreciate the scenery and views that seem to stretch out to infinity. These walking trails focus on total immersion in our remote, wild areas.

Get out into Africa on foot and learn more about the geological wonders of our wild spaces, as well as the unique plants, birds, and reptiles that surround you. Set out on a spectacular, challenging hike to Dian Fossey’s grave in Rwanda, or in Namibia take a guided walk along the Tsauchab River Trail at night to look for dancing white lady spiders and numerous scorpions.

DESERT E-BIKING
Is there any better way to explore the vast Sand Sea of the Namib Desert, than on an electric bike? There is no better way to explore the vast sea of sand of the Namib Desert, than on an electric e-bike.

Biking through the legendary dunes of the Namib Desert is an exhilarating, scenic and eco-friendly experience that’s perfect for the whole family. Get ready for fresh air on your face as you spot fascinating desert-adapted wildlife like ostrich, springbok, oryx, and the endemic dune lark, across this photogenic corner of the oldest desert in the world.

GUIDED QUAD BIKING 
Feel the wind against your face and experience the adrenaline kick on a Namib Desert quad bike adventure across the vast dunefields of the Kunene region.

Feel your heart race as you drive across a dune at Serra Cafema in the Kaokoveld. The Namib Desert is your playground, a four-wheeler your choice of toy. Heart-thumping, eye-streaming, white knuckle adventure awaits you here, and at Little Kulala in Namibia’s iconic Sossusvlei.

Low impact. High adrenaline. The rugged terrain of Namibia begs to be explored by quad bike. Take to the undulating amber dunes of Sossusvlei or the lunar landscape of the Kaokoveld on four wheels. The routes are specially allocated for minimal disturbance of the environment, and maximum fun.

BARGE
Explore Botswana by barge, the best way to bird-watch and enjoy a picnic on the magnificent Linyanti River. Catch a flutter of wings in the grass, a plaintive call from the reeds, a calculated dash into the water.

A barge trip and birdwatching go hand in hand, as do sundowners. Binoculars at the ready and something cold to sip on, delight in a floating picnic or a sundowner cruise on a barge trip along Botswana’s wildlife-rich Linyanti River.

Watch a herd of elephants crash through the water, trunks up as snorkels. From the vantage point of the barge’s deck, see fish eagles soaring above, their iconic call resounding through the Linyanti.

Meet a hippo’s glare as you respectfully explore his territory. As you head down the river, enjoy a picnic lunch while your guide navigates the waterway and fills you in on all its wild wonders.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Capture thrilling wildlife moments in action on a safari with Wilderness. A lioness stalking her prey patiently, and the dramatic chase that unfolds. Come eye-to-eye with a matriarch from the safety of our underground hides.

Snap away at flashes of brilliant turquoise and orange as a malachite sunbird swoops across the channel. And marvel at the impossibly dark nights in the Namibian desert lit by a chandelier of stars.

Looking for the ultimate shot? So are we. Which is why you’ll find state-of-the-art OM System cameras available for use on some of our game drives and in our hides. Our Wilderness guides are also equipped with cameras and have excellent photographic experience. Not only do they have a wealth of knowledge about the wildlife, but can also recommend the perfect shot.

LOCAL CULTURE
Learn. Share. Enrich. Wilderness offers unforgettable cultural experiences across eight African countries. The Rwandan chef’s recipe passed down for generations that you scribbled down on the back of a coaster. The perfumed scent of smoke and red ochre in the air as you observed the fascinating Himba people of Namibia.

Being taught how to play ‘Nsolo’, a traditional Zambian board game by local school children, and teaching them how to win at UNO. Each experience, a reminder of our interconnectedness.

What’s an African safari adventure without great stories? Listen spellbound to African folktale around a camp fire under a full moon. Spend a thrilling morning with an ancient tribe in the desert learning their secrets. Feast on delicious traditional cuisine and join in the evening’s festivities. Every encounter – another chapter in your adventure book.

CONSERVATION EXPERIENCES
Rewild. Protect. Conserve. Wilderness combines unforgettable wildlife encounters with positive impact experiences. Be part of our conservation initiatives as you take to the skies on a thrilling helicopter ride, spotting and recording the rich diversity of wildlife below.

Track Critically Endangered desert-adapted black rhino on foot led by a seasoned guide in Namibia. Help our team monitor leopards and lions in Akagera National Park, Rwanda. Every experience an opportunity to learn, and make an impact on the wilderness.

You’ll feel it when you marvel at the miles of open space and teeming wildlife. And understand why at Wilderness, we’re hell-bent on protecting it. Every guest plays a vital role in our conservation efforts and has the opportunity to get involved. From planting trees in Rwanda to tracking rhinos at Desert Rhino Camp in Namibia, to assisting local communities with anti-poaching initiatives.

Rooms: 5

Price: from 2.815 EUR per night

Source: www.wildernessdestinations.com