Jao is recommended for its water activities, its elegant architecture and its location in one of the most beautiful parts of the Okavango Delta. The camp offers five attractive and very spacious suites with en-suite bathrooms, indoor and outdoor shower, kitchenette with dining table and lounge corner, fireplace and of course a huge king-size bed. The extraordinarily high ceiling construction is supported by grey steel pipes - quite unique and maybe not to everybody's liking, but this design element is used throughout the camp's design and has certainly become a distinctive feature of Jao's architecture. The outdoor area with veranda, plunge pool and an outdoor lounge calls for relaxation. The rooms are raised on stilts and connected to the main building by long wooden walkways. However, a long walk to the main area is not needed, as lunch and dinner can also be served in the privacy of your room.

Additionally there are two larger family villas, called Jao Villa, with two en-suite bedrooms, a common lounge and dining area, a kitchenette, fire deck and plunge pool. The villas offer total privacy which includes a private butler, private chef and private vehicle / guide.

The main two-storey building is surrounded by lush greenery, creating this incredible feeling of living in trees. The library/museum on the ground floor is guarded by a giraffe's skeleton that you need to pass to get to the upper floor (ok, there are other ways too ...), where the lounge, a fireplace and a large dining area with bar are located. The dinging area can be protected with glass fronts during the cooler winter days. Stairs lead down to the boat dock, the pool and the gym/spa area. A traditional "dinner under the stars" is held regularly in the traditional boma.

The camp is located deep in the western Okavango Delta amidst the spectacular Jao Flats. The floodplains around the camp are littered with termite mounds and small islands, which are often covered with palm trees, giving a Caribbean feeling at sunset. Jao and Jacana are the first camps in the Okavango Delta to be affected by the annual floods, and water levels here can be high as early as March / April.

Jao Camp is only accessible by light aircraft. The camp is situated approx. 10 minutes drive from Jao Airstrip. Flight time to Maun in a Cessna Caravan is 40 minutes, and 1 hour 25 minutes to Kasane.

Jao Camp is part of the private Jao Concession (630 km²). Tubu Tree Camp, Kwetsani Camp, Jacana Camp and Pelo Camp also belong to this concession.

The Jao Flats are home to the largest number of red lechwe in the Okavango Delta. The red lechwe is a water-loving antelope with extra long hind legs that enable it to run with ease through water. They are stalked by the Jao lions and the resident leopards.

Water-based activities (motorboat and traditional ‘mokoro' dugout) and game drives in open safari vehicles. Night drives, bushwalks and fishing (catch & release) are also on offer.

There are regular excursions to Hunda Island (40 min. boat trip followed by a game drive and picknick). Hunda Island offers dry grounds even during high floods and supports a rich variety of wildlife.

Because the camp is located in a private concession, night driving with a searchlight and off-road driving for special animal observation is allowed. Close-up shots are guaranteed.

SwissAfrican Travel Service
Dammstrasse 27
8702 Zollikon
Zurich, Switzerland


Telephone: +41 (0)44 451 40 51