Jacana Camp
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Return to Map of Okavango
Delta Camps
View images of Jacana Camp: Jacana
Images
View Camp Layout Map of Jacana Camp: Jacana
Map
JACANA CAMP
- OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA
Jacana Camp is situated 25 kilometres west of Mombo,
outside the Moremi Game Reserve on
the Jao flats - a reserve of 60,000 hectares. Jacana Camp is a true water
camp, becoming a small island surrounded by flooded plains when the Okavango
Delta is at its peak flooding each year (usually from April to October).
Guests will focus on water-based activities (mekoros, motor boats and
fishing) during the high flood season but will also have the option of
4x4 game drives during the drier months when the roads again become accessible.
Accommodation 
For images of Jacana, click Jacana
Images For Layout map of Jacana Camp, click Jacana
Map
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 cozy pub
and lounge with an area for an open fire under the stars. Complimentary
laundry services are provided.
February 2003 Update: Jacana Camp now has new and
bigger tents.
Activities
Jacana camp and offers mokoro
and walking safaris all year round. As the floodwaters recede game driving
and night drives in open 4x4 land rovers are available from October to
March. During the height of the floods, the activities at Jacana Camp
revolve around exploring the waterways of the Okavango by mokoro (dugout
canoe), motor boat and on foot. Traveling silently by mokoro is a wonderful
way to experience the Okavango as you glide silently through the shallow
flood plains enjoying the magnificent bird and aquatic life. One of the
highlights is searching for the rare and elusive sitatunga antelope or
to explore wooded islands to stalk the rare Pel's Fishing Owl, one of
the largest owls in the world.
Taking a mokoro ride to a distant island, then stopping for a lengthy walk before
enjoying a leisurely brunch on a sandy bank is a good way to appreciate the true
wilderness atmosphere and unique scenery and wildlife of the Okavango - with
no one else around us. Travel by motorboat, searching for the perfect fishing
spot. Guests may also boat across the channels to take a game drive on the plains
to the west of Jacana viewing large herds of Red Lechwe and often spotting predators
in pursuit. In the dry season (November to March) vehicles can drive through
the shallow sandy river crossings for game drives as well as interesting night
drives.
Wildlife
The camp is set in the most densely populated wetland
area for Sitatunga antelope and Red Lechwe. Hippos and Crocodiles are
regularly sited. In the dry season Red Lechwe, Tsessebe, Wildebeest and
Zebra occur here, and Lions, Cheetah and Leopard are often sited on the
floodplains. Larger mammals in the area can include Elephant and Buffalo.
This is an area of prime importance for a host of wetland bird species,
including Wattled Cranes, Pel's Fishing Owls, both species of Jacanas
(African Jacana- pictured above and the Lesser Jacana) as well as other
seldom sighted species such as Rails, Crakes and Moorhens.
The Owners
David and Cathy 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-1920's, 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.
Top
Return to Map of Okavango
Delta Camps
Water
/ Land Activity Table for Botswana camps: Water/Land
Botswana
Flying
Times between Botswana camps: Fly
Times Botswana
For further information about the Okavango Delta, click More
Okavango
For further information about Botswana, click More
Botswana
|
