|
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.
ACTIVITIES
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:
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.
|