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JACANA CAMP

Jacana Camp is situated on the 135,000 acre Jao private concession, bordering the Moremi Game Reserve. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful concessions in the Okavango Delta, with vast floodplains and numerous permanent channels of the Okavango.

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 September). During the height of the floods, the activities at Jacana Camp revolve around exploring the waterways of the Okavango by mekoro (dug-out canoe), motor boat and on foot. Glide silently by mekoro through the shallow flood plains, enjoying the magnificent bird and aquatic life. One of the highlights is searching for rare and elusive species such as the sitatunga antelope and Pel's fishing owl.

Taking a mekoro ride to a distant island, then stopping for a lengthy walk before enjoying a leisurely brunch on a sandy bank is a great way to appreciate the true wilderness atmosphere and unique scenery and wildlife of the Okavango - with no one else around. As the flood recedes (October through March), the floodplains dry out and vehicles can drive through the shallow sandy river crossings for game drives as well as interesting night drives. Herds of grazers move onto the plains and give birth to their young, with predators in close pursuit.

Jacana Camp is a traditional safari camp with a relaxed ambience. The main dining area is set 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 sitting area, with an open fireplace for after-dinner drinks under the stars. A sparkling plunge pool on the edge of the floodplains completes this comfortable "home away from home."

Accommodation is comprised of five large comfortable tented rooms. Each tent is elevated on wooden decking, with full beds, ample closet space, a fan, and a private wooden veranda overlooking the floodplains in front of camp. The tents also boast cleverly designed and artistically constructed en suite bathroom facilities, which utilize natural materials to their full advantage.

Jacana is a lovely little camp, tucked away on an island in the very heart of the Okavango Delta. In addition to the incredible natural beauty of the concession, the opportunity to see such rare creatures as sitatunga antelope or Pel's Fishing Owl are an absolute highlight of Jacana. The camp itself is simple and basic, but has all the safari comforts one might need.

Ecotourism angle

Since 1999, Kwetsani has been a participant in the Jao Lion Monitoring Project, which researches and tracks the lion prides that inhabit the Jao Reserve. Scientists are increasingly worried about the long term survival of the "King of the Beasts" in Africa's dwindling wilderness areas, and being able to study these magnificent beasts in the unspoiled splendor of the Okavango Delta has led to some important breakthroughs in our understanding of lion population dynamics, and the conflict between lions and rural African communities.

Wilderness Safaris (who manage the camp) also commit resources and time to doing game counts and censuses to help conservation authorities build up a data base of Botswana's wildlife, and is a major financial contributor to various private and non-governmental conservation projects. By staying at this type of private concession, guests are directly contributing to preserving the wilderness and wildlife in these areas because their fees are used to sustain conservation. What is more, photographic safaris are 'non-consumptive' so that, as the saying goes, you leave nothing but your foot prints, and you take nothing away but memories.

To find out more about Jacana Camp, or to make a reservation, call toll-free in the USA

1-888-227-8311 or email us.

CLASSIC AFRICAN PORTFOLIO - Okavango Delta