Luxury Lodges · Okavango Delta, Botswana
Jacana Camp
Overview
Highlights
- An intimate and authentic Okavango experience with tangible exposure to the seasonal Delta waters, as the camp is situated on a small island.
- The semi-permanent water allows encounters with the fascinating creatures that flourish in this unique environment, from hippos, crocodiles and water-loving elephants, to a wealth of waterbirds, including the emblematic African jacana.
- Numerous Okavango specials abound, including wattled crane, Pel’s fishing-owl, sitatunga and red lechwe.
Destination: Discover true paradise on this secluded tree-island in the beautifully scenic Jao Flats area of the Jao Reserve. Surrounded by seasonally inundated floodplains and papyrus swamps, this attractive camp is built on raised wooden decks to maximise the glorious views over the ever-changing landscape. The waters’ ebb and flow brings different wildlife and fresh new adventures with every season.
Experience: Guests can look forward to close encounters with aquatic specialists like African jacana, aptly nicknamed lily trotters, as they delicately step from one waterlily pad to the next. Marvel at the pods of hippos, and elephants that come in to drink. Embark on game drives in the summer months after the inundation has receded, scanning for lion, wild dog, and elusive leopard. And stretch your legs on a nature trail with our passionate guides, who will teach guests even more about the wildlife. At night, share tales around the floating fire deck with a 220-degree view of the immense floodplains, long into the star-filled night.
Purpose: By partnering with the Tubu Joint Management Committee and Pack for a Purpose, our Children in the Wilderness initiative at Jacana inspires and educates children in the Okavango Delta, opening their eyes and minds to the importance of protecting the environment. By staying with us, guests directly contribute to Jacana’s community upliftment, and help to shape the next generation of custodians of the wild.
Wildlife: Jacana is set in the Jao Reserve, which offers over 60,000 hectares of pristine wilderness to explore. Wildlife concentrations in this area of the Okavango depend on water flow and volume, changing from season to season. In the summer months when the Delta waters are low, look out for lechwe, tsessebe, and large herds of elephant. You may also spot lion, and occasionally leopard as game drives are possible at this time. However, a true wetland area, it is the perfect home for Africa’s only amphibious antelope, the rare sitatunga, and abundant red lechwe. Birding is exceptional here, with a wealth of water birds on parade. Spot Pel's fishing-owls, and African and lesser jacanas, as well as other Okavango specials such as slaty egret and African pygmy-goose.
Jacana: Nestled amongst dense palms, magnificent trees and surrounded by seasonally inundated floodplains, Jacana is an intimate island experience. Just five tents are set on raised wooden decks to maximise the panoramic views of the broad channels fronting the camp.
The elevated double-storey main area is framed by dense wild date palms and an enormous canopy of mangosteens. The pool, raised bar area, jetty and floating fire deck, as well as the expansive viewing deck, offer guests the quintessential Okavango Delta water camp experience.
Suites & Rates
Choose how you stay
Standard Twin/Double Tents
Jacana’s five elevated tented suites are set on raised wooden decks overlooking the surrounding floodplains and papyrus-lined channels of the Jao Flats. Designed to blend seamlessly into the watery landscape, the spacious canvas tents...
Details
Good to know
Languages spoken
English
Ideal for
Birding, Nature, Wildlife
Property facilities
Bar, Pool
Accommodation & amenities
Electrical Outlets, Fan, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Mosquito Nets, Outside Shower, Safe, Tea / Coffee
Services
Credit Card Facilities
On-site activities
Bird Watching, Boating, Catch-and-release Fishing, Game Drives, Mokoro Excursion, Walks (Guided)
Nearby activities
Cultural Tours, Helicopter Scenic Flights
Location
Where you'll be
Video
See the stay
Discover the Jao Reserve – Okavango Delta
Welcome to the Jao Reserve, one of the most iconic private reserves in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Here, a remarkable mosaic of floodplains, palm islands, winding channels, and rich woodland habitats creates one of the most diverse safari landscapes in Africa. Within the reserve, six distinctive camps, Jao, Kwetsani, Tubu Tree, Little Tubu, Jacana, and Pelo, offer different perspectives of this extraordinary Delta environment. Each camp is positioned in a unique setting, allowing guests to experience the changing character of the Okavango across its varied habitats. The Jao Reserve is renowned for the variety of safari experiences it offers. Venture out on open-vehicle game drives through woodland and grassland, glide quietly through waterlily-filled channels by mokoro, or explore the Delta by boat as seasonal floodwaters transform the landscape. Wildlife encounters are equally diverse, from large herds of lechwe and buffalo moving across the floodplains to the excitement of tracking predators such as lion and leopard. Bird enthusiasts are also rewarded with exceptional birdlife throughout the reserve. This is the Okavango Delta in its full richness, dynamic, diverse, and unforgettable.
The Journey In – New Safari Vehicles at Jao Reserve
This video highlights the delivery of the new Toyota Land Cruiser safari vehicles travelling from Maun into the Jao Reserve. These vehicles replace our long-serving heritage fleet of Land Rovers and form part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining a modern, reliable fleet in one of Africa’s most remote safari environments. Operating in the Okavango Delta presents unique logistical challenges, and ensuring that our vehicles and equipment remain in top operating condition is essential to delivering a safe and comfortable safari experience. Purpose-built for comfort, safety, and exceptional visibility, these custom game viewer vehicles allow guests to explore the Delta from an elevated perspective. Spacious seating, open sides, and uninterrupted window views ensure that every guest enjoys a prime vantage point for wildlife viewing and photography. The vehicles are used for daily safari activities across the reserve and are designed to carry up to six guests, with each seat offering excellent visibility of the surrounding wilderness. For many guests, the journey from the airstrip to camp, and every drive that follows, is where the safari truly begins.
Activities
What you can do
Wilderness Jacana – Birding
Birding is excellent here with plenty of 'Okavango specials’ including the Pel’s fishing-owl and Endangered wattled crane.
Wilderness Jacana – Boating *
Boating through the waterways to the east of camp allow for good game viewing along the channels.* Water levels permitting.
Wilderness Jacana – Fishing *
Seasonal fishing with a limited supply of basic equipment (spinner rods and a small range of lures) is offered on a catch and release basis.* Note that fishing is seasonal as it is prohibited by Botswana law in January and February due to breeding purposes.
Wilderness Jacana – Game Drives
Land-based game drives are offered when the inundation levels are lower, typically in the summer months. These drives can reveal the likes of elephant, zebra and other plains game, as well as the potential sightings of predators of the area such as lions, hyaenas, and African wild dogs.
Wilderness Jacana – Guided Nature Walks *
Get your feet on the ground and enjoy a walk through the wilds of the Jao Reserve. * Seasonal and subject to the availability of a qualified walking guide, therefore pre-booking is essential.
Wilderness Jacana – Mokoro Excursions *
Glide seamlessly along the waterways of Wilderness Jacana in a mokoro (a traditional dug-out canoe) and spot some of the fascinating creatures of the Delta – maybe even hippo and crocodile – as well as the wealth of waterbirds of the region.* Water levels permitting.
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