Kwetsani Camp is a five roomed luxury tented camp located in a private reserve 25km to the west of Mombo and to the west of the Moremi Game Reserve. The large elongated island on which Kwetsani is built is heavily wooded, cool and shady with Palm, Mangosteen and Fig trees and is one of the most remote camps in the entire Okavango Delta.
Kwetsani Camp is raised on stilts beneath a shady canopy. Five wonderful, spacious tree-house chalets are built under thatch roofs, with wood, glass and a little canvas.
All have en-suite facilities including a shower, flush toilet, twin basins and an additional outdoor shower for those who like showering in the open air. The camp overlooks an enormous floodplain dotted with Lechwe and Wildebeest. Guests can lie in their rooms, or in the pool, and watch the animals in front of the camp.
All the Okavango's large predators are found here.
Activities include mokoroing, walking on palm-fringed islands and game drives during the day and night. Due to high flood water levels, the night drives are currently restricted to an hour's drive around the camp island. In the height of the Okavango's annual floods, boats are used to get around the area and also to transfer to the islands where the game viewing vehicles are located. Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Wild Dog, Buffalo and Elephant are all found in this area, as well as good concentrations of Zebra, Wildebeest, Giraffe, and all the plains game.
Access into this area is only by aircraft (depending on the Okavango's flood levels, either Jao or Hunda airstrip is used for access to this camp).
G 25 - The Jao Concession
The Jao Reserve (Wildlife Management Area NG25) is 60 000 hectares in extent and is in the north-western area of the Okavango Delta below the panhandle. The Moremi Game Reserve forms the eastern boundary of the reserve.
Lying as it does in the very heart of the Delta, the Jao Reserve embodies all the magic and mystique of the Okavango. Narrow water channels cut their way through the papyrus and reed beds in the permanent delta to the north and east of the reserve, providing the perfect environment for the elusive sitatunga and the rare Pel's Fishing Owl. Beautiful lush palm islands dot the water, begging to be explored, and Jacana Camp is built on one such lush and thickly forested island. In the central region of the reserve, vast open floodplains provide some of the most stunning scenery of the region. Jao Camp lies in the southern side of the plains and Kwetsani Camp is 5 miles further north on the same floodplain system.
This area of the reserve has beautiful islands fringed with riverine forests. Further west the reserve gets progressively dryer and Hunda island which is the tip of a large sand tongue is the largest area of dry land during the flood season. Hunda island has sandveld vegetation supporting many species of nutritious acacia and grewia shrubs which provide excellent browsing. Tubu Tree Camp is built on the western side of Hunda island.
Jao and Kwetsani Camps are situated on islands with breathtaking scenery and have a great diversity of activities on offer. The largest concentrations of endangered Wattled Crane are found in this area. The birdlife is simply stunning: Slaty Egrets, Pink-throated Longclaws and African Skimmers are some of the specials that can be seen. The lion prides in this area have been studied for the past 5 years by our resident guide, Grant, and a good record has been built up allowing us more intimate knowledge of their behaviour. Jacana is a traditional Delta water camp, built on a small exquisite wooded palm island.
Tubu Tree Camp is situated in the area with the most palatable grasses and the largest area of permanently dry land and so usually has the more abundant game viewing experience. There are two platform hides in the Reserve.
Only 48 beds are developed in 4 camps in the entire remote reserve, ensuring an exclusive and personal wilderness experience. The majority of the staff in the camps are locals from the area, either BaYei tribesman or MaXaniqwe (River Bushmen) and know the area like the back of their hands. Many of these people were born on islands nearby and have an intimate knowledge and passion for the area which is hard to beat. They take great joy in imparting their local knowledge and culture to our visitors and love sharing their singing and dancing with guests. Many of our guests rate their interactions with the staff as the most enjoyable element of their stay.
Although this Wildlife Management Area is a hunting concession, a moratorium has been declared on hunting. Every year we reserve our quota, so that those animals cannot be re-allocated to another area and are thus saved from being hunted. We believe that with the same level of protection that the Moremi Game Reserve has enjoyed over the past 40 years, the Jao Reserve has the potential as a wildlife area equal to that of the Moremi.
Game Viewing:
Hippo, Sitatunga antelope and Crocodile reside in the deeper permanent lily-filled lagoons of the area. Lion, Leopard, Wild Dog, Cheetah, Tsessebe and Lechwe are among the major game attractions at Kwetsani. Nocturnal animals such as Porcupine, Aardwolf, Serval, Genet and Bushbaby can be observed on the night drives (water levels permitting).
LOCATION:
• West of Mombo and North of Jao
• In private concession called the Jao reserve
• Bordering the Moremi Game Reserve
PRICING / CHILD POLICY
Green Season: December to March
Shoulder Season: April to June and November
High Season: July to October
*Children over the age of 8 years are welcome
ACCOMMODATION
Number of chalets:
Five tents in total consisting of:
• 4 x ¾ twin bedded tents
• One king-size-bedded honeymoon tent
• One guide tent
This camp can accommodate ten guests with tour leader.
Chalet details:
• Luxury tree house canvas cottage over 3 meters off ground
• En-suite facilities, indoor & outdoor showers
• Chalet entrance is door (not zipped)
• Bathroom within chalet
• All chalets have verandas overlooking the flood plains with spectacular view
• Fans in all chalets
• Rooms under thatch
• Soaps, shampoos and insect repellents are supplied in each chalet
CAMP DESCRIPTION:
• Dining room, pub and lounge under thatch, on poles
• Raised walkway between public areas and guest rooms.
• Landscape view from pub & dining area
• Evening campfire
• Open air deck for dining under the stars
• Slide projector available
• Plunge pool
• Curio shop
GAME VIEWING
During the flood from April to Sept. Lechwe are plentiful and Lion follow them. Elephant numbers peak in Aug - Nov. Plains game is evident and there are good Leopard sightings. Hunda Island offers a wide variety of different animals and is a must at least once if accessible. Birdlife is excellent - especially during the summer months.
ACTIVITIES:
50% Game Drives and 50% Water Activities (but very much dependant on flood levels). In the summer months activities tend more towards game drives, whereas in the winter months mainly water based activities are offered.
• Land game drives in open 4 x 4 Land Rovers - the camp has 3 x 10 seater Land Rovers each accommodating a maximum of seven guests, allowing all guests an outside seat. In times of high water guests are transferred by boat to game drive areas.
• Night drives with spotlight.
• Private vehicles available on request.
• Walking safaris can be offered from camp on a request basis.
• Mekoro (a traditional dug-out canoe) 6 x 2 seater
• Boating in the waterways to the west of camp.
• Fishing on catch and release basis (can book fly fishing with specialist fly fisher Grant, this must be done prior to travel). Basic rods and reels supplied by camp but fly fishing equipment to be supplied by guest.
• A raised hide located about 40 minutes from camp (which can be used for sleep outs - maximum 4 people at a time, has a long drop loo)
SUGGESTED DAILY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Below is only a suggestion as to what may happen in camp - as daily wildlife sightings tend to throw the schedule right out of schedule.
Summer/winter
05h00/06h00 - Wake up call. Light continental breakfast consisting of cereals, tea/coffee/juices and pastries to be served in the dining area.
05h30/06h30 - Depart on morning activity, returning to camp at approximately 10h00.
10h00/11h00 - Brunch will be served, this will consist of a selection of breakfast and lunch dishes.
From now until afternoon tea, guests will be at leisure.
16h00/15h00 - Afternoon tea will be served - this will consist of a selection of sweet and savoury snacks.
16h30/15h30 - Depart on afternoon game viewing activity - drinks and snacks will be served for sundowners during the course of the activity.
19h30/19h00 - Return to camp (but could be later if good game sightings).
20h00/19h30 - Pre-dinner drinks and snacks will be served at the pub.
20h30/20h00 - Three course dinner - generally speaking the starter and desert is served, whilst the main course is buffet style.
21h30/21h00 - Coffee and liqueur will be served in the lounge.
ELECTRICITY & WATER:
• Camp has 220v generator powered electricity run in 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/day.
• Video battery can be charged. Hence bring spare battery, adaptor and charging unit.
• Solar heated water
• No facilities for hairdryers or electric shavers
DRINKS POLICY
All drinks 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" i.e. underwear, which are not washed due to local customs.
EXTRAS PAYMENT
Curios, imported drinks and tips/gratuities can be billed to the tent number and settled on check out. Payment can be made by cash (US$), travellers' cheques or be credit cards: Visa or MasterCard.
FLYING TIMES
• to/from Maun 35 minutes
• to/from Kasane 1 hr 25 minutes
• Kasane to Victoria Falls 20 minutes
AIRSTRIP DETAILS
Jao airstrip located 35 minutes' drive or boat trip (usually Apr to Sep) from camp. In high waters (usually Apr - Sep) guests are boated to camp (can take up to an hour).
Airstrip co-ordinates: S19.18.59, E022.35.20
Licensed for heavier aircraft up to 5700kg MAUW (maximum al up weight), can take King Airs.
Airstrip services Jao, Kwetsani and Jacana camps. (Can also use Hunda airstrip - see Tubu Tree Camp for details).
