African Safari Leg 3: Botswana and the Okavango Delta, Jacana Camp, Part 4

August 21 – September 1

Hi All,

Aug 26-29: Days 6-9: Jacana Camp:

“Located on a beautiful island in the Jao Concession in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Jacana is a typical Delta camp. Surrounded by seasonally-inundated floodplains and papyrus swamps, Jacana has five en-suite Meru-style tents, built on raised wooden decks to take advantage of the views of the broad channels in front. The main dining area is on an elevated platform nestled between two magnificent sycamore fig trees, surrounded by dense wild date palms, with a large viewing deck and open seating area around the fire. Being a ‘water camp,’ Jacana Camp offers primarily water activities with game drives during the summer months – dependent on water levels and time of year.”

Jacana Camp was a step down in luxury from the other 3 camps, but it made up for it in its Delta charm and total isolation. We were surrounded by water with lots of birds and wildlife noises. The food was very good but served buffet style versus the gourmet presentations at the other 3 camps.

Day 6: After arriving at the airstrip we took a small game drive to Jacana Camp. Once we arrived we had lunch and a brief orientation before a bit of a rest. The game drives here are done by flat bottom boats so a big change form the land cruisers we had been using both in Kenya and in Botswana. We saw lots of birds, and observed the male and female Lechwe separated with the pregnant females moving to the islands away from the male herds, elephant water crossings, and traveled in very narrow channels cutout by hippopotamus’ walking between islands….amazing!!

Weather: it’s still very hot…low 60’s at night but low to mid 90’s in the day. The afternoons can be quite warm. At times it can be windy as well, with a fine dust that coats things, especially noticeable in the mornings. Ona also told us the water is receding slightly as it is just before rainy season but the real reason is the earth has tilted about 1* causing the waters to slightly recede where as before they were rising. At times Ona and Isaac, the boat driver, had to pole the boat across some shallow spots!!

Day 7: Great breakfast with made to order eggs, porridge et al!! Out by 7:00am for the flat bottom boat game drive. Highlights were a leopard, big male bull elephant and his juvenile apprentice, lots of storks, Jacana birds, et al.

After lunch and rest we had a mokoro (canoe) excursion: A mokoro is a simple dugout canoe that is propelled by pushing a pole from the stern of the boat. Mokoro were traditionally built from the trunk of a large tree, such as ebony or the African sausage tree, however, with conservation efforts in mind, they are increasingly being made from fiberglass.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20141125-botswanas-okavango-delta-from-a-dugout-canoe

Isaac was our poler and it was quiet and peaceful skimming the surface of the water. I thought it might be a bit tippy but it was actually quite stable. Highlights were a group of elephants walking across a channel…you could hear the splashing from a good distance!! We also saw a very small reed frog…wow, so tiny, but again their sound could be heard a good distance away. We also stopped for sundowners on a small island….what a peaceful and gorgeous setting!!

Day 8: Brrrrr….finally a break in the hot weather….a cold front came through…we did try the morning boat excursion but gave up after an hour or so….too cold, windy and choppy…ugh!! The afternoon was better…highlight was finding a leopard in a tree. They do that for protection but also to look for prey. It is a common behavior but our first time seeing it!! That night we had dinner outdoors…yep, a bit chilly, but it was in an all protected coral with a big fire going so it was quite nice.

Day 9: Brrrr….the night was quite chilly…down into the 40’s….we had an extra blanket plus some thermals so we slept quite cozy. But, we had become so spoiled by the other camps placing hot water bottles in our bed….we had become hot water bottle snobs/spoiled:)) When we asked the Camp Manager what happened she said they had been surprised by how cold it got and well, we just forgot….hmmmm, yes a bit ditzy as the cold weather was forecast on the local weather app…hmmmmm!!

This is moving day to Vrumbura Camp. We had a nice game drive to the airstrip and the temps were in the 70’s so a much nicer ride!!

The Plan: I’m writing this blog after Thanksgiving. Since the last blog, in early November, we have been to Dallas to see Kathy’s parents and celebrate their 88th birthdays and then onto New Orleans to celebrate our 45th college reunion….did they have fun or what. Then we came back, rested a few days, then had Kennedy and Roxie for 4 days while Dave and Dana played….oh wow, how fun, energetic and adorable are our 5 and 3 year old granddaughters!!

I hope to get the Vumbura Camp blog out in another week or so and then the final Cape Town blog a week after that!!

Hope all is well!!

John
Mystic Moon

Pictures at: Lots of pictures again so pour yourself a cocktail and enjoy!!