Jacana - November 2007
03 Dec 2007
With the water slowly receding over the past few months, our paradise island has slowly been increasing in size. Floodplains have been transferred into carpets of green, with hundreds of red lechwe making their way in front of the camp to feed on the fresh grass. This is also the first time in nine months that we have been able to drive to the camp, despite the continued existence of a number of water crossings which nearly submerge the entire vehicle. The water has dropped to the point that boating is no longer possible, but the mokoro trips are still possible and will be for the entire year.
The lower water levels have brought different birds to the front of camp. Waders who tend to feed in shallow waters such as the Saddle-billed Storks, Wattled Cranes, Goliath Herons and Slaty Egrets are seen on a regular basis. Other highlights include a number of sightings of the elusive Pel's Fishing-Owl.
The wildlife has been as dynamic as the ever-changing landscape. The lower water levels bring in many species that were not seen when the floods were up. There are regular sightings of plains zebra, giraffe, Cape buffalo, and blue wildebeest. The lions have been seen a number of times over the past month. Although leopard have been elusive, we were rewarded with a great sighting of our resident female leopard on a young zebra kill.
This is also the time of the year that many of the antelope start dropping their young. The tsessebe and impala have started producing their young and we have had the pleasure of seeing all the newly born red lechwe running around their new homes in the shallow waters and floodplains in front of the camp.
The camp has also had the pleasure of hosting some other "youngsters" recently. In the last week of November, Jacana closed it doors to guests for almost four weeks to host the Children in the Wilderness programme (www.childreninthewilderness.com). The programme brings a number of underprivileged children from schools in the villages surrounding the Okavango Delta to stay at the camp for six days at a time. In that time they get to experience the beauty of the area and its wildlife on game drives and mokoro trips. In addition to being entertained with a number of activities such as games, movies and arts and crafts, they are also taught important life lessons such as conservation, HIV/AIDS, tourism, life skills etc. It is a wonderful programme to be involved in and to see the joy on the kids' faces is an incredible feeling.
We hope to see you here on our paradise island to share the wonderful and dynamic ecosystem of the Okavango Delta with us.
Clint, Dom and the Jacana Team
"?Fantastic game drives with excellent guides - all well organised. Good eating, excellent service, friendly staff and helpful people and managers."
"A delightful and welcoming atmosphere. Everyone very helpful, the wonderful experience of seeing lions so close to will be a treasured memory. Boat rides, drives all exciting and interesting."
"?The game drive, see a big lion sleeping next to our car and watching hippos playing in the water. The mokoro ride was also beautiful experience, unforgettable."
"The game drive, the boat tour, the mokoro, the location and most important, the people guiding us, cooking and the taking care of us. Especially the wonderful reception."
"Beautiful location - good meals - great management personnel. Loved the mokoro ride and seeing the Southern Cross. The tents are beautifully decorated."
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