Pelo Camp
Pelo CAMP is a small tented lodge located on a heart-shaped island in the beautiful Jao Concession in the north-west Okavango Delta.
Pelo Camp is a really wonderful little camp with an incredibly beautiful and tranquil setting in the heart of the Okavango Delta. To get the full benefit of the location it is best to visit from May through to September when water levels are highest and the landscape is a stunning mix of islands, lagoons and floodplains inundated with water. The camp is simple but comfortable and has a very relaxed and peaceful ambience. This is a camp where you can slow down, enjoy some quiet time and really escape modern life for a short while. Being so wet, the area is not brilliant for big game, though you will see lots of red lechwe and also hippo, crocs and elephant. The larger islands are home to plains game and some predators – you might hear a lion roaring or a hyaena ‘whooping’ at night, but day time activities are unlikely to encounter them. However the scenery and birding is spectacular! In general you should consider Pelo Camp for the exclusive feel if offers, the amazing Okavango wetland experience, the excellent birding and your chance to see the rarer species such as sitatunga, spotted-necked otter and Pel’s fishing owl. Pelo is one of the few camps in Botswana that offers genuinely good value for money too!
Rooms
Pelo Camp has accommodation for 10 guests in five comfortable tents, all set at ground level with views out across the water. Each tent is comfortably furnished with a ceiling fan and plumbed en suite facilities including indoor and outdoor showers. There is also 24 hour lighting and power points in the tents. To the front of each tent is a small verandah with safari chairs. Sandy pathways link the tents to the central areas.
Central Areas
The central areas are built on a large wooden deck with views out across the delta. There is a choice of indoor and outdoor dining, a comfortable lounge in which to relax and a swimming pool to cool down in during the heat of the day.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for charging – Yes
Swimming pool – Yes
Habitat & Wildlife
The Delta experience is magical at Pelo (especially so during the flood season from May to September) and the birdlife is spectacular. From the deck at Pelo you gaze out over a wetland eco-system of channels and floodplains interspersed with palm islands and larger wooded islands. Being so wet, the area is not brilliant for big game, though you will see lots of red lechwe and the area is also home to hippo, crocs and elephant. You also have chances to see the rarer species such as sitatunga, spotted-necked otter and Pel’s fishing owl (the latter of which can sometimes be seen in camp). The name ‘Pelo’ comes from the local Setswana language and means ‘heart’, an apt name when you see the shape of the island from the air!
Activities
Pelo is a true water camp and activities are focused around mokoro excursions through shallow floodplains and boat cruises to deeper lagoons. During the peak flood period (May to August) boating is completely unlimited and you can travel good distances through the stunning concession, however from October through to April boating can be limited. Walking on islands is also possible, and day and night game drives are offered. The delta experience in flood season is simply magical from Pelo, but even when the flood waters are not high, Pelo still offers excellent birding and a magical Okavango Delta escape. Fishing is also possible on a relaxed catch and release basis. Guests also have the option (at an extra cost) of booking scenic helicopter flights.
Seasons
Pelo Camp is open from March to November but is best visited when the Okavango is in flood, usually from May through to September.
Pelo Camp is not a natural family destination because it offers a more tranquil and specialist Okavango experience. However, families with older teenage children who have a keen interest in birds and would enjoy a true Okavango experience, could easily include the camp as a wonderful wilderness escape.
The Jao Reserve has been managed by the Kays family since the early 2000s. At the heart of everything they do is a deep respect for the people, both staff and the surrounding communities. They believe in uplifting those who make the Jao experiences possible, providing meaningful employment, skills development, and opportunities for growth.
Their commitment extends beyond the workplace, as they partner with local communities to support education, conservation, and cultural preservation. A nightly Community & Conservation Trust fee is paid by all guests and this supports funding for community projects and upliftment.
