Xigera Safari Lodge

OVERVIEW:

Those who favor ultra-luxe hotels with all the modern comforts over the more traditional bush camps will love Xigera Safari Lodge. With its flamboyant décor, excellent spa with state-of-the-art Technogym, fine dining complimented by a climate-controlled wine cellar, and every conceivable creature comfort, this lodge is for those who appreciate unapologetic luxury rather than safari purists. Operated by Red Carnation Hotels, Xigera is an excellent option for those seeking plenty of in-house amenities and both land- and water-based activities in the Okavango Delta. Accommodation is booked on a full-board basis and includes all meals, park fees, non-premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, daily laundry service, and activities, including game drives, boating, seasonal catch-and-release fishing, mokoro excursions, and nature walks. Xigera is open year-round.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

Xigera Safari Lodge lies beneath a canopy of leadwood, mangosteen, and jackalberry trees in a private concession south-west of Chief’s Island, within the Okavango Delta’s Moremi Game Reserve. Access is by light aircraft to Xigera airstrip, followed by a 5-minute speed boat ride during the high floods or a 20-minute road transfer.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT XIGERA SAFARI LODGE: 

Xigera Safari Lodge features eleven palatial suites, nine with king-sized beds, two with twins, plus an additional 2-bedroom family suite. Approached along raised wooden walkways with stunning floodplains views, each has a stretched canvas roof and cedar walls with windows made out of tinted glass. The interiors are extremely spacious and eclectically styled, adorned with boldly patterned fabrics and daring color schemes. Each comprises a separate lounge, bedroom, dressing area, air conditioning, and a private deck with a gazebo. Additional amenities include a television, a tea-and-coffee station, a mini-bar, yoga mats, weights and resistance bands, well-functioning Wi-Fi, and multi-plug charging facilities. In short, if you’re looking for opulent luxury and all the modern conveniences, Xigera Safari Lodge delivers! Every en-suite bathroom has a separate toilet, double washbasins, a freestanding bathtub, and indoor/outdoor showers. The family tent has two bedrooms (a double and a twin), connected by an interleading lounge, each with its own full en-suite bathroom.

Communal spaces at Xigera include a lavish lounge and dining area, a bar, a wine cellar, and an air-conditioned library. The lounge features an enormous copper-clad fireplace in the shape of an Okavango lily, while the bar boasts a world-class wine list. There’s an open-plan dining room and kitchen, providing opportunities to interact with the chef. In the library, you’ll find a great range of books, as well as wildlife documentaries – it’s also the venue for specialist talks. Xigera has a wellness center with two treatment rooms and state-of-the-art Technogym, while yoga fans will love taking classes on the lodge’s yoga deck. Those interested in a spot of shopping can browse the boutique with its collection of hats, bags, scarves, and jewellery. Additional offerings include sampling traditional cuisine in the boma, gathering around the fire pit with fellow guests to share safari stories, and taking a refreshing dip in the swimming pool, which is heated during the winter. And come nightfall, relax on the star deck and take part in an unforgettable astronomy session where you’ll explore the night’s starry skies.

ACTIVITIES AT XIGERA SAFARI LODGE:

Xigera Safari Lodge boasts an exciting variety of activities, including:

• Game drives

  – Xigera Safari Lodge is located within a private concession in Moremi Game Reserve, which supports a wealth of wildlife. Big game is not particularly prolific here, but look out for lion and elephant, as well as plenty of smaller species such as giraffe, zebra, impala, and sitatunga. The lodge owns a fleet of custom-made safari vehicles that traverse the challenging Delta landscape with ease, while your expert guide will be on hand to ensure you have some memorable sightings. When necessary, blankets, lined ponchos, and even hot water bottles are provided. Drives are offered all year round.

• Nature walks

  – Walking safaris, also in the company of an expert guide, are ideal for guests looking for closer wildlife encounters. These start from the lodge during early morning, before the heat sets in, and are often combined with boating activities. Please note that the minimum age for this activity is 13 years.

• Motorboat trips

  – The lodge owns an impressive collection of boats. Two have a glass bottom, enabling amazing views below the surface of the water, while others have an elevated deck with roof seating – fabulous for panoramic views across the concession. Sights to enjoy include crocodile moving through the channels and elephant drinking on the banks.

• Mokoro excursions

  – A mokoro is a dug-out canoe with no motor, allowing for close encounters with wildlife while gliding silently along the pristine water channels. Each of Xigera’s two mokoros has a glass bottom too. Please note that the minimum age for this activity is 13.

• Birding

  – The Okavango Delta is famous for its birdlife, and Xigera is an internationally recognised IBA, Important Bird Area. Among the 500 species to spot here are western-banded snake eagle, slaty egret, wattled crane, lesser jacana, malachite kingfisher, and Yellow Zebra favourite Pel’s fishing owl. Do not forget your binos!

• Fishing

  – Fishing from the lodge is offered on a catch-and-release basis only, and it’s illegal during January and February as these are breeding months. Basic rods and reels are available, but guests must head outside Moremi Game Reserve to fish.

• Photographic safaris and workshops

  – Xigera’s safari vehicles boast armrests that can be moved and locked into position to stabilise cameras with long lenses. The guides are great at creating opportunities for perfect pics.

• Sleep-outs

  – A kilometre or so from the lodge, you’ll find the Baobab Treehouse, a steel structure almost 10 metres high. A winding staircase leads 4 metres up to a spacious bathroom and then to a beautiful bedroom with carved timber furnishings. Drift off to sleep under the stars of the southern sky with the hypnotic sounds of nature all around you. Please note that this activity incurs an additional cost.

• Helicopter flight

  – Also offered at an extra cost, helicopter flights leave from the lodge, with each guest given a headset for communicating with the pilot during the trip. A flight lasts for approximately half an hour, and you’ll have a bird’s-eye view of Xigera’s concession, Moremi, and other parts of the Delta. Have your camera to hand for some superb photo opportunities! For more details about this or any other activity from Xigera Safari Lodge, please contact a member of Yellow Zebra.

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert while walking around the camp, and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.