Xugana Island Lodge

OVERVIEW:

Xugana Island Lodge is a well-established year-round lodge on a beautiful wooded island within the Okavango Delta’s private Shinde Concession. Occupying a spectacular site facing the permanent Xugana Lagoon, the property is owned and run by Desert & Delta Safaris, which operates some great camps and lodges across Botswana, from the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve to Chobe National Park and the Makgadikgadi Pans. The lodge offers a thoroughly water-led experience, and boating is a real highlight here. Accommodation is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, all scheduled safari activities, and a laundry service.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

Xugana Island Lodge is accessed by light aircraft into the nearby Xugana Airstrip, which is followed by an approximately 20-minute boat transfer. It has a breathtakingly beautiful location within the north Delta’s Shinde Concession, with exquisite views across the Xugana Lagoon.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT XUGANA ISLAND LODGE:

Xugana Island Lodge accommodates a maximum of sixteen guests in eight raised thatch chalets shaded by trees on the banks of the magnificent Xugana Lagoon. Each has its own teak viewing deck, accessed through sliding doors from the bedroom. This has a simple outdoor seating arrangement, where guests can relax and marvel at the spectacular views. The bedrooms are simple and uncluttered, with a double bed or twin beds, bedside tables, battery-operated reading lights, a desk light, and a bathroom light at night. Two storage trunks are tucked at the end of the bed, and there’s a hanging wardrobe, a small safe, tea- and coffee-making facilities, a fan, a mosquito net, and 220V plug points for charging equipment. En-suite facilities comprise a flush toilet, twin washbasins, and a lagoon-facing indoor shower. Additional amenities include a flashlight, an umbrella, and an air horn for emergency use. While not provided in the room, hairdryers are available from the lodge reception on request.

Surrounded by a canopy of ebony and African mangosteen trees, the open-plan communal areas at Xugana Island Lodge are also under thatch and boast fabulous views across the water. Homely and welcoming, this space includes an inviting lounge, a library with internet access (a guest laptop is available with a basic internet connection, but no Wi-Fi), a well-stocked bar, and a dining area containing one long table where everyone eats communally. Outside, the generously sized floating viewing deck juts out on stilts over the lagoon and is a wonderful vantage point for gazing at the water and spotting passing wildlife. Here, you’ll find a fire-pit lit up with lanterns by night, where romantic private meals can be arranged on request. There’s also a boutique, which sells a great variety of curios. Xugana has mature gardens, and these are where the swimming pool is located, complete with sun loungers and parasols.

ACTIVITIES AT XUGANA ISLAND LODGE:

Xugana offers an exciting assortment of activities. Please note that the minimum age requirement for walks and mokoro excursions is 12 years.

•  Expertly guided game drives

  – The lodge is located within a private concession, so drives are available during the day and at night. Water levels determine these activities, so they can be seasonally affected and somewhat limited.

•  Bush walks

  – In small groups led by two knowledgeable guides, bush walks encourage guests to slow down and take in some smaller species, including plants, insects, and birdlife.

• Motorboat safaris

  – Board a hard-bottomed aluminium motorboat for a memorable excursion through the concession’s maze of pristine lagoons and channels, providing sightings of huge hippos, crocodiles, and water birds. The boats are equipped with comfortable seats, a foldaway canvas roof, and life jackets.

•  Mokoro excursions

  – Boarding a mokoro, a dug-out canoe, is highly recommended for safarists hoping to get close to Shinde’s large and small water-dwellers. As the mokoro doesn’t have a motor, you can focus on the waterways’ sounds and sights.

•  Birding

  – Bird enthusiasts will love scanning the concession’s skies, woods, plains, and waters for myriad bird species, from little malachite kingfishers to the majestic fish eagle. The summer months are exceptionally good for this activity, as this is when migrant species visit Shinde to breed.

•  Fishing 

  – Catch-and-release fishing for tigerfish and bream is available as a seasonal activity. Please note that government regulations do not allow fishing during January and February due to breeding purposes. All fishing equipment is available at the lodge.

•  Helicopter flights

  – This activity incurs an additional charge, but it’s well worth it for the outstanding views over the Okavango Delta with its sensational, contiguous, unfenced landscape.

*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 when 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.