Xigera Safari Lodge, Okavango Delta

Deeply rooted in the heart of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Xigera Safari Lodge is named after the Pied Kingfisher, one of the magnificent bird species that call these winding wetlands and seasonal floodplains home. From close encounters with wildlife to stargazing on its lookout deck, Xigera promises a different kind of safari, one with the wild spirit of Africa at its heart – one where guests can invent, create and curate their experience. It’s safe to say a truly world-class stay awaits from the moment you touch down.

Location

Xigera is perched on the western edge of the Moremi Game Reserve, a conservation area dedicated to protecting wildlife since 1963. The closest airport lies in Maun, from where a scenic 25-minute light aircraft flight will deliver you to the Xigera airstrip, just a 10-minute drive from the lodge. Venture into the bush with expert guides by private game drive, helicopter, glass-bottomed mokoro canoe or on foot, as views of the majestic wildlife unfold from every angle.

Your Room

With a real atmosphere of wilderness, Xigera’s twelve suites are thoughtfully spread across two different islands, ensuring total peace and privacy for its guests. Raised on elevated stilts to allow both animals and the vitalizing waters of the Okavango to move underneath, each room is sheltered by a canopy of green and looks out toward the rolling floodplains on which resident giraffes, elephants, leopards, lions and antelope roam.

The suites are beautifully crafted with an emphasis on rich textures and natural materials, each paying homage to authentic African art and design. The two-bedroom family suite makes Xigera ideal for multigenerational visitors (though, 12 and older only), whilst for the more adventurous, the sculptural Baobab Treehouse ascends ten metres above the floodplain for once-in-a-lifetime evenings under the stars.

Why we like it

Aside from the extraordinary safari experiences, a relaxing wellness spa and interactive open kitchen-dining room, Xigera also boasts its very own design collection. Developed in collaboration with Southern Guild (an award-winning South African gallery), it’s an immersive experience; a ‘living gallery’ intertwined in Xigera’s architecture and handcrafted interiors. Art pieces, sculptures, and furniture by renowned figures on the African art scene come together in this bold, unique celebration of African culture and craftsmanship that runs throughout the lodge. A creative paradise.

Sustainability

Sustainability and conservation are at the forefront at Xigera Safari Lodge, and the initiatives are numerous – yet another reason we’re huge fans. To name just two, the site is powered exclusively by renewable solar panel energy, and they have eliminated unnecessary single-use plastics from lodge operations. Through strong partnerships with local communities, there is an acute awareness at Xigera of the Okavango Delta’s delicate ecosystem; safeguarding it for the generations to come is integral to their forward-thinking vision.