XIGERA CAMP – OKAVANGO DELTA

Xigera Safari Lodge is nestled beneath an impressive canopy of ancient jackalberry, mangosteen and leadwood trees within the Moremi Game Reserve and has private access to a 4, 500-hectares of wetland paradise in the heart of the Delta.

Xigera (pronounced ‘kee-jera’) is named after the Pied Kingfisher that makes its home amid the watery channels of Botswana’s Moremi Game Reserve. The camp is set on a large island surrounded by deep channels and lush vegetation with stunning views of the

Xigera channel.

Fully renovated and refurbished in December 2020, all the 12 air-conditioned luxury suites have been carefully sited to give fabulous floodplain views and the chance to watch passing wildlife from your deck. The camp has a swimming pool, bar and wine cellar, an airconditioned library, outdoor fire pit, a star deck, a spa and a well- equipped gym and wellness centre

LOCATION

Xigera Camp is located within the Moremi Game Reserve in the central- west Okavango Delta in northern Botswana. Access is by light aircraft from Maun or Kasane and the camp is around 20 minutes’ game drive from Xigera Airstrip.

CAMP

The camp has 11 suites and one family suite which are all air-conditioned. The 11 standard suites include a separate lounge, bedroom, dressing area, full bathroom and outdoor shower and feature, Wi-Fi and air-conditioning as well as a private deck with a gazebo offering uninterrupted floodplain views.

The Xigera family suite has two complete full bedrooms each with their own full bathroom, dressing area and outdoor shower joined by an interleading lounge area that opens up onto a deck with a gazebo.

In the main area there is a waterside lounge area featuring a massive copper-clad fireplace in the form of a lily, a welcoming bar with wine cellar and an interactive culinary experience with an open kitchen-dining room.

Outside you will find a boma with fire pit for stargazing and evening campfire drinks. The camp has two luxury spa treatment rooms, a state-of-the-art gym and a swimming pool looking out over the Okavango Delta

For a really unique experience you can sleep out at the camp’s Baobab Treehouse situated one kilometre away from the lodge, with a guide stationed close by. Both the bedroom and bathroom have canvas walls that can open up to the outside environment or be zipped closed. Sounds from the surrounding bird-life, animals and insects drift through the tree-like branches and screened windows to lull you to sleep!

SUSTAINABILITY

A sophisticated photovoltaic solar-hybrid power system supplies over 95% of the lodge’s energy needs. Using solar-power instead of diesel generators saves an estimated 73 000 litres of diesel, and an estimated 191 metric tons of carbon emissions, each and every year. As a result, fewer trucks are needed to transport diesel through this sensitive landscape.

By installing one of the largest photovoltaic farms in the Okavango Delta, in the future Xigera Safari Lodge will be able to charge electric game-drive vehicles using solar technology.

An on-site composter processes all organic kitchen waste which is sent to local communities for sustainable kitchen gardens.

Over 90% of the furniture and art pieces have been hand-produced in Africa.

During construction a specialist arborist was contracted to ensure the protection of mature trees on the site. The Lodge has undertaken monitoring and record keeping of all fauna and flora, working closely with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks to ensure the continued protection of the lands we traverse.

The Lodge uses an entirely above-ground Calcemite sewerage system, with biodegradable chemicals for cleaning. The resulting grey water is safe to use for irrigation purposes.

Xigera Safari Lodge is committed to removing all unnecessary single-use plastics from lodge operations. All water used in the lodge is purified via a state-of-the-art reverse osmosis treatment plant. The water is then re-mineralised, ensuring guests can safely drink the tap water throughout the lodge. We also provide bottled water – both still and sparkling water – in environmentally friendly glass bottles.

WILDLIFE AND ACTIVITIES

Situated on one of the Okavango’s key waterways Xigera Safari Lodge is surrounded by papyrus swamps and wooded islands and is renowned for its very high density of sitatunga antelope and mammal sightings including red lechwe, spotted-necked otter, elephant, buffalo, reedbuck and tsessebe. Predators include lion, spotted hyaena and leopard. Guests are sometimes treated to close-up views of lion or leopard using the footbridge connecting Xigera to the next island!

This concession lies in an International Birding Area (IBA) with many ‘Okavango specials’ being present including Pel’s Fishing-Owl, African Skimmer, Brown Firefinch, Greater Swamp Warbler, Wattled Crane, African Pygmy Goose and Lesser Jacana.

Boating and mokoro – Xigera is a water-and-land-based lodge offering you the opportunity to experience both aspects of the Okavango Delta. During the annual flood you can boat or mokoro across floodplains and along channels to reach islands where there are regular sightings of buffalo, elephants, zebras, giraffes, lechwe and sitatunga as well as numerous other Delta species. Hippos can be spotted on mokoro and boating excursions, along with an abundance of birds.

Game Drives – whilst the emphasis is on water activities game drives are offered year round. No night drives are offered as the camp is inside the Moremi Game Reserve National Park. Day game drives are in open 4×4 vehicles and private activities are offered subject to availability and extra cost. During colder or wetter weather hot water bottles, blankets and lined ponchos are provided.

Experiences – breakfast, lunch or an intimate picnic in the bush, ‘feet-in-the-water’ sundowners cocktails, walking safaris with expert guides (outside of Moremi Game Reserve), seasonal catch-and-release fishing (outside of Moremi Game Reserve), photographic safaris, private yoga sessions Spa treatments; a 1-night Baobab Treehouse Sleepout for 2 adult guests subject to availability and weather permitting (extra charge) and scenic helicopter flights (at extra charge)

XIGERA CAMP IS OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND

THE CAMP WELCOMES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED 12 YEARS AND OLDER. CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND 16 MUST SHARE A SUITE WITH ONE ADULT AND ALL CHILDREN PARTAKING IN BOATING OR MOKORO EXCURSIONS MUST WEAR LIFE VESTS AT ALL TIMES. FOR SAFETY REASONS CHILDREN UNDER 13 YEARS MAY NOT PARTICIPATE IN WALKING OR MOKORO ACTIVITIES.