Of all the big-game safaris in Africa, Xigera Safari Lodge introduces us to something entirely unique when it comes to the wilderness of Botswana. A place where you’re exposed to a shifting mosaic of floodplains, meandering waterways and ancient forests. Where the culture and character of the land is authentically interwoven into every element of your stay.
Harmoniously anchored within this UNESCO World Heritage landscape, on the western edge of the Moremi Game Reserve, Xigera Safari Lodge features twelve expansive, individually curated suites, including an elegant two-bedroom family suite. An impressive steel structure in the shape of a baobab tree, surrounded by indigenous Croton trees, lends itself as an additional accommodation offering, located a kilometre away from the lodge. All opulent suites deliver breathtaking views of the Okavango Delta.
The lodge is partly concealed beneath towering indigenous trees, with timber decks and pathways escorting you around the living, dining, reclining and entertaining spaces. There’s a spa and wellness area, a wine cellar and bar, a gym and swimming pool, and a romantic boma area. The lodge is sustainably conceived and 98% solar-powered. It is also a refined expression of African artistry. Its interiors house a pioneering collection of pan-African art and design, showcasing works by over eighty of the continent’s most celebrated creatives.
Papyrus swamps latticed with waterways
Xigera ensures your itineraries are tailored to your safari clocks. There are no set schedules, no urgency to tick everything off the spotting list, and no rules on how many hours you should spend listening to the landscape. Everything unfolds as you choose. Whether you’ve elected to rent the lodge exclusively as a multigenerational gathering for the whole clan, or just as a small group, there’s an offering of remarkable experiences, both on land and on the water. Activities include bush walks and game drives. Catch-and-release fishing on the Delta. Traditional mokoro excursions – depending on the season – or motorboat gallivanting along the winding papyrus-fringed channels. Bird watching and game viewing around the clock – whether you’re resting at the lodge, or out with the amazing guides.
Bush breakfasts, wonderfully prepared picnics and long, languid lunches beneath the trees. Little spots selected for you to really feel the magic of this magnificent place. There are also art tours, conservation tours, village tours, and elephant sanctuary tours. So that you can learn even more about the efforts the lodge is consciously invested in. And what your participation does, by actively giving back to the land you occupy. There are a plethora of activities to get involved in, it’s up to you to choose when, where, and what you wish to explore.
The rest is all about the mandatory stuff we love to do when on safari. Reading beside the pool, spending time in the spa, and feasting in all of the dining spaces. Enjoying the tranquillity of one’s own suite, as you listen to the birds and let that bush scent engulf your resting space. Stargazing, fireside storytelling, and reconnecting with an ancient culture that’s evident in the ecosystem of Xigera Safari Lodge.
Written by Colleen Ogilivie