Xigera Safari Lodge, Botswana
A little-known ecological gem within the Okavango Delta, Xigera is built on ‘Paradise Island’, a haven among the wetlands in the Moremi Game Reserve.
New hotel opening for 2021
Nearest airport
The nearest major international airports to Xigera Safari Lodge are Johannesburg and Cape Town. Direct scheduled services land at Botswana’s Maun airport. From Maun, a scenic 25-minute flight by light aircraft takes you to the Xigera airstrip, a 10-minute drive from Xigera Safari lodge.
Xigera (“Kee-jera”) Safari Lodge is deeply rooted in the Okavango Delta in an unspoilt World Heritage Site on the western side of the Moremi Game Reserve. Xigera is the first purpose-built safari lodge developed by the Tollman family, the renowned South African born hoteliers. This Red Carnation Hotel is surrounded by a breathtaking landscape of floodplains and riverine forests, grasslands and papyrus wetlands.
Camouflaged amid a canopy of impressive indigenous trees, Xigera Safari Lodge has just 12 spacious suites each individually designed; for family safari travellers, there’s the impressive two-bedroom Family Suite, located on two islands and bridged together with a bronze lily centrepiece, the emblem of Xigera.
Built with sustainability in mind – Xigera is 95% solar-powered – the lodge is equally a unique celebration of African art and culture and it showcases an impressive collection of pan-African art and design, created by a roster of 76 of Africa’s most globally acclaimed designers, the first of its kind on the continent.
When to go
Xigera Safari Lodge is a year-round destination, with seasons in the Okavango Delta defined by water: either falling as summer rains or flowing in the yearly floods. The winter months (April to September) boast clear skies and very little rain and this is the time when the floodwaters from Angola arrive to fill the Delta. With warm days and cool nights, this is the best time to visit Xigera to make the most of mokoro and motorboat trips.
Summer, from October to March, is the ‘green season’ when dramatic afternoon thunderstorms pound the landscape, transforming the grassy plains into a verdant carpet. The landscape is at its most beautiful, though it can be extremely hot, with temperatures above 35°C. This is the best time for birding, when you can watch the arrival of summer migrant species.
Suite Talk
Each of Xigera’s 12 air-conditioned guest suites is hidden amidst the indigenous forests and gazes out over seasonal floodplains. Each suite at Xigera Safari Lodge sits on raised stilts, allowing both wildlife and the waters of the Okavango to pass below. The lodge’s interiors have been conceptualised by Toni Tollman and Philip Fourie using timber, bronze and woods together to create the perfect medley of materials, textures and colours.
A legacy project by the owners of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, with the utmost commitment to protecting the ecology of the Delta and promoting the people, culture and craftsmanship of the African continent
Work has been commissioned from more than 80 artists and artisans from Botswana, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Mali and Eswatini, including Andile Dyalvane, Peter Mabeo, Cheick Diallo, Dokter and Misses, Dylan Lewis, Porky Hefer, Ardmore Ceramics and others. Every object and surface that guests encounter will be a celebration of African craftsmanship, featuring bespoke items made exclusively for the property.
Surprising touches will be everywhere, from woven jacquard bedspreads and handblown glassware to wooden seats carved on-site by Cape Town sculptor Adam Birch and Porky Hefer’s famed human-sized nests to relax in.
Xigera Safari Lodge will offer guests a truly restorative experience, where nature provides both the setting and the therapy, taking you on a journey of wellness in the wilderness.
A uniquely personalised safari experience offering complete flexibility
The tranquil spa, overlooking expansive floodplains, will offer treatments and therapies by Tata Harper. If you’re after an even closer encounter with nature you can experience a life-changing sleep-out under the blanket of stars in a three-story steel baobab tree located 1km from the camp. Signature B | Africa spa treatments are complemented by an exclusive collection by Tata Harper, creating holistic spa rituals that offer a multi-sensory escape for all. In tune with the focus on sustainability, all treatments showcase wellness products that are hyper-potent, 100% natural and non-toxic.
In addition to the Spa, Xigera Safari Lodge offers an extensive Wellness programme, featuring international wellness experts and pioneers in the fields of mindfulness, wellbeing and holistic healing; dedicated yoga teacher offers daily classes at sunrise and sunset, as well as bespoke private sessions.
Xigera Safari Lodge has a state-of-the-art fitness centre featuring the latest equipment from Technogym – alongside a swimming pool with a relaxation deck right by the river.
Experiences
Enjoy a daily game drive in the comfort of the custom-built 4x4 safari vehicles. Built around flexibility, you’re allowed to choose when you set off on their overland adventure.
Exhilarating walking safaris with expert guides are a chance to wonder at the incredible diversity of the Okavango Delta. Walks can be tailored according to fitness levels.
Guided tours are a popular choice if it’s your first time in the African Bush. A dedicated safari guide will accompany you throughout your stay at Xigera, sharing their passion and knowledge for the wilderness, and helping you created your own Okavango experience.
Rates at Xigera Safari Lodge start from $2,320 (approx. £1,847) per adult per night sharing. This includes accommodation on a fully inclusive basis, park fees and all activities. Spa treatments are extra. (www.xigera.com)
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