Xigera Safari Diaries
Xigera Safari Lodge is our family’s love letter to the magic of the African bush. The culmination of a lifelong dream, this extraordinary lodge draws on almost seven decades of devotion to unparalleled luxury in service. It is an honour to be the custodians of this remarkable, untouched paradise. Everything about the lodge is founded on our cornerstone philosophy of protecting the land and its wildlife, while empowering and uplifting local communities.
Every aspect is handcrafted to beguile our guests’ senses and stir their souls – from the evocative interiors to one-of-a-kind encounters. We have reimagined the luxury safari, blending African design with superlative comfort, outstanding cuisine with extraordinary wilderness experiences. Our respect for the natural rhythms of life impels us to touch the earth lightly here, but it is our sincere hope that Xigera has an indelible impact on your soul.
- The Tollman Family of Xigera
Fireside Stories
Named for the Pied Kingfisher, who finds its home in the watery veins of Moremi, Xigera (pronounced 'kee-jera') is a celebration of the natural world, a place where luxury and wilderness exist in perfect harmony.
Each of Xigera’s 12 guest suites is perfectly positioned to embrace the beauty of its surroundings, tucked beneath the boughs of indigenous forests and overlooking floodplains that come alive with wildlife. Spread across two islands to maintain the sense of wilderness and ensure the utmost privacy and tranquility, each suite is elevated on stilts, allowing both the life-giving waters of the Okavango and the creatures of the land to move freely beneath.
Xigera’s story is one of renewal, a testament to family legacy and the pioneering spirit that draws us to Africa’s wild places. It is a reimagining of the Okavango Delta safari experience, where thunderstorms favor the lions in their hunts and the land thrives in constant rebirth
Tucked beneath a canopy of indigenous trees, Xigera’s suites are sanctuaries of elegance, featuring separate lounges, master bedrooms, and private decks with outdoor gazebos.
Each of Xigera’s 12 luxurious suites is perched on raised stilts, offering breathtaking views of the waterways below. The generously appointed bathrooms feature both indoor and outdoor showers, while freestanding tubs look out upon the vast wilderness. A spacious two-bedroom Family Suite ensures privacy and comfort for families or friends, while all accommodations are outfitted with modern amenities like flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi, seamlessly blending luxury with the untamed bush.
Inside, a symphony of materials, textures, and colors creates a harmonious blend of elegance and nature. Each suite is a masterpiece, with timber, bronze, and hand-carved wood layered together in jewel-like detail. As individual works of art, the suites are remarkable, but together, they form a living gallery—a celebration of African creativity and craftsmanship. Xigera honors the continent’s rich indigenous traditions while also showcasing bold, contemporary interpretations, offering guests an immersive experience of art, nature, and design intertwined.
PRIVATE VILLA The 1,980-square-foot Family Suite provides the perfect retreat for groups, while every suite offers sweeping views and seamless access to nature’s wonders.
AT A GLANCE Located in a remote wetland area of the Okavango Delta, on a place named Paradise Island. All areas of the camp overlook the permanent water channel, which is shared by and open to all other camps in the Moremi game reserve. Xigera Camp offers a water-based Delta experience within a private lagoon. Good for birdwatchers. Activities at Xigera Camp: Day and night game drives , Guided bird walks with rangers, Mokoro canoeing excursions, Motor boating on the Okavango .
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Though Xigera is not known for its big game, the wildlife that calls this area home is no less remarkable. Red lechwe leap through the wetlands, while vervet monkeys chatter in the trees. Elephants, tsessebe, and impala roam the terrain, with predators like leopards, hyenas, and occasionally lions stalking the shadows. Birdwatchers will find delight here, as the skies and swamps are alive with Pel’s Fishing-Owl, wattled cranes, African pygmy geese, and a chorus of kingfishers and waterbirds. Summer 2024 brought an abundance of wildlife to Xigera, with majestic herds of red lechwe, impala, blue wildebeest, buffalo, and warthogs gracing the land. Guests were treated to thrilling moments as one of the resident male lions patrolled his territory right in front of the suites, a guardian of the land as his pride prepares for the arrival of new cubs.
XIGERA'S BAOBAB TREEHOUSE, located just two miles from the lodge. Set in splendid seclusion, this sculptural retreat offers an immersive experience of Africa in its rawest and most remarkable form. Nestled amidst a grove of indigenous Croton trees, the striking steel structure, shaped like the iconic baobab tree, rises nearly 10 meters above the floodplain, offering panoramic views across three distinct levels.
The design of the Baobab Treehouse draws inspiration from a renowned painting of a solitary baobab by Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef, a South African landscape artist.
Inside the ‘trunk,’ a winding staircase ascends nearly four meters to a spacious bathroom on the first level. As you climb further to the top, the true magic of the Delta reveals itself—a wide open-air deck, perfect for lounging, reading, and watching wildlife pass by in quiet solitude below. This peaceful perch, safe and serene, offers an unforgettable vantage point to witness the sunset or, for the adventurous, to sleep under the vast expanse of the southern sky in a king-size bed, cradled by the stars.
The bedroom, located on the second level, is a sanctuary of elegance, furnished with handcrafted timber pieces by celebrated designers like John Vogel, Chuma Maweni, and Adam Birch. Both the bedroom and bathroom feature canvas walls that can be fully opened to invite the outside world in or closed for privacy and protection. As you relax, the sounds of birdcalls, rustling animals, and whispering insects drift through the branches, bringing the wild into the heart of this unique hideaway.
Each Baobab Treehouse experience is personalized for every guest. Arrive after lunch for sundowners and a picnic-style dinner on the deck, or depart from Xigera Safari Lodge after dinner for a magical night’s sleep high above the floodplain, where the treehouse becomes the setting for your dreamlike adventure in the Delta.
Xigera blends the essence of the wild with modern luxury. The lodge boasts a curated Art and Design Collection, a spa featuring Tata Harper and B | Africa products, and a boutique showcasing African design and fashion. Guests can enjoy fine wines from the Bouchard Finlayson estate, relax in the air-conditioned library, or work out in the gym and yoga deck. The entire lodge is solar powered by Tesla technology, ensuring sustainability amidst the splendor of the Delta.
Derived from age-old know-how, our journeys to Africa are tailored by your imagination. The dream becomes the enchantment of a moment, the joy of a journey, a companion for life.
We’re here to inspire you to dream up your own safari story.