Xigera Safari Lodge: An Ode to Wild Luxury in Botswana’s Okavango Delta
Situated on the western edge of Botswana’s Moremi Game Reserve, Xigera Safari Lodge occupies a remote and pristine corner of the Okavango Delta, one of the world’s most biodiverse wetlands. Accessible via a short charter flight from Maun followed by a boat or vehicle transfer, the lodge offers a seamless combination of luxury and immersion in nature, where seasonal floodplains, ancient forests, and winding waterways provide the backdrop for a truly unique safari experience.
Xigera sets a global standard for responsible tourism, integrating sustainability into every aspect of its operations, from solar-powered energy and zero-waste practices to active wildlife conservation and community partnerships. The lodge is also a celebration of African culture and design, featuring one of the largest privately owned collections of contemporary African art. Guests can engage with the Delta through curated safaris, water excursions, wellness programs, and bespoke dining experiences, making Xigera both a luxurious retreat and a gateway to understanding the land, its wildlife, and its people.
Xigera Safari Lodge set against the floodplains of the Okavango Delta.
Getting There
Xigera Safari Lodge is located on the western edge of Moremi Game Reserve, within the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The lodge sits between two islands, surrounded by forest, with views of seasonal floodplains that shift with the rains.
Access is by a 25-minute charter flight from Maun, followed by a short vehicle or boat transfer to the lodge. The remote location ensures privacy and immersion in the Delta while remaining easily reachable for travelers.
Xigera Safari Lodge, nestled between two islands in the Okavango Delta, accessible by short flight and transfer.
Architecture, Art & Atmosphere
From the moment you settle in, it becomes clear: Xigera is built from stories. The lodge’s architecture threads through the land like tributaries: fluid rooflines that mirror bird flight, darkwood cladding recalling the bark of local trees, waterlily motifs that uplift and reflect. Spaces feel sculptural but welcome; each suite, walkway, lounge, and pavilion shaped to make you feel part of the Delta rather than apart from it.
Artisans & A Living Collection - More than 80 continent-wide designers, craftspeople, and local makers contribute: through woven textiles, carved wood, molded metal, sculpted “nests,” furniture, artifacts, installations. Every object has provenance, every piece a maker.
Comfort, Elegance & Wildness - Suites are generous inside and out, with indoor and outdoor showers, freestanding tubs, decks overlooking floodplains, daybeds, privacy. And yet, they never betray the landscape. There’s no shouting in the décor; soft textures, quiet materials, artful lighting instead of harsh glare. It’s a retreat that soothes rather than dazzles.
The expert Xigera team guides.
Wildlife in the Okavango Delta at Xigera.
Immersive Days in the Delta: Experiences at Xigera Lodge
Xigera offers a comprehensive range of activities across land, water, and air, designed to provide guests with both immersive wildlife encounters and opportunities to connect with the Delta’s ecosystems and communities. Every day can be tailored to individual interests, whether focused on wildlife observation, cultural engagement, adventure, or relaxation.
Game Drives & Bush Walks – Expert guides lead dawn and dusk drives when wildlife is most active, tracking elephants, lions, leopards, and other iconic species. Guided bush walks provide a slower, more intimate perspective, allowing guests to identify tracks, observe plants, and discover the small-scale details of the Delta’s ecology.
Water Journeys – Traditional mokoro excursions glide silently through papyrus channels, while motorboats navigate wider waterways and glass-bottomed boats offer unique views of aquatic life. These experiences allow guests to explore habitats inaccessible by land and to observe the interplay of water, vegetation, and wildlife.
Birding & Photography – The Delta hosts a remarkable diversity of bird species, including wattled cranes, Pel’s fishing owls, and other rare birds. Specialized photographic outings are available, with guidance on lighting, composition, and positioning to capture both wildlife and landscape.
Aerial Safaris – Helicopter flights provide a panoramic view of the Delta’s floodplains, islands, and waterways. Guests may also enjoy private champagne landings on remote palm islands for a unique perspective of the region’s geography and wildlife.
Culinary Experiences – Xigera’s dining program includes bush breakfasts, wild lunches, fireside chef’s tables, Tswana-inspired dinners under the stars, and private in-suite meals. Ingredients are sourced locally and seasonally, with menus highlighting regional flavors. Wine and cocktails are curated to complement the Delta’s landscapes and the culinary narrative.
Wellness & Stillness – The spa offers treatments using Tata Harper skincare and local botanical ingredients. Yoga and meditation sessions on elevated decks provide a connection to the surrounding floodplains, while quiet seating areas and outdoor lounges allow for reflection and observation of the natural rhythms of the Delta.
Xigera Mangosteen Suite Living Room
Xigera Mangosteen Suite Bedroom
Xigera Sausage Tree Suite Living Room
Xigera Sausage Tree Suite Bedroom
Accommodations at Xigera
Xigera Safari Lodge offers 12 luxury suites, including a two-bedroom Family Suite, each designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape while providing privacy, comfort, and modern amenities. Suites are spacious, with over 180m² of indoor and outdoor living space, featuring private decks, daybeds, and gazebos overlooking the floodplains.
Every suite includes indoor and outdoor showers, freestanding bathtubs with views of the Delta, and optional amenities such as flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, and in-room safes. Thoughtful design ensures that each space integrates with nature while providing full comfort and security. Guests experience a sense of openness to the environment, while having the ability to control privacy and exposure to the elements.
Xigera Baobab Treehouse
Sleeping accommodations in the Xigera Baobab Treehouse
The Baobab Treehouse
If there is one experience that captures the spirit of Xigera, it is the Baobab Treehouse. Rising ten meters above the floodplain, this sculptural retreat is at once a bold work of art and a place of deep solace.
Here, you sleep suspended in nature, surrounded by branches, under a canopy of stars. The bedroom and bathroom are enclosed by canvas walls that can be rolled back to open entirely to the wilderness or secured for privacy and comfort, giving guests the freedom to drift between immersion and retreat.
Though it feels wild and untamed, the Treehouse is entirely safe and secluded, offering a profound sense of intimacy in the heart of the Delta.
It is art, architecture, and wilderness entwined: an unforgettable fusion of human imagination and natural wonder. To wake here is to see the world anew, and for many guests, it becomes the defining, most transformative memory of their stay at Xigera.
Wind down with a traditional sundowner.
Dine beneath the stars at The Boma.
Green Shakshuka
Dining at Xigera
Dining at Xigera is an experience as memorable as the safari itself: flexible, deeply personal, and rooted in a sense of place. Under Executive Chef Ziyaad Brown, menus celebrate seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, blending African flavors with refined technique.
Meals can unfold anywhere: a bush breakfast at sunrise, sundowners by the water, or fireside dinners beneath the stars. The open kitchen and “anything, anytime” philosophy mean every craving can be met, whether formal dining or a private meal on your deck.
With a curated wine cellar, inventive cocktails infused with local botanicals, and settings that shift with the rhythms of the Delta, each meal becomes a story of its own, equal parts nourishment, discovery, and wonder.
Outside the Xigera Spa.
Take a dip in the Xigera swimming pool.
Spa & Wellness: Stillness in the Delta
Xigera’s spa and wellness offerings are designed for quiet reflection and rejuvenation amidst the wilderness. Signature treatments blend Tata Harper’s organic skincare with locally inspired rituals, while yoga and guided meditation sessions on elevated decks invite connection with the land and sky.
For those seeking movement, the air-conditioned Technogym-equipped fitness center and tranquil outdoor pool provide space to exercise in serene surroundings. Every wellness experience at Xigera emphasizes presence, balance, and the restorative power of the Okavango Delta.
End the day relaxing at the Xigera Lounge.
Practical Details & Tips
The lodge has 12 suites, plus a two-bedroom Family Suite. Each is large (180m²+), with indoor-outdoor living woven in.
Bring essentials for the wilderness; good binoculars, a wide-angle lens, bug spray, a sense of patience—because sometimes the moments come softly: in a fleeting flash of leopard, in a silence between storms.
Best times to visit align with dry season for game visibility, but the flood cycles themselves are also beautiful; the water levels, skies, reflections give different moods across the year.
The Baobab Treehouse is a special add-on; reserve in advance. Weather and moon phases can affect how open the experience feels at night.