Xigera Safari Lodge

Xigera (pronounced "kee-jera," named after the Pied Kingfisher) is a ground-up rebuild of an earlier Okavango Delta camp of the same name, reopened in June 2020 as the legacy project of the Tollman family, owners of Red Carnation Hotels and The Travel Corporation. It sits on Paradise Island on the western boundary of the Moremi Game Reserve, in the heart of the Delta's permanent waterways, surrounded by palm-filled riverine forest and year-round water — a setting design director Toni Tollman drew on directly for the lodge's aesthetic. Xigera positions itself as a "living gallery" of African art and design, pairing exceptional wilderness experiences with an extensive collection of African-inspired art, craftsmanship and interiors.

Accommodation comprises 12 individually styled suites (11 standard suites plus the two-bedroom Xigera Family Suite), each raised on stilts within indigenous forest so wildlife and Delta floodwaters can pass beneath. Suites are air-conditioned with a separate lounge, bedroom, dressing area, full en-suite bathroom, outdoor shower and a private deck with daybeds, decorated with a layered mix of timber, bronze and hand-carved wood; daily laundry is included. A standout additional stay is the Baobab Treehouse, 1km from the lodge, a three-level structure with a handcrafted-furniture bedroom on the second floor and an open-air king bed on the third for sleeping directly under the stars.

Activities include game drives, mokoro trips, guided walking safaris, motorboat outings, fishing, photographic safaris, scenic helicopter flights, bush dining, sundowners and an Art & Design Tour of the lodge's bar, boma, library and dining areas. Guests can also unwind at the spa, gym, yoga sessions and swimming pool. Dining is curated as a "culinary safari" — bush breakfasts, private-deck picnics, formal dining or al fresco boma meals — supported by an extensive, award-winning wine cellar. The lodge runs on solar power.

Rooms: 12 suites total — 11 standard suites + the 2-bedroom Xigera Family Suite; each air-conditioned, raised on stilts, with private deck; plus the separate 3-level Baobab Treehouse (1km from the lodge). Facilities: main bar, library and dining areas, copper-clad Lily-emblem fireplace, 2 spa treatment rooms, fitness centre, swimming pool, extensive wine cellar, daily laundry. Solar powered.