The Xigera (pronounced 'kee-jera') Lodge, located in the Moremi Game Reserve of the Okavango Delta in Botswana, was absolutely AMAZING! Out of 5, it was a resounding 7 star!! Phenomenal luxury in a wonderfully sustainable manner with exquisite culinary dining & wines plus outstanding customer service, all the way around! It is a TRUE Virtuoso quality product!
We spent 3 wonderful nights there at the beginning of our epic Africa journey and the only negative thing was that it was the first stop... It would have been so much better being the final location so that we could say the best was saved for the last. It really was extraordinarily fabulous!
The lodge has 12 individual air-conditioned suites that each have their own character and believe it or not, a full 1980 square feet of living space both indoor and outdoor. Each suite includes a separate bedroom, separate lounge and dressing room, a huge bathroom area with both an indoor and outdoor shower, freestanding tub, and separate toilet and double sink area.
Pic: These are just a few of the many photos I took of our amazing accommodation here.
Our 'suite' was called "The Sausage Tree Suite" which featured bright splashes of maroon color similar to the flowers that bloom on these sausage trees. The furniture is stunning in each of the suites, every one with their own handcrafted quality decor that depicts the theme perfectly!
The creative designs of Xigera are so befitting as it happens to be part of the well-known Red Carnation family group with phenomenal properties worldwide.
Other outstanding properties include Ashford Castle in Ireland; The Oyster Box near Durban, South Africa; The lovely 12 Apostles Hotel located near Cape Town, South Africa, dramatically overlooking the Atlantic Ocean; and many other wonderful properties in the United Kingdom and even The Chesterfield in Palm Beach, Florida.
Pic: This is the stunning view from The Twelve Apostles in Cape Town, South Africa.
All of these great properties are part of the larger family organization, The Travel Corporation that also includes such high quality brands as Uniworld with their river cruises, Brendan Vacation, Luxury Gold and African Travel, to name a few.
Pic: This is Uniworld's S.S. Catherine as an example of the luxurious decor with this brand.
Our stay at Xigera Lodge included morning and late afternoon game drives every day, including a walking safari and a lovely mokoro boat ride that was so incredibly beautiful and peaceful. We glided along flooded channels in our mokoro and thoroughly enjoyed all the beautiful birds, lily pads, fish, and scenery all around us. It was such a memorable experience.
Africa has incredible sunrises and sunsets and it's wonderful to be able to experience them both with the morning and late afternoon game drives.
The other special option you can consider here is an overnight stay in their Baobob Treehouse (3 levels) where you can sleep beneath the stars (on the top level) in complete seclusion. A very romantic spot with incredible views and the utmost privacy.
Our safari ranger guides were outstanding in their knowledge of the animals, birds, plants and all things safari related. They were also delightful companions throughout our time there!
There are many other activities available including helicopter safari rides, fishing, yoga & workout options, spa opportunities, swimming in the beautiful pool, and so much more!
We also had the very important 'sundowners' experience every day, a fabulous, very special bush breakfast complete with Bloody Marys, and a wonderful Boma dinner along with all the other fabulous meals they served us from an ever-changing menu with the freshest ingredients. The menu was so incredible it was difficult making decisions on what to eat for each meal! They also did an OUTSTANDING job with my requirements for gluten free so it's no problem with anyone who has any dietary constraints.
We were there in the drier season so that there wasn't nearly the amount of water there as there will be after the rains come. Still though, it was absolutely beautiful and the wildlife was plentiful and very easy to see considering it was their springtime so that the tree were not as full enabling better viewing. It just goes to show you that any time is a good time to travel to this part of Botswana!
Speaking of animals, we saw just about every safari animal and bird imaginable including elephants, zebra, leopards, wildebeest, lions, Cape buffalo, baboons, monkeys, hippos, lots of different kinds of antelope, warthogs (Pumba!) and so many beautiful birds!
The other very important aspect with Xigera is their focus on sustainability. They have a state-of-the-art Energy Centre powered by a Tesla solar photovoltaic diesel hybrid system with lithium ion battery storage. The majority of their energy is supplied by renewable solar power. They use an entirely above ground Calcemite sewage system with biodegradable chemicals for cleaning so that they're able to use the grey water for irrigation purposes.
They also have no plastic bags or bottles and have a state-of-the-art reverse osmosis water treatment system and so many other eco considerations. They've thought of everything when it comes to being completely eco-friendly in every way imaginable.
It truly was such an incredible privilege staying at Xigera and certainly, my husband and I plan to go back again and highly recommend it to the most discerning travelers who want to experience a dose of paradise on earth in such a lovely place!
