FAQS
Frequently asked questions
Where is Xigera?
Xigera Safari Lodge lies within the Okavango Delta, a World Heritage Site in the north-east of Botswana. The lodge is a renowned wilderness haven on the western fringes of the iconic Moremi Game Reserve.
How do I travel to Xigera?
The nearest major international airport is Johannesburg, South Africa (airport code: JNB). From Johannesburg, direct scheduled services (1 hour, 30 minutes flying time) serve Botswana’s Maun airport. From Maun, a scenic 25-minute flight by light aircraft will deliver you to the Xigera airstrip, a 10-minute drive from the lodge.
There are also direct scheduled flights from Cape Town (South Africa) to Maun, and charter services from Kasane (for the Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls) to Maun.
Are the suites air-conditioned?
Yes, each of our 12 suites is air-conditioned, with tinted glass windows to reduce energy usage and ensure a comfortable temperature with the suites at all times.
Is there Wi-Fi internet access available?
Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in all suites, and in the Library. Due to our remote location, please note that the bandwidth is sufficient for web browsing, sending emails and WhatsApp communication, but is not suitable for media streaming.
There is no mobile phone signal at Xigera Safari Lodge.
Are children welcome at Xigera Safari Lodge?
Children aged 6 and above are warmly welcomed at Xigera Safari Lodge. Please note that the full adult rate is charged.
Given the wilderness location of the lodge, children aged between 6 and 16 years must share a suite with one adult. Children partaking in boating or mokoro excursions must wear life vests at all times.
For safety reasons, regrettably, children under 13 years of age may not participate in walking or mokoro excursions.
Do you offer laundry or dry-cleaning services?
Daily laundry services (weather and water supply permitting) are complementary and form part of the fully inclusive rates.
In order to respect local customs, please note that a mesh laundry bag will be supplied for underwear. These will be machine-washed and returned in the same mesh bag. If preferred, environmentally friendly detergent for hand-washing is available in all suites, or can be provided on request.
There are no dry-cleaning services.
Is the water safe to drink?
Absolutely. All water used in the lodge is purified via a state-of-the-art reverse osmosis treatment plant. The water is then re-mineralised, ensuring guests can safely drink the tap water throughout the lodge. We also provide bottled water – both still and sparkling water – in environmentally friendly glass bottles.
Are the safari vehicles equipped with binoculars?
Yes, we have high-quality binoculars for guests to use while on safari.
What do the safari vehicles offer?
Xigera Safari Lodge offers both four- and six-seater safari vehicles, custom-built for comfort on game drives, and fully equipped for wildlife photography. Seat covers are made of comfortable cotton canvas, with armrests that can be adjusted and locked into position for photography. For memorable refreshment stops on safari, all our vehicles are equipped with a table, cold box, a hot box and a picnic basket.
Can all dietary requirements be catered for?
With the exception of Kosher or Halaal requirements, our skilled chefs are happy to cater for all dietary preferences. Advance notice is recommended.
What is the best time of year to visit?
The Okavango Delta is truly a year-round destination, with each season offering its own charms and unique sightings.
The southern hemisphere autumn and winter months (May to October) is high season, and often deemed the best time to visit. During this time the floodwaters build, peaking in September, and the thinning foliage allows for greater visibility in spotting wildlife. Fishing excursions are also allowed from March to December.
The summer months (November to February) see the bush transformed into a sea of green as the first rains fall. This is also the best time for birding, with the arrival of migrant species from Europe and northern Africa.
What kind of temperatures should be expected?
The winter months (May to August) offer the most comfortable temperatures, with afternoon readings in the mid-20s (ºC), with occasional cooler weather seeing the mercury dip slightly. The temperature begins to climb from late-September, with October and November the hottest months, when temperatures spike up to 40ºC and above. From December onwards the temperature slowly cools to an average of 30-35ºC during the day.
What wildlife might we see?
Situated on one of the Okavango’s key waterways, and surrounded by picturesque papyrus swamps and wooded islands, Xigera Safari Lodge is renowned for its abundance of mammal sightings, including sitatunga, red lechwe, spotted-necked otter, elephant, buffalo, reedbuck and tsessebe. Predators commonly seen include lion, spotted hyena and leopard, and guests are sometimes treated to close-up views of big cats using the footbridge connecting Xigera to the neighbouring island!
Xigera Safari Lodge lies in an International Birding Area (IBA) with many ‘Okavango specials’ being present and often seen. These include Pel’s fishing-owl, African skimmer, brown firefinch, greater swamp warbler, wattled crane, African pygmy goose and lesser jacana.
Are there any restrictions on luggage?
When packing for a safari holiday to Botswana, less is more. The maximum luggage allowance on charter aircraft flights is 20kg (44lb) per person, plus one piece of hand luggage or a camera bag. Where space allows, additional seats may be booked for excess luggage. Each additional seat that you book enables you to travel with an additional 70kg (154lb) of luggage.
The shape and dimensions of your luggage is just as important as its weight, as it will need to fit inside the cargo pod under each aircraft. We strongly recommend that you use soft-sided, holdall-type bags rather than rigid hard-shell suitcases. In the event that your bag does not fit in the cargo pod, it will need to be carried inside the aircraft, and charged for as excess luggage.
Is there a dress code? What clothing should I bring?
There is no dress code at Xigera Safari Lodge, and we want our guests to feel relaxed and comfortable throughout their stay. Lightweight neutral-coloured clothing is best for game excursions.
The lodge offers a daily – and complimentary – laundry service, allowing you to reduce how much clothing you bring on safari. We recommend that you don’t bring any clothing with a military/camouflage pattern, as wearing this is discouraged in Botswana.
Recommended clothing includes:
- Casual clothing and flip-flops/thongs to wear around the lodge
- Long pants and shirts for safari activities
- A hat (preferably with a wide brim)
- Sunglasses with high UV-resistance
- Sunblock with a minimum factor of 30 and a quality lip salve
- A warm sweater or fleece for cooler mornings and evenings
- Closed shoes for walking safaris (trail shoes are ideal)
- A light waterproof jacket (although rain ponchos are provided in our game drive vehicles)
- A beanie, scarf, and gloves in winter
- Swimming costume or board shorts
- A kikoi/sarong
- Small, new US Dollar notes for tipping (optional) and small purchases
- Personal medication
- Camera, lenses, and accessories
- Cables, chargers and adaptors for your devices
What about malaria?
Due to its remote location, Xigera Safari Lodge is situated in a very low-risk malaria area, but we advise the use of anti-malarial prophylactics year-round. Consult your travel doctor for advice at least three weeks before departure to Africa.
What is the currency in Botswana?
The Botswana currency is the ‘Pula’; meaning ‘rain’ in the local Setswana language. ATM cash points are available in most major towns, including Maun. Credit cards and US dollars (preferably small denominations) are widely accepted.
What does the rate include?
Fully-inclusive rates at Xigera Safari Lodge include: luxury accommodation; all meals; all activities (including game drives, boating, seasonal catch-and-release fishing, mokoro excursions, bush walks and scheduled yoga classes); use of the gym, pool and library; daily laundry, Wi-Fi internet access; park fees; accommodation taxes; applicable tourism levies and all relevant Value Added Tax (VAT).
The rate also includes all non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, with the exception of the wines, spirits and champagnes on the Premium List.
Please note that discretionary gratuities, all purchases from the Xigera Shop, private yoga classes, all spa treatments and spa products, cigars and Premium List drinks are excluded from this rate and must be settled directly at the lodge on departure.
What is check in pre-authorisation?
We would like to make you aware that on arrival at the hotel a credit or debit card or cash deposit must be provided for a pre-charge/authorisation for the accommodation, and for any extras. As a standard hotel policy, upon arrival an amount will be temporarily pre-authorised on your card or taken as cash deposit towards any extras during your stay with us. Anything that is not used will be released from your card upon departure from the Hotel. Please allow up to 7-10 working days to see any unused amount released depending on your bank provider.
Is there a deposit to pay?
Guests will be charged a 20% deposit on reservation, cancellations will be subject to our standard terms and conditions.
How can I pay for extras?
Payments for spa treatments, spa products, private yoga classes, gratuities to guides or staff, and purchases from the Xigera Boutique can be settled in cash at the lodge.
We accept Botswana Pula (BWP), Pounds Sterling (GBP), Euros (EUR) and South African Rand (ZAR). US Dollars (USD) are also accepted, but only notes dated later than 2007.
We also accept MasterCard and Visa credit cards, but we are unable to accept payments by American Express or Diners Club credit cards, or any form of debit card.
What are your guidelines on tipping?
Gratuities are always welcomed by our staff, but these are entirely at your own discretion. If you would like to show your appreciation for good service, we suggest the following amounts:
- Guides and/or Specialist Guides: US$20 per guest per day, paid directly to the guide as a once-off payment at the end of the stay.
- Mokoro Polers: US$10 per poler/tracker per guest per day, paid directly as a once-off payment at the end of the stay.
- General Lodge Staff: US$20 per guest per day, placed in the communal tip box to be distributed equally amongst all the staff.
- Massage Therapists: US$10 per treatment.
What is your smoking policy?
Smoking and the use of e-cigarettes is only permitted in designated areas of the lodge, which will be pointed out by the staff on request.
Please note that smoking is strictly forbidden in our main lodge area; on safari vehicles, boats and mokoro; and in guest suites. The exception is on the outside decks of private suites.
On game activities, a stop will be made for refreshments, at which time smokers may have a cigarette. We ask smokers to be conscious at all times of the fire risk in disposing of cigarette ash and filters, and of the impact of both cigarettes and e-cigarettes on fellow guests.
Are there jogging paths at Xigera?
While we recognise that exercise is important to many of our guests, we also advocate the importance of changes in routine, and of resting. Due to the presence of wild animals in and around Xigera Safari Lodge, it is not possible to run or jog in the bush.
Guests wishing to stretch their legs will enjoy our guided bush walks, although it should be noted that these are anything but brisk, and the emphasis is on learning rather than burning calories.