XIGERA CAMP
Okavango, Botswana

Okavango Delta Tented Camp

Xigera (pronounced Keejera) is one of the Okavango and Botswana's best kept secrets. Built in one of the most beautiful corners of the Okavango, Xigera Camp is is situated on "Paradise Island" within the Moremi Game Reserve. Xigera is in an area which has permanent water all year round, which makes it the perfect water and land activity camp. It is one of the only Okavango camps to offer mekoros and boating trips, foot safaris and game drives in total privacy, with the main emphasis being on water activities. Xigera was rated as one of the top destinations of the 'Ultimate Safari' in the March 1999 issue of Conde Nast Traveler.

Camp Description

The new Xigera opened in April 2000. The old camp has been completely torn down and a wonderful new camp has been built on a new and better site on the island. The camp takes a maximum of sixteen guests in superb and comfortably furnished tented rooms. En suite bathrooms indoors have showers, flush toilets and an outdoor toilet and shower. The rooms are built within a shady grove and overlook a floodplain and waterhole which is often teeming with Red Lechwe and other animals. Meals are enjoyed in the dining room overlooking the main river, which, along with the pub and lounge area, is under thatch. Raised walkways connect the rooms to the dining area. There is a plunge pool.

Game Viewing

Xigera has excellent birding. Pel's Fishing Owl, Wattled Crane, African Skimmers, Slaty Egret, Rufousbellied Heron, Swamp Boubou and a host of eagles, vultures and raptors will keep the bird~lover fully occupied. The rare Sitatunga antelope are at their highest density in the Okavango in the Xigera area. Stalking Sitatunga silently by mokoro is an experience never to be forgotten. The wooden foot bridge, which connects this island to the next, is often used by Lion and Leopard to move between islands. Many a guest has enjoyed Lion viewing from the dining room. When water levels permit, game drives are an attraction. Some years we can drive throughout the year. If there has been a very high flood, we can only usually drive from late September to April.

Xigera has something for everyone, in an area where there are no other Moremi camps. Great scenery and activities in a totally private setting make Xigera a wonderful area. The quiet waterways offer perfect mokoro opportunities ~ some lucky guests have even seen Leopard from their mekoros. Game drives give guests a different perspective of the area. Boating takes one further afield, and the walks offer the opportunity to get close to wild Africa. When the new park rules come into effect in 2001 or 2002, night drives will also be allowed. To get the best wildlife experience, we suggest you mix your activities.

The Owners

Hennie and Angela Rawlinson are a well~respected couple from Maun, with incredible experience in the Okavango Delta. Hennie built the original Xigera way back in 1986. Prior to his Xigera days, he was one of the region's best camping safari guides. Hennie is a commercial pilot and runs a charter operation in Maun. Angela met Hennie while he was managing Xigera in the 1980s and the area has a very special place in their hearts. When the lease at Xigera came up for tender in 1998, they focused all their attention on winning the lease. Hennie and Angela reckon that it was their passion for the area which showed in their writing and won them the tender. They now have this prime site within the Moremi Game Reserve for the next 15 years and they have a built a superb camp which is an absolute winner.

Location

o Okavango Delta, central west area
o Within Moremi Game Reserve
o Private area, no other camps in the area

Accomodation

Number of tents:
8 tents in total consisting of:
7 ¾ twin bedded tents
1 kingsize-bedded honeymoon tent
1 guide tent.
This camp can accommodate 16 guests.
Tent details:
o Tented Safari Camp raised off the ground on wooden walkways.
o Each tent has a great view
o En-suite bathrooms in the tent
o Tent entrance is a door
o Fans
o Soaps, shampoos and insect repellents are supplied in each room
o Outside showers

Activities

Type - Summer 40% Game drives, 60% Water activities
Winter 20% Game drives, 80% Water activities (activities very much dependant on flood levels, in years of low flood, activities tend more towards game drives, mainly water based activities will be offered through the flood season.)
Good multi-activity camp.
Game Drives:
o No night drives, until park rules change
o Game drives via 2x 10 seater open 4x4 Land Rovers each accommodating a maximum of 7 guests, allowing all guests an outside seat.
Water Activities:
o Water game viewing via mekoros and by foot (8 mekoros)
o Power boating seasonally available depending on water levels.(1x 8 seater boat)

Laundry policy

Laundry is done on a daily basis and inclusive in the nightly tariff with the exception of 'smalls' ie underwear, which are not washed due to local customs.

Extras payment

Curios and or imported drinks will be billed to the guest and settled on check out. Payment can be effected by cash (US$), travellers' cheques or the following credit cards: Visa or MasterCard. If guests feel that they want to tip, our recommended tipping schedule is as follows:
Guides - US$5.00 per person per day
General Camp Staff - US$3.00 per person per day
Specialist Guides (if applicable) - US$10.00 per person per day
(This is the suggested gratuity schedule only and is subject to service standards)

Flying times

to/from Maun 30 minutes
to/from Kasane 1hr 20 minutes
Kasane to Victoria Falls 20 minutes but allow additional time for customs and immigration

Air strip details

Xigera airstrip located 10 minutes' drive from camp
Licensed for aircraft up to a maximum weight of 5700kg MAUW (maximum all up weight), so King Airs can land here
Air strip co-ordinates: S19.23.16, E22.44.51

Electricity

o Camp has 220v generator which runs when guests are not in camp. When guests return from daily activities, generators generally switched off (for peace in camp).
o 220v invertor power is used for lighting and fans in each guest tent 24hrs/day.
o Video battery can be charged 24hrs a day.
o Electrically heated water

Guest Comments

We have recently returned from a month's holiday in southern Africa including a week's safari with yourselves. Needless to say we had a spectacular time and I thought you might like to see an extract of a report we have been sending to our friends! "The week we spent in Botswana before Christmas was just amazing and I cannot recommend Wilderness Safaris' camps highly enough. Although under canvas (sometimes thatch as well) and always raised off the ground on decking, there was no lacking in comfort - hot and cold running water and flush loos en suite, as well as an external shower totally private to each tent but overlooking the veldt which was absolutely brilliant! The tents were superbly comfortable and kitted out without being over the top. We were up at 5.00 each morning before a light breakfast at 5.30 and then off in the Land Rover (with tiered seating), motorboat or mokoro for a four-hour expedition. Then back for brunch at 11.00. You were then free to relax - swim, sunbathe, read, or take a siesta - until four when a light tea was served and it was off again for about four hours. During the morning excursion, elevenses was served en route and sundowners were served (our choice chilled white wine) with canapes just before sunset! And then back to camp for dinner with a whole range of very interesting fellow guests, many of whom at this time of the year turned out to be our children's sort of age group. The camp managers (usually white South Africans) and their staff (local Tswanas) were quite the most friendly and informative bunch you could imagine and the local Tswana guides were quite charming and incredibly knowledgeable. They could steer us through hundred yard stretches of water 4ft deep or safely over loose sand in the manner born, and at night could drive one-handed whilst shining the spotlight and picking out and commenting on the animals. We saw a phenomenal range of birds, large and small, even more than we might have expected as of course being summer all the migrants were there as well. But there were also lots of flowers and blossom and that meant butterflies, dragonflies, damsel flies, fireflies et al. Needless to say Harley was in his element! This was perhaps our main point of interest on this trip, having seen most big game during our years resident in Africa, but we were still delighted to encounter a huge variety of animals including my first ever sighting of a wild leopard - and a second sighting at a different camp! The only things we didn't see on this occasion were rhino, which are not to be found in the areas where we were, and cheetah which we just missed on a couple of occasions although fellow guests were luckier! Harley and I were often on our own on our drives although sometimes we would be joined by another couple or singleton, but they never put more than six guests on a vehicle at most. Altogether we spent seven nights away and stayed in three camps sited in very different terrain to give us maximum exposure and it worked very well." It is hard to single out a particular camp above the others but we did have a very special time at Duba Plains where we found Tanya, James and Lucy and their team so welcoming, but we must also mention Craig, Lisa and Pinky at Xigera and Debbie, Brandon, Kath and Ross at DumaTau. Please tell this latter team that we were asking after the baby squirrel, Atep! We definitely plan to travel with you again and hope to visit Namibia under your guidance in the not too distant future!
Sincerely, P.K & H.K

I have been wondering how I could ever thank you in words for everything that you did to make the Okavango a reality rather than a dream for me. In my wildest dreams I never believed that the Okavango could be so unspeakably beautiful. The gentle swoosh of the mokoro as it forges its way down narrow waterways, the silence of the evenings which become both musical and thrilling once ones ears are tuned into the sounds of the night, and the incredible pleasure of staying in a lodge which caters for the every need and comfort of its guests. Thank you for helping me to select Xigera - not only is it a "true" Delta experience, but its incredible ambiance is complimented by an equally incredible team. Clive, Lisa, and Pinky are leaders of , and hosts for a group of people who clearly love what they do. Not one member of the team is overshadowed by another, and not one the lesser for the knowledge held by another. Each person simply glows in their area of passion and knowledge.
S.W. South Africa

I'd happily recommend Xigera to anybody, really felt closer to the Okavango Delta here, and enjoyed the more personal contact with the guides. The stillness of the mokoro trips and walks were wonderful, Craig, Liza, Xolani and all guides could not have been more charming and helpful.
D.B and L.B., Sydney Australia

After being acclimatized, lying in bed in our tent with the curtains open and looking at the stars and listening to the animal (hippo) sounds was fantstic. The birthday brunch was heavenly.
H.v.M. and V.v.M.

The interest and dedication of the guides must be complimented. We felt at home and part of the scene. Overall a most enjoyable stay which will remain with us for a long time. A big thank you to Craig, Lisa and Xolani.
F.G and P.G., Cuermavaca Mexico

Being in the peaceful environment of the great outdoors - at all times was the most enjoyable part of our stay.
R.C. and C.C., Middlesex, U.K.

We thoroughly enjoyed finding the Pels Fishing Owl on the evening boat trip. Thanks for a splendid stay.
N.R., U.K.

To sum up all the smiles, the friendly family atmosphere and interaction with staff and management really made what could be a place to eat and sleep feel like home; this is what makes for a wonderful holiday.
V.T. and J.T., U.K.

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