From Zarafa it was a short flight to Xigera Camp in the Moremi Game Reserve. This is part of the Okavango Delta, one of the most sought-after wilderness destinations in the world. This is a journey deep into Africa’s untouched interior.
During the wet months you are moving from wetland to dryland – traversing the meandering palm and papyrus fringed waterways, passing palm-fringed islands, and thick woodland, resplendent with lush vegetation, and rich in wildlife. This is the largest intact inland delta in the world.
The Okavango Delta is situated deep within the Kalahari Basin, and is often referred to as the ‘jewel’ of the Kalahari. Shaped like a fan, the Delta is fed by the Okavango River, the third largest in southern Africa. It has been steadily developed over the millennia by millions of tons of sand carried down the river from Angola.
Swollen with floodwaters from the summer rains, the Okavango River travels from the Angolan highlands, crosses into Botswana, then later spills over the vast, fan-shaped Delta. The timing of the floods is uncanny. Just as the waters from Botswana’s summer rains disappear (April, May), so the floodwaters arrive revitalizing a vast and remarkably diverse ecosystem of plant and animal life.
However, our visit was in the driest months, so the waters had all long since disappeared leaving vast plains with herds of lechwe, impala, tsessebe and other plains game. These provide ample food for the remaining lion and leopards. Once again our guide did not disappoint and we had some excellent sightings.
I was excited to visit Xigera as this is one of the newest and most luxurious camps in Africa. The camp is a beautiful compilation of semi-tented structures. The engineering and design is remarkable and the suites are extremely well-appointed. Our suite had three separate air conditioning units so we were very comfortable no matter the outside temperatures. The staff were very efficient and well trained. For the clients with the budget, this property is a great option. The game viewing is excellent, the food was delicious.
