Xigera Safari Lodge

Named for the Pied Kingfisher that makes its home amid the watery channels of Botswana’s Moremi Game Reserve, Xigera Safari Lodge has been lovingly refurbished by fourth-generation hoteliers the Tollman family. 

Design is at the forefront here, with punchy interiors and a tasteful mix of contemporary furniture and one-of-a-kind pieces. And the rooms rival the quality of top international hotels, with a dressing room, copper free-standing bath and a choice of indoor/outdoor showers. 

Guests can explore the verdant reserve by glass-bottomed mokoros, 4×4 or on foot, taking in the resident pride of lions and an unusually extensive population of sitatunga antelope. And for twitchers, the Moremi Reserve lies within the bounds of an International Birding Area, with regular sightings of Pel’s Fishing-Owl and African Skimmer. 

Away from the game, foodies can rejoice as guests are treated to surprise locations for meals, varying from a private dinner on your room’s terrace to sundowner snacks in the camps’ treehouse. And the on-site spa, pool and gym mean that no creature comfort is compromised. All the while, your conscience can rest easy as the camp runs completely off the grid, powered almost entirely by solar energy.