Xugana Island Lodge

The land becomes a maze of water, islands, and channels. Elephants come in their hundreds. Buffalo, too. Antelope scatter through the shallows like quicksilver, and lions follow the paths they make, on the hunt. A fish eagle cries, sharp and high. Storks march through the water on legs as long as reeds.

In the heart of this ecological wonder, water finds a place to rest in the Xugana Lagoon. This is widely regarded as the most beautiful of all the permanent water sites in the Okavango Delta, and Xugana Island Lodge is your stunning springboard to experience it.

THE LODGE

At Xugana Island Lodge, the water stays with you—the ripples that move the reeds, the glittering sunlight on the narrow channels as you slide past lilies that float like coins on black glass. It reflects the sky by day and the stars by night. You move with its pace, never without its presence. Connected. Unhurried. Tranquill.

Situated on a private island, you disconnect from the world you know and become part of one of Earth’s most vital natural networks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Secluded but not alone.

Authentic hospitality and our dedicated staff are an integral part of your experience, where journeys are guided with excellence and with purpose. Old stories are shared and new memories are forged; lifelong connections are made between people from all walks of life. It’s no surprise that many return for our people.

The lodge was one of the first in the Okavango Delta. Much cherished by guests, it carries history easily, like a matriarch elephant who knows who she is. A recent rebuild has breathed fresh life into the lodge, but left her soul untouched.

Multi-level decks provide abundant views and perspectives of the Xugana Lagoon. You see it from the swimming pool and the bar, from daybeds shaded by towering mahoganies, and from the covered or open-air dining areas. Communal dining is part of our daily routine, where stories and laughter grow. For special occasions or for those who prefer it, private dining can be arranged on request.

Bringing you even closer is the overwater fire-deck, which stretches out like a hand, touching the surface of the lagoon. At night the fire burns low and, like the sparks rising from crackling wood, the stars scatter overhead.

Here, primely positioned on a private concession, the lodge immediately impresses with its Overwater Fire-Deck, extending from the main lodge onto the lagoon. As one of the first-ever delta lodges, Xugana Island Lodge has long been defined by its deep connection to the environment, exceptional service, and true tranquillity.

Following a stunning recent rebuild, these values remain unwavering, reflected in a design that echoes the splendour of this incredible ecosystem now more than ever.

The lagoon and its wildlife are central, and views are on full display from the pool and bar to the multi-level dining, lounge and viewing decks that comprise the main areas. En-suite Luxury Tents and a two-bedroom Luxury Family Tent line the island’s edge.

Each tent draws inspiration from the lagoon’s blue hues and natural textiles, and views are both expansive and immersive, thanks to unique enclosed decks that create an indoor-outdoor experience.

Xugana Island Lodge has begun its next chapter, continuing its revered legacy with new style and old soul—in a league entirely of its own.

ACCOMMODATION

Each of the 12 safari suites has an en suite bathroom with an indoor shower, and an outdoor shower so you can bathe under the open sky. Enclosed viewing decks open to sweeping views while keeping you completely private—a front-row seat to the rhythms of the Delta.

Two of the safari suites can be booked as interleading for families and friends, giving you the opportunity to share the experience with loved ones.

ACTIVITIES & WILDLIFE

Uniquely for a wetland environment that shifts and fluctuates, all activities at Xugana Island Lodge are available year-round. Two activities can be experienced each day, arranged and discussed with you when you arrive.

Take the motorboat through the channels, the morning air cool on your face. This is an entirely different perspective of the wilderness, seen from its shimmering heart. Stillness meets quiet thrill. Waterways lead to lagoons awake with life. Channels weave like liquid pathways through a maze of papyrus, and you have the chance to see the elephants and hippos that carved them.

Drift in a mokoro (traditional dugout canoe), the pole cutting clean lines through the water. Reeds whisper as you drift past, dragonflies hover like suspended light, and the air is alive with the quiet chorus of frogs and birds. From this eye-level vantage point, every detail becomes sharper—the curve of a water lily, the flicker of a tiny reed frog. It’s a journey that invites you to exhale, listen, and simply be.

Walk with guides who know the way like you know your own heartbeat, and understand the creatures you encounter like they are old friends. You’ll track the fascinating inhabitants that call the surrounding islands home, study sun-whitened bones, and observe the intricate lives of smaller creatures that bring sustenance to the earth, and those that fill the skies.

With over 400 species in the Delta, birds are your constant companions. African Jacanas prance from lily pad to lily pad as you glide past in a mokoro. Kingfishers dart into the water, emerging with glittering prey. You could be a dedicated birder chasing a long-awaited lifer or a nature lover simply basking in the endless variety of calls and colours.

The more earthbound creatures are no less impressive. Herds of lechwe antelope bound through the shallows, spray rising around them like shattered glass. Shy sitatunga search out the dappled shade. From across the lagoon, you watch buffalo and they watch you. Lions crouch at the water’s edge, drinking in the heat of the day, while tiny frogs dance with the reeds.

Catch-and-release fishing offers a remarkable way to connect with the hidden world beneath the water’s surface. Bream and catfish do more than nibble hooks, and battles with tigerfish will certainly get your blood bumping. Whether you’re a novice or experienced, we supply basic yet sufficient fishing equipment and expert guidance, or you can bring your own if preferred.

Then, to see this precious slice of Botswana as the birds do, take to the sky in a helicopter (surcharges apply). Doors-off, it’s an experience designed for photographers and anyone wanting to see the Delta in its full scale: a living map of islands and water, winding channels and animal trails etched into the floodplains and reed beds like wild highways.

Every venture, every story, is led by guides who have known this land longer than most. They speak with profound knowledge and deep understanding of the wild.

RE TLA GO CHEKA

At Xugana Island Lodge, journeys are like the lagoon itself—wide, deep, unforgettable. Here with us, you don’t pass through; you transform. This is where moments and memories live ever after and, when the time comes, goodbyes are replaced with “re tla go cheka (we’ll see you soon)!”.