Pronounced 'kee-jera', this isolated spot is deep in the heart of the Inner Delta and is renowned for its rich birdlife. It's predominantly a water camp, but game drives are possible. The area surrounding the camp is permanent wetland, which gives Xigera a lush and tropical atmosphere. Accommodation is in eight rather lovely tent-chalets.
The tents (including one family tent) have a wonderful sense of privacy, they are well furnished and get the whole safari-tent-in-the-wilderness thing spot on without compromising on comfort – we would happily spend a day sitting on one of the ample triangular terraces contemplating the delta's waters. Wooden floors are offset by straw mats and modern desks that lighten the feel.
Elephants and hippos are often seen around camp, and a leopard even wandered across the bridge and along the walkways to the tents when we were last in camp. Vervet monkeys also inhabit the island. On the game drives, leopards are possible year-round, with lions and wild dogs only possible in the dry season when water levels drop. We spent a most pleasurable morning with a leopard family, including a cub that decided to eat our vehicle's tyres, out in the lovely game-drive area west of camp where the palm trees, wild sage and termite mounds look for all the world like a plain filled with Burmese pagodas.
Mokoro or motorboat excursions are good for birdlife (we saw a Pel's fishing owl here), as well as elephants and hippos.
Eminently reasonable prices by delta standards are another reason to choose Xigera as your base in the delta.
Most transfers from the airstrip involve 4WD then a boat into camp.
