Eco-tourism operator Desert & Delta Safaris, a subsidiary of Chobe Holdings Limited recently reopened its rebuilt iconic property, Xugana Island Safari Lodge in the heart of the Okavango Delta.
This flagship facility reopened after undergoing a comprehensive rebuild. The new facility now boasts 12 luxury ensuite tents, up from 8 of the old camp. In addition to the rooms’ exquisite atmosphere and design, the lodge features a main area with an all-thatch theme that is inspired by traditional bushmen huts, while ensuring the structures blend well with the pristine environment around of the camp.
The relaunch of the facility just before the Africa’s Travel Indaba held last week, meant Desert & Delta Safaris’ participation at this year’s episode of Africa’s biggest travel show – Africa’s Travel Indaba would be about sharing news on latest products and developments which then set the tone of the eco-tourism operator’s business to business meetings with buyers. Xugana’s reopening was without doubt the exciting news DDS had packaged for these meetings.
This was the words on Desert & Delta’s Sales and Marketing director Andrew Flatt while participating at the Indaba last week.
“Our meetings have been with partners, travel agencies, tour operators, destination management companies, wholesalers all coming to hear the news of Desert & Delta Safaris. We have news on our brand new opened Xugana Island Lodge, an iconic property. We have rebuilt it and we want our partners to understand where their travellers will be coming when they visit Xugana,” Flatt revealed.
Prior to the Indaba, this publication had the opportunity to have a feel of the new facility. and Back of House Manager Innocent Malunga introduced the new Xugana that has been given a new lease of life – bigger, better and a touch of luxury that collides with nature.
Xugana Lodge, quite outstanding for years and one of the first camps to be built in the Delta, has through this rebuild fortified its position in the tourism space.
The lodge overlooks the Xugana lagoon off the Muanachira Channel an area with immense wildlife experience and unmatched views of the lagoon around. While the general outlook and feel of the lodge have changed, the incredible wildlife experience remains the same, and in fact the new design has brought the suites and the facility up-close and personal with nature.
Built with sustainability in mind, and to ensure the no permanent structure rule in the pristine area is adhered to, all the materials used are environment friendly. The camp has also come with a new solar plant to power the whole operations and the staff village.
To ensure environmental sustainability, the sewerage treatment plant has also been upgraded to accommodate the bigger facility – which has also seen the upgrade of the staff village. The sustainability considerations have also come with the upgrade of the workshop where the oil from boats, vehicle and kitchen traps is harvested and transported back to Maun for safe disposal. As part of the waste management afront, – the solid waste separation cages ensure waste is package
The views of the rebuilt lodge for one arriving by boat remains breathtaking, with the new addition of the floating fire place deck and the jetty, which serves as the arrival point. The activities here remain the same: boat cruises, mokoro, game walks and fishing (catch and release).
Besides sustainability, and ensuring the new structure is exquisite while giving guests the unmatched experience Xugana is known for.
Desert & Delta Safaris also took into consideration the empowerment of local contractors during construction. The project was awarded to local contractors who were engaged to carry our various phases of the project, while also creating temporary employment for citizens during construction phase.
