A baby bull practices being tough. Momma was 5 feet to his right.

Going to try to keep up. The mind boggling hospitality, architecture, vistas, and food of Xigera defy any experience I have had before. We were driven from the bush plane to the lodge by Dez. We were the only passengers.and he is serving as our private guide on our stay. Dez is an encylopaedia of knowledge on the Delta, and also is a pretty serious photographer (“picked it up from the guests”).

Our plane departs after dropping us off.

On the brief drive back from the airstrip, we saw Red Letchnes, Impalas, Kudu, Elephants . . . we were greeted at the lodge with lemon water to wash our hands and freshly made (and amazing) G&Ts and “high tea” which, for me, consisted of a smoked salmon sandwich and an egg roll of amazingness.

We were then taken to our room – errr, suite —- errrr, palace, where we were greeted with songs and ululations by Nomsa, who is looking after our suite. Everyone is insanely gracious and hospitable. And cool.

Off of our deck were warthogs, an ostrich, and a bunch of Red Lechnes. We called Dez to do a tour about 5:30pm and walking back to meet him we saw monkeys and some impala.

Warthog getting salty
The bird is a symbiote called an ox-pecker – riding a kudu

Dez was going to take us to find a local lioness and her cubs, but we were interrupted by a LOT of elephants. Like, repeatedly. So we saw… elephants, and zebras, and more impala, and monkeys, and a jackal and . . . I will have to go back to fill in proper names of some of these animals.

  • Mom and baby snacking
  • Impala
  • Donkeys in Pyjamas
  • A jackal.
  • Red Lechne
  • Termite mound
  • Bull elephants shaking fruit from a palm tree.

We ran out of light and headed back, where were met with a sundowner, more insane service, and a cooked-in-front-of-us 7 course tapas meal which was truly amazing, paired with 7 South African wines. Then we were walked back to our villa.

6am coffee, 6:30 am drive tomorrow! More then.

-Alex