Belmond Eagle Island Lodge

• Water activities throughout the year in the permanent Okavango Delta
• Luxurious air-conditioned tents on raised wooden decks
• Excellent game and bird-watching
• Ideally combined with a land-based camp (Khwai River Lodge or Savute Elephant Camp)

Eagle Island Lodge at Xaxaba is in the permanent waters of the Okavango Delta. The word Xaxaba means 'island of tall trees', aptly naming this luxury tented camp under the shaded canopy of indigenous trees. Eagle Island overlooks a surrounding lagoon which is fed by the waterways of the Okavango Delta. The island and its surrounds offer exceptionally good game-viewing, home to elephant, red lechwe, buffalo, giraffe, shy Sitatunga and the rare Pel's fishing owl. Game viewing is by mokoro and boat (water levels permitting), as well as walking trails on the islands to track the wildlife on foot. This is a fine birding area, one of the Delta's most pristine, given its myriad waterways, palm-treed islands and vast flood plains which is heaven for fish eagles, herons, egrets and kingfishers. During the summer months of November to March, the lower water levels make it possible to drive open 4x4 vehicles off the island.

Accommodation

Accommodation is in 12 air-conditioned luxury tents, all en suite with private raised viewing decks. The tents are luxuriously appointed with fully stocked minibar, four poster bed mosquito netting, and air conditioning, all under a canopy of thatch. Magnificent sunsets can be enjoyed from the Fish Eagle bar, which was voted one of the most romantic bars in the world by the New York Times, or from the raised deck overlooking the lagoon. The public areas offer a cool refuge from the African sun as does the swimming pool

Typically we would recommend combining Eagle Island Lodge with a land-based camp such as its sister lodges, Khwai River Lodge or Savute Elephant Camp, to get an overall safari experience.