Guiding & hosting
Our experienced safari guides are all local Batswana people, carefully chosen for their high calibre of guiding, in-depth knowledge of the wilderness, and their ability to share that knowledge with guests at Xigera Safari Lodge, bringing this remarkable landscape to life.
Your dedicated guide will be your chaperone throughout your stay at Xigera, arranging all outdoor activities, and guiding you on game drives, walking safaris and mokoro excursions.
With decades of combined experience in the Okavango Delta, these experts will share their knowledge and insights during all game activities, but will also be delighted to answer any questions you may have about local ecology, wildlife and culture.
I was born in Maun, on the edge of the Okavango Delta. After completing my studies, I began my career in the tourism industry, working my way through the ranks to reach Assistant Camp Manager. I am excited to join Xigera Safari Lodge as Head Guide, and to take on the challenge of building a team and delivering the very best safari experience for all our guests.
People call me Des. I grew up on a farm on the outskirts of Maun, where I developed a deep appreciation for the natural world. I did a Guiding Basics course at Botswana Wildlife Training Institute, where I learned the fundamentals of guiding, before developing my skills in the bush over the last six years, working for a number of different safari companies. I love the Delta; it’s where I had my first guiding experience, and it’s where I first fell in love with photography.
I am Golesedi Baisitse, but people call me ’Lesh’. I am from Kanye village, the centre of the Bangwaketse tribe in the south of Botswana. I have been employed as a guide at Xigera since 2014, and I’ve developed a tremendous love for the area’s uniqueness, especially the bird life.
My name is Phodiso Obusitswe, but I’m also known as Genius. I was born and raised in the Okavango Delta, surrounded by wildlife. From when I was a child I was intrigued by the bush, and began to nurture the knowledge and experience I received from my parents. I then decided that guiding would be my profession. All of these experiences have led to a lifetime of stories. I am thrilled to now be a part of Xigera Safari Lodge.
I am originally from a village in Gambule, in the north-east of Botswana, and joined Xigera Safari Lodge as a professional safari guide in 2020. My first safari experience was actually at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida, USA, where I was a part of Disney’s International Cultural programme from 2009 to 2010. Along with guiding I am also writing articles for the Xigera blog; exploring topics such as our wildlife species and our green initiatives.