!Xaus Lodge is in National Geographic’s Best Trips for 2020

Photograph by Melanie van Zyl National Geographic Traveler today launched its Best Trips 2020 - and selected as one of the 25 best places in the world to visit in 2020 is !Xaus Lodge.  The author of the article, Ana Hogas had this to say about the nominations: "Now I can reveal [...]

By |November 19th, 2019|Experiences|Comments Off on !Xaus Lodge is in National Geographic’s Best Trips for 2020

November 2019 – A month to remember

Suzi Manley tells us about recent sightings at !Xaus Lodge “The big news of the moment is that we’ve had a remarkable ‘once in a lifetime’ spotting of two leopards at the Lodge. Not just tracks, and a fleeting sight, but proper sightings. Not much to tell. We've known they're around but didn't have a [...]

By |November 14th, 2019|Experiences|Comments Off on November 2019 – A month to remember

Returning to my happy space: Thirstland

Story and photos by Louise de Waal Driving through the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park gate after a three-year absence, feels like returning to my happy space. This endless arid landscape of red dunes, dry river beds, and camel thorn trees, swallows me in my tiny rental car, but that doesn’t take away from the pure [...]

By |October 25th, 2017|Experiences|Comments Off on Returning to my happy space: Thirstland

Transfrontier Parks Destinations certified by Fair Trade Tourism

Transfrontier Parks Destinations (TFPD), South Africa’s leading group focused on promoting community-based tourism, has become Fair Trade Tourism certified. The group, which is headquartered in Cape Town, launched in 2004 with a mission to manage community-owned properties in transfrontier parks and adjacent conservation areas. Since inception, responsible tourism and conservation has been at the heart of [...]

By |March 27th, 2017|Experiences|Comments Off on Transfrontier Parks Destinations certified by Fair Trade Tourism

The Impact of Responsible Tourism – Part 2

The ownership model and funding. !Xaus Lodge; the land, the infrastructure and the fittings and furnishings are wholly owned by the Mier and ǂKhomani San communities. They appointed commercial management and marketing operators, Transfrontier Parks Destinations (TFPD) on a long-term basis. TFPD have paid their Joint Management Board (JMB) a percentage of turnover [...]

By |November 10th, 2016|Experiences|Comments Off on The Impact of Responsible Tourism – Part 2

In the Footsteps of the Great Farini

Recently, SA 4x4 Magazine featured an article written by adventurer, traveler, and outdoor enthusiast, Jacques Marais, set off to seek the "Lost City of the Kalahari" but landed up in the heart of it instead. "Apparently there is a mythical Lost City of the Kalahari, situated somewhere amidst the shifting dunes and arid outcrops of the [...]

Living with limited water in the desert

Visiting a desert environment with limited water challenges all of us to be responsible travelers. Welcome to some of the tips and tricks that make living in the desert so interesting. !Xaus Lodge is in an ecosystem that faces a dramatic scarcity of water, relative to the home areas of our guests.  The result is [...]

Manager’s Diary April – September 2013

!Xaus Lodger Manager's update 3 – Mid April to Sept 2013 Hi Family, Friends and Guests I do hope you are all well. Right. The reverse osmosis machine was serviced and is behaving well or so I thought. We acquired super new bling bling tubes and it was pushing 400 litres per hour and our [...]