Lodge Summary
- Situated on Impalila Island near the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi rivers, where Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe meet
- Main activities - fly fishing and conventional fishing, birding, game viewing by boat, sundowner boat cruises, guided island walks
- The Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls are in close proximity
- Magnificent bird watching with many rare and endemic bird species in the area
- Rich and varied birdlife endemic to the area such as the Rock pratincole, Pels fishing owl, Pygmy geese, African Skimmers and Schalows Turaco
- Game cruise in the Chobe National Park on the Chobe river - Elephant, buffalo, , puku, lechwe, roan, sable, lion, hippo, crocodile
Advisory
- Children 6 years and older welcome
- Impalila Island Lodge is not equipped for wheelchairs
Accommodation
8 river-facing wood and thatched chalets, which can be either double or twin bedded. Each chalet has:
- A wooden deck with a river view
- En-suite bathroom with toilet, shower and hand basin
- Ceiling fans, gauze screen doors and mosquito netting
- Small safe
- 220 volt AC electricity is supplied by generator, with standard South African three-point plugs in each chalet
- Daily laundry service is complimentary
- 2 guide rooms (not the same standard as a guest unit)
Facilities
- Thatched main complex consists of an elevated deck built around an ancient baobab
- Dining area with individual tables
- Lounge and bar area
- Infinity swimming pool and fire pit
- Small reference library
- Curio shop
Inclusive Activities
- Fishing: conventional and fly fishing
- Sundowner boat cruises
- Guided walks on the island including afro-botanical walks, cultural village walks and a walk to a 2000 year old Baobab
- Game cruises to the Chobe National Park on the Chobe River
- Sundowner boat cruises
- Birding walks and boat cruises
Exclusive activities
- Day trips to Victoria Falls by charter, including a “Flight of the Angels”, can be arranged. Road transfers can be organised to see the Falls from either the Zambian or Zimbabwean side
- Charter flight over the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers and Impalila Island
- Game drives into the Chobe National Park
- Day trips to Victoria Falls by road:
This tour departs daily from Kasane, Botswana to Victoria Falls. Clients will be transferred to the Kazungula border where their tour guide will meet them. En route to the Victoria Falls, clients may be taken past the 'Big Tree' where they may stop and take photos. Clients will be accompanied through the Rain Forest by a qualified Wild Horizons guide, who will give a brief history of the Falls, as well as describing the flora, fauna, bird & wildlife and other points of interest. The tour includes a visit to the market and an opportunity to shop at the open air curio market and shops for souvenirs and gifts. At 12H30 visitors then enjoy lunch, which, depending on the number of guests booked will either be a Lunch Cruise or lunch at a hotel. Thereafter, the Zambezi Nature Sanctuary and Crocodile Ranch is visited. This provides a unique insight into the Zambezi crocodile's life and the sanctuary is also home to a variety of wild animals, including lion and leopard. Clients are then returned to the Kazungula border where they will be met by their Botswana guide for their return transfer to their hotel in Kasane, arriving at approximately 15H30.
Malaria
- Anti-malaria tablets are advisable all year round. We recommend you check with your physician for prophylaxis advice. Mosquito repellent sprays are provided, and we recommend that long sleeves and pants be worn in the evenings and early mornings
Community Development Fund
- A voluntary ZAR 40.00 donation is requested from each guest on departure from the Lodges for the Community Development Fund
- This is placed in a community development fund, which is utilized for local community upliftment projects over and above what the lodge contributes
- Islands in Africa, in conjunction with the tribal authorities, determines the priority of the projects which need funding
Conservation and community initiatives
- Impalila Island Lodge initiated projects in an effort to involve local communities in conservation practices on the island
- Local lifestyles have been positively affected through employment and skills training since Impalila's opening in 1994
- The community development fund has assisted in school and clinic improvements, providing a shop for supplies, a postal and transport service, a kindergarten, sports sponsorship and special group functions organisation.
- Animal populations are increasing in the area; the large crocodiles occupying the rivers enjoy more protection, and our hippo families are now a permanent fixture
- Guests visiting Impalila have shown great interest in community activities. As a result we introduced the traditional village visits and our afro-botanical walk, which is a fascinating on-site study of the production and uses of traditional medicines derived from trees and plants
Languages spoken at Impalila
Further reading
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