Ichingo Chobe River Lodge, a luxury tented lodge, overlooks the Chobe River on the south side of the Impalila Island, at the very eastern tip of the Caprivi Strip.

Email: caprivi@go.namibiabookings.com

Ichingo Chobe River Lodge is a secluded and privately owned Lodge, offering the ideal personalized venues to get away from it all, for families, couples or small groups who wish to experience Africa at its finest and enjoy all that it has to offer.

The main lodge buildings have been constructed over the river, under thatch and set under large, shady trees. There is a lounge and bar area, and home-cooked meals are served from the chef's set menu, in both the indoor and outdoor dining areas. Power is presently supplied by 2 generators.

To round off a perfect day in the bush, sip your favourite drink in the thatched bar and enjoy gourmet meals in the dining room to the accompaniment of bird calls through a magnificent canopy of trees.

Ichingo Chobe River Lodge Accommodation
Ichingo is a luxury-tented lodge of Meru tents with thatched en-suite bathrooms. These large double tents overlook Chobe River rapids with the main lodge buildings being built over the river and consisting of a lounge and bar with a separate dining room, all under thatch and situated under large shady trees.

The spacious lounge, bar and dining areas, all under thatch, are built out over the river and provide leisurely relaxation, with gourmet meals our specialty.

Eight twin-bedded large Meru tents
Each Tent has cupboards, tables, electric lights, own private thatched en-suite bathroom and balcony
All tents overlook the river
Main Lodge Building is built over the river and consists of a lounge, bar and a separate dinging room

Many visitors enjoy staying a night or two on 1 of the 2 houseboats, The Ichobezi Moli and Ichobezi Mukwae. They each have a sitting and dining area, bar, plunge pool, airy double cabin, with en-suite shower and large windows at water level. Both houseboats have a crew of 5, including a chef. The food is prepared on the boat.

Ichingo Chobe River Lodge Children Policy:
Children under 12 years (sharing) pay half price

Check In Time: 10:00:00 AM
Check Out Time: 10:00:00 AM

The Lodge is owned and managed by Dawn & Ralph Oxenham and is a small personal lodge where all clients are made to feel at home and given direct attention from one of four excellent and experienced guides.

Cuisine
Our chefs will be sure to delight you with their mouthwatering cuisine. After the early morning activities of game viewing or fishing, a brunch is served in a relaxed atmosphere. A three course dinner is served in the evening amidst the night sounds of Africa, and would typically consist of either fish, beef or chicken as a main course.

Special dietary requirements can be met if requests are made at least two weeks in advance. If guests so choose, a braai (barbeque) can be arranged under the stars.

The bar is fully stocked with a variety of house and premium wines and beers as well as a large selection of spirits and liqueurs, bottled water and soft drinks. Please be sure to advise us at least two weeks before your cruise of any specific drink you would like.

Ideas of thing to do from Ichingo Chobe River Lodge:
Game viewing by boat as well as sundowner boat trips
Fishing in the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers
Bird watching
Excursions by mekoro
Guided walks
Day trips to the Victoria Falls

Activities from Ichingo Chobe River Lodge
There is also a swimming pool and deck nestled on the edge of the river, where guests can have a dip and then soak up the sun, in this amazing, distinctive environment.

A short amble along a lush, green pathway, leads to the accommodation. It is in 8 river facing, twin, en-suite Meru style tents, with wooden doors. Each unit is equipped with cupboards, tables, electric lights, and gauze netting is fitted to the tents to keep those unwanted mosquito's away at night. The balcony overlooks the river, and the deck is a great place to bird watch.

Boat trips along the banks of the river offer excellent game viewing opportunities. Ichingo Chobe River Lodge has a fleet of high quality boats, each with it's own dedicated guide. Huge herds of elephant come to the river banks to drink and graze, bringing with them an extensive array of game such as buffalo, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck, puku, lechwe, impala and baboons. On the evening sundowner trip, the boat will be surrounded by elephants, an unforgettable experience.

Many visitors enjoy staying a night or two on 1 of the 2 houseboats, The Ichobezi Moli and Ichobezi Mukwae. They each have a sitting and dining area, bar, plunge pool, airy double cabin, with en-suite shower and large windows at water level. Both houseboats have a crew of 5, including a chef. The food is prepared on the boat.

To cruise down the Chobe River in absolute luxury, sundowner in one hand, bird book in the other, is an incredible event! A popular excursion is to anchor at Elephant Bay, where their tender boats can take you on a fishing trip. As night falls, guests will be left with nothing other than the starry-lit skies, nearby elephants playing and hippos grunting!

Fishing for tigerfish and bream in both the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers is a favourite for anglers. Access to over 100kms of river, provides excellent fishing opportunities, in what is undoubtedly the premier tiger fishing waters in Africa. The Ichingo Lodge is particularly renown for the quality of its guides and their success in landing tigerfish. High quality tackle is available.

Excursions by Mokoro (dugout canoe) into the small islands of the Chobe River can be organized, as long as the water levels are high enough. The experienced polers have an extensive knowledge of the various bird species to be found on the trip.

Other activities include guided Island walks to local villages, that offer an insight into traditional African life. No visit to this part of Africa would be complete without a game drives into the Chobe National Park. Some of the best bird watching in Africa can be accomplished here.

There is no land line on the island, but cell-phone reception is possible with a Botswana Sim card.

Guests are transferred from Kasane Immigration by boat to the lodge, where secure parking is available. The Lodge has its own airstrip on the island, and a plane is available for scenic flights over the area and on to Victoria Falls.

. Tiger fishing
All the necessary equipment is provided for a day of game fishing.

. Mekoro trips
'Mekoro' is the plural of 'Mokoro' - the name for the local dug out canoes, hollowed from large trees. This is a restful way to experience the area - as your poler skillfully guides you along the waterways.

. Guided walks
Walking is undoubtedly the best way to experience nature

. Birding
The vast river system is home to numerous species and twitchers are sure to be impressed

Directions:
Ichingo Chobe Island Lodge is situated on Impalila Island in the Caprivi. Park your car at the Immigration Office in Kasane and you will be transferred to the Lodge.

Ichingo Chobe River Lodge Location
Ichingo Chobe River Lodge is situated on the eastern tip of the Caprivi where two major rivers (Chobe & Zambezi) and four countries (Namibia, Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe) meet, opposite the Botswana town of Kasane. The Lodge opened in 1993 as the first lodge on Impalila Island. The name Impalila means "the end" and is due to the island being at the very end of the flood plain.

The island is formed by two rivers meeting, with a natural channel cutting it off from the flood plain. The shape of the island is somewhat triangular and hence the name of the lodge "Ichingo" which means spearhead.

Ichingo Chobe River Lodge Attractions
This is a true tented camp offering a real Africa experience. It is essentially a water lodge, where each party of visitors is allocated a guide with boat and undertake those activities which appeal to them. On offer are game-viewing, fishing, birdwatching, guided walks, etc. (All mentioned in detail in the Activities section below).

This is an all year round Lodge with the game-viewing being best from August to November (when the rains start). The fishing is all year round with the bream fishing being best from early July through to November.

The Ichingo Chobe River Lodge is situated on Impalila Island in the very northeastern region of Namibia.
The Lodge picks its clients up by tender boats from the Kasane River Border Post Office (Immigration) in Botswana for a short trip across the river to the island. .
The airstrip coordinates are: S 17° 46’ 48” E 025° 11’ 23”Reference FBKE (Kasane 031 3,6nm)