The Ichobezi Safariboats

Complete indulgence and ultimate luxury are experienced when you board one of the beautiful Ichobezi Safariboats and cruise the waterways of the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers. Both the Ichobezi Moli and her sister the Ichobezi Mukwae have made this unique area their own and guests on board are privy to a very special travelling experience that promises an ever changing view of the African landscape as it unfolds around you.

At 18 metres long, the Ichobezi Safariboats offer space, comfort and first-class service. Our professional crew are always on hand to expertly navigate the river, share their specialist knowledge, prepare exceptional meals and to ensure that your every daydream is indulged.

Each Safariboat has four beautifully appointed cabins, each with en-suite bathrooms and a large picture window that will make you feel as though you are a part of your surroundings. A large entertainment deck with lounge, bar, dining area and sun deck with plunge pool all lend themselves to complete relaxation and provide the opportunity to view this unique wetland destination in a completely new and exhilerating way.

Several smaller `tender` boats accompany each of the Ichobezi Safariboats, allowing you to tailor make your holiday with us.  So whether you want to navigate the channels and rivers with a pari of binoculars; spend a few hours trying to catch the elusive Tiger fish; or go to one of the floodplain villages to meet and interact with some of the local people, the choice is yours.

Game Viewing
Both the Ichobezi Luxury Safariboats and the Ichingo Chobe River Lodge provide an ideal platform to view the abundant wildlife of the Chobe National Park. Being on the river allows you to get closer to the large variety of game including elephant, buffalo, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck and the shy Chobe bushbuck. Large troops of baboons are also on hand to provide plenty of entertainment with their riverside antics. Within the river itself, there are numerous hippos and crocodiles to add to the unending display of profuse wildlife that this region offers.

In the dry season (May to September), incredible herds of elephant can be viewed – in fact the largest concentration in Africa. These mighty symbols of Africa provide spectacular moments and excellent photo opportunities as they swim in the evenings across the Chobe River between Botswana and Zambia.

Bird Watching
For many first time visitors to this region, the prolific birdlife can be overwhelming. With over 400 wetland and woodland species recorded in the area, it can honestly be described as a birders paradise. Both the Ichobezi Moli and Ichobezi Ichingo River Lodge offer complementary experiences for seasoned birders as they allow you to move from one habitat to another with experienced Guides who are able to assist you in finding and identifying the various species. Between March and September, the summer migrants can be seen in large numbers proving that this region is truly one of the hot spots of Africa.

Fishing
World famous for their Tigerfish and Bream, the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers will delight and challenge both the angling enthusiast and the novice. With over 100 kilometres of rivers and waterways available to guests, we offer you the best possible chance of experiencing the thrill of landing a legendary Tigerfish or the satisfaction of catching any one of the many other species found within the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers.Our lodges are also particularly renowned for the quality of its guides and their success in finding those elusive spots that will yield the best catches.

The Impalila area is unique in that it offers year round Tiger fishing. This is due to the giant flood plains upstream which hold the annual Zambezi floodwaters, keeping it warm and nutritious and allowing incredible fish breeding habitat. During the winter months, floodwaters recede, leading to ideal Tiger feeding conditions when the rest of the river systems are too cold for Tigerfish activity.

Please remember that we enforce a strict catch and release policy in line with the conservationist ideals of the area.

For those looking for an even greater challenge, the unique rapids within the river systems offer unrivalled experiences for those wanting to enjoy the skillful art of fly-fishing. Knowledgeable guides, excellent boats and high-quality equipment all combine to make any stay with the Ichobezi River Lodges an anglers idea of Utopia.

Guided Walks
This special part of the Caprivi Strip gives rise to vast flood plains that make it an ideal area for guests to take guided walks on the fringes of the wetlands. The plains allow you to bear witness to spectacular birdlife and to get a feel for the African environment from a different perspective.

Impalila Island itself boasts an interesting history that your guide will be happy to share with you whilst introducing you to the various local villages. These walking safaris will give you an insight into the life of local inhabitants, introduce you to the stark beauty of the area and amaze you with the enormity of the Baobab trees. You can even climb the largest Baobab tree in the Caprivi from where you can see all four countries – a truly one-of-a-kind event.

Sunset cruises
Ask the crew to pack a cooler for you before departing by tenderboat to experience the splendour of an African sunset.

Chobe National Park
For those visitors wanting to take a morning or late afternoon drive through the Serondela section of the Chobe National Park, we would be happy to assist in booking you experienced game guides who would collect you and return you to the Kasane river border post. The Chobe National Park, which is the second largest national park in Botswana and covers 10,566 square kilometres, has one of the greatest concentrations of game found on the African continent.

The Serondela area is situated in the extreme North East of the Chobe National Park and its vegetation consists mostly of lush plains and dense forests which follow the natural curves of the Chobe River.

Entrance to the Park is through the Sedudu Gate – 4kms from Kasane and requires a daily park entrance fee which would be included in your day-trip excursion price.

2012 RATES
South African Rand (ZAR)

RATES INCLUDE
Accommodation
Full board
All house wines and beers
All soft drinks and water
All activities (including game viewing by boat, fishing, birding & guided walks).
All equipment hire (including fishing rods, lures, boats etc)
Dedicated guides and tender boats for each group
All water based transfers between Kasane river border post (immigration) and any of the Ichobezi River Lodges, return
All fuel
All park fees, fishing licenses and tourism levies

RATES EXCLUDE
Premium brand drinks
Visas
Voluntary Community Development Levy (R40 per person, per stay)
Gratuities