Welcome to Impalila Island Lodge
Impalila Island Lodge offers an unrivalled fishing experience, luxurious accommodation and personalized service in a pristine wilderness setting.
Comprised of eight luxury en-suite river facing chalets, Impalila Island Lodge is a haven of perfect comfort and relaxation after a challenging day on the river. It also offers the opportunity to take a break from fishing and enjoy a game-viewing boat cruise, bird watching and afro-botanical walks, cultural visits to the local village or simply relaxing by the pool.
Impalila is ideally positioned on an island at the confluence of four countries, and two mighty African rivers – the Chobe and the Zambezi. The main target for many fishermen who visit this area is the legendary tigerfish, as it is regarded by many as one of the finest locations for tigerfishing on the entire upper Zambezi River.
Not only does the immediate area around the lodge offer superlative fishing, but there is direct access to the Mambova Rapids (right in front of the lodge) and the Kasai Channel (5 minutes away by boat.)
Although the tigerfish is the main target for many anglers, there are many other fish species that can be found in these waters including the coveted nembwe (Olive bream), tilapia species such as the Threespot tilapia and the Sharptooth catfish, commonly known as barbel.
Impalila Island Lodge is well equipped for fishing-oriented groups. The lodge stocks both fly and spinning tackle and lures for hire and sells additional rods and tackle in its curio shop. The lodge has sufficient boats to ensure that guests can spend the maximum time out on the water with trained and experienced guides. The best time for fishing at Impalila Island Lodge is from May to November
Islands in Africa has also collaborated with renowned South African flyfisher and author Malcolm Meintjes to create the Tiger Quest. These are hosted Tiger flyfishing trips that offer accelerated learning of new techniques, tackle and flies and the benefit of Malcolm’s extensive experience as he personally hosts and mentors each group. Quests greatly enhance your chances of coming to grips with a double figure tigerfish, and provide camaraderie and adventure against the unforgettable backdrop of the Zambezi river and Impalila Island Lodge.
Welcome to Impalila Island Lodge
Apart from luxurious accommodation, fishing, culinary delights, and a belief that guests should be able to choose how they spend their leisure time, a wide variety of activities are offered. Unless otherwise specified, all activities are included in the tariffs. It is policy that all activities are professionally guided, and there is the expertise to cater for special-interest visitors. There are enough boats, vehicles and guides at the lodge that guests can structure their own activity experience.
Game viewing by boat in the Chobe National Park for Africa's big game is preferable during the mid afternoon to sunset when game comes down to the water's edge to drink. The Chobe is but a short distance away and one of the attractions is to take a late afternoon cruise into the Kasai channel and from there into the Chobe - renown for vast elephant herds, buffalo, lion, hippo, the rare Chobe bushbuck and puku. Elephant cross the Chobe onto Impalila Island often, and along with hippo, sitatunga can be seen from Impalila Island Lodge.
Birdlife is excellent with over 450 species occurring here - including some of Africa's rarest species. The area attracts many migrants and the variety of habitats offer specials such as Pels owl, Rock pratincole, African skimmers, Pygmy geese. Guides are professional and will offer bird-viewing either on foot, by boat or gently gliding mokoro (dugout canoe). Visitors with a special birding interest should mention this when making their reservation.
Impalila Island Lodge, situated at the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe rivers, provides access to 120 km of Zambezi river - inhabited only by amazing bird and fishlife and the odd traditional fishing village of the Lozi people. The Chobe river cruises reward guests with stunning big game viewing and excellent fishing and birding opportunities, and the Kasai canal which links these two major rivers provides its own unique winding ecosystem. A variety of motorized watercraft are operated with enough flexibility to enforce the ethos that guests can choose how they spend their time. Traditionally, the mokoro has been, and still is, the main means of transportation for the local people. Silently gliding mokoros provide an excellent opportunity for birdwatching and relaxing whilst accessing otherwise inaccessible waterways.
Guided walks offer a closer insight into the ecological marvels of this Cradle of Rivers. At Impalila the surrounding islands offer unrestricted walks, including a visit to a 2000 year-old baobab from whose lofty heights all four countries and the convergence of the mighty rivers can be seen. Afro-botanical walks offer insight into the traditional medicinal uses of plants and trees.
Welcome to Impalila Island Lodge
Time difference
GMT +2 hrs
Flight Time from the UK
London - Johannesburg: 11 hrs
Johannesburg - Livingstone: 1 hr 35 mins
Visa Requirements for UK Citizens
None required for Namibia or Botswana
Should guests be entering through Zimbabwe or Zambia however, visas are required, and checked with the local Embassy or Islands in Africa reservations
Species
Tigerfish, catfish and bream
Season to Travel
All year. For fly fishing, mid-May to December;
Prime time late May to July
Tackle and Kit
9ft single-handed 8-10 weight rod with a spare to be taken, reel with a good drag system, full length DI5 or DI7 sinking lines, additional reel or spool with floating line, 8-20lb leader, steel trace, polarised sunglasses, flies with weed guards.
What to pack:
Recommended Fishing Equipment:
Fly Fishing:
8/9 9 ft. fly rod with a medium- to fast action Fast sinking and intermediate flylines (later in the season). Reels to match the 8/9 weight rod with a minimum of 100 m backing. Leader material 20-30 lb recommended Maxima Ultragreen nylon Wire trace (piano wire) 15-20 lb. Flies: a selection of 'hot' Deceivers, Clouser Minnows and Crazy Charlies (size 2-4) as well as bucktail patterns such as the Kasai Tiger, Plewman's Robber in red, orange yellow, black, olive and grey.
General Information for artificial lure fishing:
Rapalas – Countdown, Super Shadrap 9 cm., Husky, Abwi Spoon, Fat Raps and Floating magnums
Spoons – Effzett
Spinner Baits (this is good for catching Nembwe – similar to Largemouth black bass in some ways)
Spinners – all floating Rapalas
Line – Siglon, Spider wire and Abulon
General
Comfortable walking-shoes
Sunhat
Sunglasses
Swimming costumes
Binoculars
Sun cream
Camera
Long pants (especially winter)
Short pants (all year round)
Long sleeved shirts (all year round - mosquitoes and cold)
A light jacket is recommended for boat and open 4x4 vehicle trips and in winter (April / May to August / September) a more substantial and warmer jacket will be needed
Dress code is casual
Heath and safety advisory
Guests are advised to take out adequate travel insurance before they travel.
Please contact your health care provider for malaria prophylaxis advice. For many areas it is advisable to take anti malaria medication all year round.
Welcome to Impalila Island Lodge
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