A minimum stay of two nights is recommended. This will allow travellers a full day to take part in activities on the island. If trips into the Chobe National Park (Botswana) or visits to Victoria Falls (Zambia or Zimbabwe) are planned, add an extra night for each activity.

There are no facilitites on the Island:
* No banking facilities
* No shops
The nearest town is Kasane (Botswana) across the Chobe River, south of Impalila Island.
Note: Travellers should ensure that they have enough cash and personal items needed before departing to the island.

Passports and visas
Impalila Island is entered through Botswana, and touches the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe. There are a number of attractions in these countries, so travellers should have passports with enough room for visas. Although visas can be obtained at the various border posts, travellers should be advised to obtain day visas and multiple entry visas in advance, as required. Find visa requirements for Zambia, here>>. Find visa requirements for Botswana, here>>

Malaria
Impalila Island falls within the malaria area. Travellers should see basic Malaria precautions and guidelines

Wildlife safety
The rivers bordering Impalila Island are inhabited by crocodiles and families of hippos. Travellers should avoid large stands of reeds and should, under no circumstances, swim anywhere but at lodge swimming pools. Follow precautions given by the lodges and guides at all times. Travellers should be adviced on wildlife saftey

Impalila Island offers a wide variety of attractions. On the island, these include:

• game viewing
  

• birdwatching
• visits to a Lozi cultural village
• guided and unguided walks on the island
• fly fishing and angling for tiger-fish

Further afield, day trips can be made to:

• Victoria Falls (Zambia or Zimbabwe side of the falls)
• Chobe National Park in Botswana

There are three distinct environments within the vicinity of Impalila Island.
* The floodplains, which turn into swamps during the rainy season, to the west of the island.
* The rivers (Chobe and Zambezi) and riverbanks surrounding the island.
* The savannah to the south of the Island in Botswana's Chobe National Park.

The three different environments give vistors the opportunity to observe wild and birdlife of the three different environments, in close proximity to one another.

Wildlife in the Swamps
Wildlife found in the swamps include elephant moving across the swamps, the rare puku and lechwe, and hippos and crocodiles that live in the swamps.

Wildlife in and beside the river
Crocodiles and hippos can be found in this environment.

Savannah woodlands
The most notable species of the Chobe National Park are the elephant and buffalo.

Impalila provides good birdwatching throughout the year, however migrant species are present from November to April.

The following species are reported:

Chobe River

• African Fish-Eagle
• African Pygmy-Goose
• African Skimmer
• Lesser Jacana
• Lesser Moorhen
• Long-toed Lapwing
• Osprey
• Red-headed Quelea
• Rock Pratincole
• Rufous-bellied Heron
• Slaty Egret
• Southern Carmine Bee-eater
• White-crowned Lapwing

The floodplain and swamps

• African Mourning Dove
• Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
• Chirping Cisticola
• Coppery-tailed Coucal
• Hartlaub's Babbler
• Pennant-winged Nightjar hawk
• Rosy-throated Longclaw
• Southern Brown-throated Weaver
• Swamp Boubou
• Swamp Nightjar
• Swamp Warbler
• Tropical Boubou
• White-browed Coucal

Zambezi shore forest

• African Finfoot
• Half-collared Kingfisher
• Little Bittern
• Pel's Fishing-Owl
• Western Banded Snake-Eagle
• White-backed Night-Heron

Mopani and acacia woodland

• Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah
• Green-backed Honeybird
• Meyer's Parrot
• Orange-winged Pytilia
• Thrush Nightingale

The area is best known for tiger-fish, an extremely aggressive predator and a challenge to all anglers. Catches of 1 - 5 lb are common, but catches of up to 16 lb have been recorded. Two bream species are caught regularly: the Nembwe (the olive bream) and the Threespot tilapia. The sharptooth catfish, also known as the 'barbel' is regularly caught.

The following gear is recommended by Impalila Island Lodge:

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 metres 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.

Artificial lures

• 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

The Victoria Falls can be seen and visited from both Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Victoria Falls and the parks that surround it are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The distinguishing feature of the falls is that it carries the largest volume of flowing water in the world, although it is neither the largest nor the widest falls in the world.

The falls is a system of seven gorges: the First to Fifth Gorges, the Songwe Gorge and the Batoka Gorge. Batoka Gorge, the seventh gorge, also refers to the entire system of seven gorges, which can be confusing. Aside form viewing the falls, there are opportunities for Bungee jumping of Victoria Bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The jump is 111 m high.

There is a natural pool that can be accessed from Livingstone Island, known as the 'Devil's Swimming Pool'. When water levels are low, people can swim in it with a lower risk of being swept over the falls.

The area surrounding the falls consists of mopane woodland.  There are two national parks surrounding the falls. Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park lies on the Zambian side. Victoria Falls National Park lies on the Zimbabwean side.

Wildlife that can be seen in the parks surrounding the falls includes elephant, cape buffalo, white rhino, hippo, eland, giraffe, zebra, warthog, sable antelopes, impala, vervet monkeys and baboons.

Victoria Falls are also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, the 'smoke that thunders'.

Chobe National Park, in north-western Botswana, has one of the largest elephant concentrations on the African continent, and an extremely high game concentration in general.

There are four distinct ecosystems:

The Chobe River area (Serondela area)
This area consists of vegetated plains and teak forests. This area attracts elephants and buffaloes in dry season, when they come to drink. The famous bee-eater is also spotted here, along the river. This is probably the most visited section of the park. The town of Kasane, situated at the river, is the most important town of the region and serves as the northern entrance to the park.

The Savuti Marsh area
In the western part of the park the Savuti Floodplain becomes a marsh when rains flow into the Savuti Channel. This area is inhabited by warthogs, kudus, impalas, zebras, wildebeests and elephants. It is also well-known for its migration of zebras. Predators in this part of the park consist of lions and hyenas with rare sightings of cheetahs.

The Linyanti Marsh area
This area is found in the northern and north-western part of the park. It is bordered by the Linyanti and Kwando Rivers and lies adjacent to Namibia's Mamili National Park. Species found here include lions, leopards, wild dogs, roan antelopes, sable antelopes, hippos, red lechwe, sitatunga, crocodiles and huge herds of elephants.

The Nongatsaa grass woodland
The woodland lies between the Savuti and Linyanti Marsyh areas, and contains large concentrations of eland.

Impalila Island is a conservancy which benefits the inhabitants of Impalila Island. The conservancy is run in consultancy with lodges on the island, and a portion of accommodation rates is used to develop and maintain facilities for the Impalila community. These include a community clinic, and a primary and secondary school.

The cultural village showcases traditional Lozi culture. In addition to providing a source of revenue, it also serves to preserve traditional culture.

The income earned by tourism has reduced the islanders' dependency on hunting and created a deeper appreciation for nature, and so the area now has populations of hippos and crocodiles.

Impalila Island is in Namibia and is accessible by boat. Guests are collected from Kasane Immigration in Botswana

* Guests are collected by boat from Kasane Immigration in Botswana. 
* Kasane can be reached with a small 2x4 vehicle

For information on Botswana visa requirements, click here>>

Although Impalila Island is in Namibia, access to the island is from Kasane in Botswana. Guests are transfered by boat from Kasane.

Note: Guests travelling from Namibia to Impalila Island have to enter Botswana and drive to Kasane.

* Mudumu National Park
* Mamili National Park
* Katima Mulilo
* Bwabwata National Park
* Chobe National Park
* Victoria Falls (Zambia and Zimbabwe)

Impalila Island is in Namibia and is accessible by boat. Guests are collected from Kasane Immigration in Botswana

Katima Mulilo
Katima Mulilo to Kasane in Botswana approx. 122 km
* From Katima Mulilo follow the B8 to Ngoma border crossing (approx. 66 km)
* Once you have completed the Namibian and Botswana border crossing formalities drive on the tar road to Kasane (approx. 56 Km)
The entire route is on tar road

Mudumu National Park
Mudumu National Park to Kasane in Botswana approx. 237 km
* Follow the C49 north to Kongola (approx. 25 km)
* Turn right into the B8 and follow it to Katima Mulilo (approx. 90 km)
* From Katima Mulilo follow the B8 to Ngoma border crossing (approx. 66 km)
* Once you have completed the Namibian and Botswana border crossing formalities drive on the tar road to Kasane (approx. 56 Km)
The C49 is gravel road. The rest of the route is tar roads

Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Victoria Falls in Zimabwe to Kasane in Botswana approx. 75 km
* From Victoria Falls drive through the Zambezi National Park to the Kazangula Border crossing (approx. 60 km)
* From Kazangula drive to Kasane Immigration (approx. 15 km)
The entire route is on tar road

Impalila Island Airstrip (FYII)
* South 17° 46’ 50”
* East 25° 11’ 35”
* Elevation: 3,058 feet
* Length: 1,300 meter
* Width: 15 meter
* Direction: 10/28
* Impalila traffic: 124.8
* Kasane approach: 127.2

Note: Please obtain clearance from DCA
Tel: +264 - (0)61 - 702 217
Fax: +264 - (0)61 - 702 066

Impalila Island Lodge
High level of luxury with 8 wood and thatch chalets. Offers game viewing by boat, sundowner boat cruises, guided island walks and fishing.

Ntwala Island Lodge
Situated on a group of tiny islands near Impalila Island, Ntwala offers 4 private and luxurious suits. Offers game viewing by boat, sundowner boat cruises, guided island walks and fishing.

Impalila Island, the farthest eastern point of Namibia, provides travellers with exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities, great bird watching, fly fishing and angling for tiger-fish, and access to Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park.

Impalila Island between the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers, at the farthest eastern point of Namibia, where it meets Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe provides travellers with an exceptional experience of 'wild Africa'.

Wildlife viewing opportunities on the island include elephants, rhino and crocodile. Birdwatching is exceptional, with a variety of biomes that attract a large number of species. In addition, there is also the opportunity for fly fishing or angling for tiger-fish. There is a cultural village on the island which gives travellers the chance to explore and interact with the traditional SiLozi culture.

Further afield there is the possibility of day trips or transfers to Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park.

Impalila Island falls in the subtropical climate zone. Its weather is hot and humid, particularly in the rainy season from October to March.

The top of the Namibian coat of arms bears a large bird, the African fish-eagle. It is placed there to resemble far-sightedness. Often seen perched in tall trees overlooking the water, the African fish-eagle has excellent vision, and is able to spot and track the movements of a small fish beneath the rippling waters below.

The African fish-eagle is know as Haliaeetus vocifer, distinct from the true fish-eagles, Ichthyophaga. Its closest relative is believed to be the Madagascar Fish-eagle, a critically endangered creature.

African fish-eagles are found across most of Africa, below the Sahara. Their habitat is lakes, rivers and reservoirs. Sometimes they are found at the mouths of rivers or at lagoons along the coast.

The African fish-eagle is one of the larger members of the eagle family. Its body is brown. Its wings are black. Its head, breast and tail are white. Combined, this gives it the appearance of a white eagle wearing a dark jacket. Its hook-shaped beak is yellow with a black tip.

Its feet are adapted to catching fish, with long claws that have spiked undersides to hold the fish while in flight.

The birds are usually found in pairs, and are believed to mate for life. If the area has a rich source of fish, the pair will need an area of 2,5 square km. If the river is smaller, the pair will need a stretch of river about 25 km to survive.

They announce their presence with a very distinctive call, which is so well known that is sometimes described as the ‘voice of Africa’. The call sounds like a loud yelping which transliterated sounds like ‘WHOW-kayow-kwow’. When near the nest, its call sounds like ‘kwok’. The female’s call is shriller and rougher than the call of the male.

African fish-eagles spend most of their time perched in trees. Although they have been seen catching fish at all times of the day, they do most of their fishing in the morning and settle down on their perches by mid morning.

When the fish-eagle sees a fish it takes of from its perch, glides down and approaches the fish with its claws forward. It snatches the fish and its claws then  move backward as it extends its neck forward and begins to flap its wings again. Sometimes it hovers over the water and drops vertically onto its prey.

The fish-eagle flies to the tree with its prey, where it may share it with its mate. If the fish is too heavy, the bird will drag it across the surface of the water. If the fish is far too heavy, the fish-eagle drops into the water, still holding the fish, and paddles to the bank with its wings.

Although live fish make up 90 percent of its diet, African fish-eagles have also been known to prey on baby crocodiles, turtles, waterfowl, small monkeys, and rock hyraxes, also known as ‘dassies’. They sometimes steal prey from other birds and may also feed on carrion.

During the dry season, when the birds breed, male and female African fish-eagles call to one another more and more. When flying together in the breeding season, they sometimes link claws. 

They build nests in trees, high above the ground in the forks of trees near water. These are made sticks and wood and may be 2 m wide and 1,2 m deep. The walls of the nest are as much as 30 cm thick. The insides of the nests are lined with reeds, grass and green leaves. The nests are reused every year and, sometimes, the pair may have two or more nests. If no suitable tree is available, African fish-eagles may build their nests on cliff ledges or in bushes on steep slopes.

The female lays between one and three white eggs which have red speckles. She incubates the eggs for between 42 and 45 days. Sometimes the male will incubate the eggs while the female hunts.

The chicks hatch at intervals of two to three days. The oldest chick normally kills the new hatchlings, so it is normal for a pair to have only one chick. The chick is capable of feeding itself at the age of eight weeks. It makes its first flight between 70 and 75 days after hatching, but is dependent on its parents for up to 60 days after it makes its first flight.

Unlike many species, female African fish-eagles are larger than males. They have a wingspan of up to 2,4 m and weigh up to 3,6 kg. Males have a wingspan of up to 2 m and weigh up to 2,5 kg. If they survive their first year, they live for between 12 and 15 years.

The African-fish eagle is not endangered, but is threatened by humans. Although they thrive when humans build dams and reservoirs, they can be killed by chemical pollution which kills the fish upon which they feed.