Ichingo Chobe River Lodge 4 Star
We flew from Port Elizabeth via Johannesburg to Kasane. After the 2 nights on the Princess we went to the Ichingo Lodge for a night. To view my blog on the Chobe Princess visit https://bit.ly/2rjXd94.
We got to visit the Zambezi Queen which is 5 Star luxury. She was full so we could not stay on her. The Queen has 14 lovely cabins and can take 28 people. This takes it to the next level and is nice if there are only 2 of you.
The lodge lies on Impalila Island overlooking the Chobe River. It is secluded with 8 Meeru safari tents which sleep 2 adults in twin or double, then 1 family tent which sleeps 2 adults and up to 4 children. All the tents have en-suite bathrooms, a private balcony, air-conditioning and an electronic safe.
The staff are so friendly and welcoming, it is a wonderful experience to relax on the river side listening to the birds. I got to go fishing and caught a 2.2kg tiger fish, if I can do it anybody can. It was quite a thrill!
It is lovely to combine, 2 nights on the river on either the Chobe Princess or the Zambezi Queen and then 2 nights in the lodge. We all said we should have stayed a second night in the lodge.
Things to remember to pack: Camera, cell phone, chargers, binoculars, medication that you may need (limited medical assistance available), the evening dress is casual, comfortable shoes, slip slops, costume for the pool, passport (keep in mind to check visa requirements for both Botswana and Namibia).
Things you can do from the lodge: * Water-based game viewing from boats which allow up-close encounters * Visit a 2000-year-old baobab tree, with a breath-taking view if you choose to climb it * Tiger and bream fishing in season (tiger fishing is strictly catch and release) with experienced guides
* Bird-watching from boats
* Cultural experience at a local Namibian Village
Winter: The drier winter months from June to August see greater concentrations of game along the banks of the Chobe River. Summer: The summer months from November to May see the bird life explode with the addition of the summer migrants to the area.
The river is a malaria area so be sure to get advice on whether to take malaria medication or not. You are required to take out medical insurance.
It was a memorable experience and I can highly recommend it.
Feel free to contact me to find out more.