Ichingo Chobe River Lodge by Mantis

An unbelievable place to stay, the best guides for all forms of fishing and wildlife spotting with unparalleled service in the lodge. Delicious food, luxury safari tents and a wonderful atmosphere! You will not find a better place to stay on the Chobe river.

What a wonderful hidden oasis this is, on the Chobe River bank (literally). The accommodations are very inviting, well kept and comfortable, and the staff and the food are five star. The wildlife viewing and fishing is top class, go for it and know every comfort is provided for you and you will feel very safe and secure. Did I mention the staff? They are absolutely five star. Better service than the Ritz Carlton hotel in New York!

Wir hatten einen traumhaften Aufenthalt. Wir waren für 2 Nächte in der River Lodge. Sie ist wunderschön gelegen am Fluss, absolut abgelegen und ruhig. Die Zelt-Bungalows sind schön und ebenso das Haupthaus. Das tollste ist dass man nur mit dem Boot hinkommt und sich auf einer Insel befindet, was sich anders anfühlt als ein Platz wo man mit dem Auto hinfährt. Die Pirschfahrten per Boot, der Besuch des Dorfes und die Angelfahrten haben alle viel Spaß gemacht. Das Essen ist sehr gut und das Personal war ausnahmslos extrem freundlich und bemüht dem Gast alle Wünsche zu erfüllen.

My family and I spent three adventorous days at Ichingo Chobe River Lodge and made memories that will last a lifetime! We were touched by how kind the staff were to our children, aged 7 and 12. Nothing was too much trouble for Cassius, our host and Robert, our personal guide. The food was abundant and delicious, the tents were well-equipped and there were lots of activities to choose from. My youngest son caught two tiger fish, thanks to Robert who expertly guided us to the best fishing spots. My eldest child enjoyed visiting the local village, learning about the islanders culture and visiting an ancient Boabab tree. They especially loved watching a Hammerkop bird make it’s nest from the deck of our tent. My wife and I enjoyed spending time with our children, whilst being surrounded by breathtaking scenery on the Chobe river. We combined our stay with a few nights on a Chobe Princess houseboat. It is a holiday we will never forget and can highly recommend for families.

Located on Impalila Island, it is a short boat ride from Immigration. Away from busy Chobe channel, it feels intimate and secluded. Main lodge houses lounge area overlooking the river as well as bar and dining area. Very bright and welcoming. WiFi is available in this area. Accommodation is in simple tents with attached bathrooms. Also has a front deck. Most of our time was spent fishing or in the main lodge. Meals were fantastic. Chefs Edgar and Elliot produced meal after amazing meal. Gluten free options were delicious! We had a great stay at this lodge, even though it was off-season fishing, we caught large tiger fish and nembwe. Felix, our guide, was lovely and knew all the good fishing spots. Game viewing from the water was first rate. Great staff. Will definitely return.

Seamless transfers from Vic Falls. Great river safari with Obert upon arrival. Attentive hospitality from the entire team. A special shout-out to Kennedy who excels at his job and spent time telling us stories from his youth. Thank you for a wonderful experience!

Kennedy runs a slick and professional experience. Out of the ordinary with tented rooms, Ichingo is an experience you should not miss. The rooms are comfortable, clean, and well maintained. The chefs serve food that would not be out of place in a top London restaurant. Game viewing is by boat, and the banks of the Chobe River are teeming with game. We went fishing for Tiger fish each morning and caught every time. The guides are knowledgeable and skilled. Would definitely return

The lodge was good, but we had booked to leave Durban on a Monday. Just before 6 AM, shortly before we had to leave for the airport my wife received an email (not even a phone call) to say the flight was cancelled. We could easily have missed the email, & gone to the airport, & flown to Johannesburg to find our flight to Kasane was cancelled, & then found ourselves stuck in Johannesburg with nowhere to stay. We were advised by the consultant with whom we booked, Lynne van Wyk that we could travel the next day, & we would be refunded for the day that we had missed. What she did not tell us is that something like 4 of the preceding 5 Monday flights had been cancelled. If she had told us this, we would have left on a different day of the week. We have now been back over 6 weeks & still no refund. My wife & I, as well as the friends with whom we travelled have all contacted Lynne van Wyk who told us the refunds had been deposited into our accounts, but when we checked, there had been no refund. As much as the trip was good, it was not cheap, & it has been spoiled by this experience.

From the boat ride with Patrick to the lodge, to Kennedy’s greeting us with his huge smile and laughter at the dock, we had an amazing time! The river safaris were off the charts, the food was great (they also accommodated my gluten free diet easily and without a blink. I even caught a tiger fish!