Crafted by Her Hands
More than a Scenic Namibian Safari Escape
Ichingo Chobe River Lodge offers more than a scenic Namibian safari escape. It’s a destination where local women’s skills and creativity shape every layer of the guest experience. From the aroma of traditional dishes to the rhythm of village songs and the artistry of handwoven crafts, women bring their talents to life across Impalila Island and the lodge.
Cooking with Culture
At Ichingo, the heart of the kitchen is a local legend: Matilda Matengu, the lodge’s head chef and culinary storyteller.
Matilda joined the Ichingo team over two decades ago as a young woman straight out of school. With no formal chef training, she learned on the job and quickly proved a natural talent, rising through the ranks to become Senior Chef and the creative force behind Ichingo’s menu. Born and raised on Impalila Island, she grew up with the flavours of the region and a love for cooking.
What makes Matilda’s approach special is her commitment to freshness and tradition. Just steps from the kitchen, she tends to a lush vegetable garden she planted herself, brimming with home-grown produce. (She even “monkey-proofed” it to protect those precious tomatoes and greens from cheeky wildlife!) Every day, this garden yields organic ingredients, from pumpkins to wild herbs, that go straight into the pot.
Matilda firmly believes that the best meals start with fresh, local ingredients, a philosophy evident in the taste of her cooking. Her real artistry, however, shines in baking: she has won local awards for her exquisite cakes and desserts, delighting guests with treats that blend African flavours with her own creative twist. Matilda’s culinary creations are seasoned with skill, heritage, and a genuine love of sharing her culture.
Read: The Story of Matilda
Guided by Her Voice
A visit to Ichingo isn’t complete without stepping into the villages of Impalila Island – and it’s often the local women who guide the way. Many of Ichingo’s cultural tours are led or co-hosted by community members who grew up on the island – quite possibly a woman eager to share her homeland. She’ll lead you down sandy paths to meet families, explain daily life, and translate conversations. Don’t be surprised if, along the way, she stops at her own homestead; you might find yourself meeting her mother or children and seeing where her family lives, a personal touch that makes you feel like an honoured guest rather than a tourist. These women-guided experiences are wonderfully immersive.
During the tour, guests are treated to songs and dances performed by the villagers. Often it is the women, from young girls to elder matriarchs, who lead the traditional songs, their voices harmonising in the Subiya language to the rhythm of clapping hands. The ladies move with grace and infectious enthusiasm, often encouraging onlookers to join in for a few steps.
Many of the village women are also skilled in using local plants to create traditional medicines, a creative expression of ancestral knowledge passed down through generations. During your tour, you’ll likely see some of these plants growing along the way, as your guide points them out and explains their uses, from healing herbs to soothing remedies.
In quieter moments, you might sit under the ancient baobab tree listening to a grandmother recount a folk tale from her youth, her words preserving the wisdom and humour of generations past. These storytelling sessions are not scripted shows, but genuine exchanges, a chance for local women to share their history and for visitors to ask questions, laugh, and learn.
Beads, Baskets & Belongings
Another highlight of the cultural village tour is the opportunity to meet the women artisans of Impalila Island. Here, basket weaving and beadwork are more than just crafts; they are a way for women to preserve their heritage and provide for their families.
It’s a common afternoon scene to find a circle of women (often with young daughters at their side) sitting in the shade, patiently weaving strands of dried palm or stringing colourful beads. These gatherings are as social as they are productive – a time to share stories, pass down techniques, and laugh together while nimble fingers create works of art.
Each handwoven basket or beaded necklace carries a piece of the maker’s identity. Traditional patterns might symbolise water waves or ancestral cattle, and the very act of weaving connects generations, as grandmothers teach granddaughters the skills that their own mothers taught them. In this way, the crafts become a thread of belonging, tying past to present.
Crafting is also a key source of income, especially for women, with a great variety of baskets, jewellery, wooden bowls and carvings sold to visitors who venture to the island. During the cultural tour, guests can browse a small craft stall set up by the local craftswomen.
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As a result, what begins as a humble hobby under a baobab tree has blossomed into women’s entrepreneurship. The pride these women take in their beadwork and baskets is palpable, knowing that their heritage is travelling home in the suitcases of appreciative guests, and that their creativity is helping put food on the table.
The Power of Women at Ichingo
Ready to experience the creativity, culture and connection shaped by the women of Impalila Island? Book your stay at Ichingo and discover how their stories, talents and traditions transform every moment into something truly unforgettable.