A Wildlife Wonderland

The African wild is waiting for you at Ichingo Chobe River Lodge by Mantis and guests visiting this beautiful region will be treated to a unique game-viewing experience.

Animals and humans live side-by-side along the Chobe River and the wildness is immediately apparent when you step onto a tender boat that delivers you to our lodge on Impalila Island.

Birdwatchers’ Paradise

The Chobe River is a birder’s paradise with more than 450 bird species to identify and the sheer volume of birdlife means that you can and will likely spend hours birding on the river. Water is life and the abundance of birdlife found on the Chobe River is both staggering and remarkable.

For avid birders, there are plenty species worth keeping an eye out for offering you the opportunity to check off a few on your lifer list, including the illusive Pel’s Fishing Owl, Southern Carmine bee-eater, African skimmer, African finfoot, rock pratincoles, cattle egrets, open-billed storks, pied kingfishers and much more. Birding season typically starts in September when the first migrating birds arrive, dramatically increasing the bird population in the region.

As part of our all-inclusive experience, guests have access to their own knowledgeable guide and boat, enabling you to choose how you want to spend your day.

What lurks beneath?

On a hot summer day, you might be tempted to cool off in the seemingly inviting Chobe River, but your river guide will advise you against such a foolish act. That’s because the Chobe River is teeming with opportunistic crocodiles!

Whether you are fishing or birdwatching, crocodiles are never far away, and you can spot them basking in the sun along the banks of the Chobe River or in the Kasai channel. Crocodiles, however, share these waters with one of Africa’s largest and notoriously dangerous animals, the Hippopotamus. Hippos are mostly nocturnal and will leave the river to feed on the grassy plains under the cover of night and they spend most of the day relaxing in the cool river.

Big 5 Game Viewing on the Chobe River

The Chobe River forms the border between Namibia and Botswana and if you want you want the ultimate safari experience, a river safari alongside the nearby Chobe National Park is a must-do activity.

Game viewing from the water by boat not only provides a unique perspective of the wildlife and the landscape but you’re also able to get much closer to the animals which is hugely beneficial if you want to get that perfect wildlife photograph. If luck is on your side, you might see the Big 5 on the banks of the Chobe River!

Our lodge offers a larger photographic boat that’s fully equipped with camera mounts and swivel chairs, to satisfy the needs of budding and professional  bird and wildlife photographers. The boat trip to the Chobe National Park is approximately 30-40 minutes from Ichingo.

Botswana is home to one of the largest elephant populations in the world with an estimated 130 000 individuals roaming the country. Elephants are in abundance, but, if you are lucky, you might just see them swimming across the river. The river is a reliable source of water for many of the animals in the park, enticing them to come down and have a drink. Game viewing is typically at its best when the sun is just over midday and starting to cool down. You’re likely to see lion, African buffalo, and possibly leopard or (if you’re very lucky) wild dog or hyena, as well as a variety of antelope, giraffe, zebra, baboons and warthog.

For the ultimate game viewing experience on the Chobe River, consider adding on a stay aboard the Zambezi Queen, our floating boutique hotel, or the deluxe Chobe Princess houseboats, each ready to cater to your every need. Enhance your Chobe adventure by extending your stay with a two-night sailing on these exquisite houseboats and enjoy a discounted trip rate.

Book your dream wildlife safari on the Chobe River today!