Ila Safari Lodge

Highlights

• Ila Safari Lodge pairs ten eco-luxury tents with solar power and low-impact design on the Kafue River
• Modern international cuisine with local Zambian dishes, much of it farm-to-table
• Set in Kafue National Park, Zambia's largest and oldest national park
• Game drives, night drives, walking safaris and solar-powered eBoat cruises
• Family tents, with children aged six and over welcome on most activities
• Rim-flow infinity pool overlooking the Kafue River
• Guided visits to the Chunga community

Information

• Lodge type: Luxury Safari Lodge
• Location: Kafue River, Kafue National Park, Zambia
• Lodge size: 10 Tented Safari Suites
• Recommended stay: 3-7 nights
• Malaria risk: Yes — Kafue National Park is a malaria area; take antimalarial prophylaxis on medical advice
• Getting there: 3–4 hours by road transfer from Lusaka, or approximately 1 hour by light-aircraft charter from Lusaka to Chunga airstrip, followed by a road transfer to the lodge. Flights from Livingstone take approximately 1 hour 20 minutes

Discover The Pulse Of The Wild: Luxury Meets Sustainability At Ila Safari Lodge

Ila Safari Lodge is a ten-tent eco-luxury camp on the banks of the Kafue River in Kafue National Park. At roughly 22,400 km², Kafue is one of Africa's largest national parks and Zambia's oldest. Green Safaris built Ila to run lightly on the land, with solar power, an electric eBoat and farm-to-table cooking. None of that costs guests a shred of comfort.

Ila Safari Lodge is for travellers who want real wilderness without roughing it. You wake in a canvas suite with the Kafue River sliding past your deck. Puku graze the floodplain, and hippos grunt from the shallows long before the coffee arrives. Days run to the rhythm of the bush: early game drives, long riverside lunches, a swim in the infinity pool and a sunset on the water. It is one of the most complete, and most thoughtful, safari experiences in western Zambia.

Rooms And Suites

Ila Safari Lodge has ten tented suites, all facing the Kafue River. Each has indoor and outdoor showers. King beds can be split into twins, and the open-plan en-suite bathrooms have separately enclosed toilets for privacy. Double vanities are crafted from local hardwoods with brass and copper fittings, a lovely touch of craftsmanship deep in the bush.

Six of the Ila Safari Lodge suites have outdoor baths, placed so you can soak with nothing between you and the river. The remaining four have indoor baths, and two of these are family tents sleeping four.

Cuisine And Wine

Ila Safari Lodge serves four meals a day: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Menus mix modern international dishes with local Zambian flavours, and much of the produce is grown through community farming near Chunga. Dining is al fresco on the riverbank, and set menus cater for most dietary requirements when advised in advance.

A light snack sends you off before the dawn game drive, and drinks and snacks travel with you on every activity. The bar has fireside seating and a riverside deck for sundowners and swapping sightings. The highlight is lunch or a sunset cruise aboard the solar-powered eBoat, gliding silently along the Kafue River with not an engine in earshot.

Facilities

Ila Safari Lodge centres on an open-air main area with dining, lounges, a bar and a rim-flow infinity pool overlooking the Kafue River. It is the social heart of the lodge and a superb spot for an afternoon with binoculars and a cold drink.

• Rim-flow infinity pool with river views
• Wi-Fi in the main area
• 220V outlets and built-in multi-plugs in the main area
• Laundry service, air-dried, with a minimum 24-hour turnaround
• Riverside bar with fireside seating

Activities

Ila Safari Lodge offers morning and afternoon game drives, night drives, walking safaris and solar-powered eBoat cruises in Kafue National Park. The Kafue River and its woodland edges give you wildlife at every bend, and the park is famously quiet, with few vehicles to share a sighting.

• Game drives: at dawn and late afternoon, with the afternoon drive returning about 1.5 hours after dusk to look for nocturnal species
• eBoat cruises: silent, solar-powered river trips, superb for sunsets and close views of hippo, crocodile and birdlife
• Walking safaris: May to November, maximum six guests, minimum age 12
• Chunga community visit: combined with a game drive and arranged through your guide, a rewarding addition to any Zambian safari adventure

Child Friendly

Ila Safari Lodge welcomes children aged six and over on most activities, and its two family tents are among the best-designed family rooms in Kafue. Each family tent sleeps four, with a king bed and two single beds separated by a curtain. The bathroom has an indoor bath and shower, with the toilet in the same space.

Children under six can join game drives only on a private vehicle, which Ila Safari Lodge arranges on request but cannot guarantee. Tell us your children's ages when you enquire and we'll request it at the time of booking. Walking safaris are for ages 12 and over.

In Conclusion

Ila Safari Lodge is one of the finest places to stay in Kafue National Park. It offers ten river-facing tents, a broad mix of activities by vehicle, foot and solar boat, and a genuine commitment to running lightly on the land. It suits couples, families with children six and over, and anyone who wants Zambia's oldest national park without the crowds.

Mornings start with the river, afternoons end on it, and evenings close around the fire with the night sounds of Kafue. Ila Safari Lodge delivers luxury with a conscience, and it does both beautifully.

Ila Safari Lodge FAQs

Where is Ila Safari Lodge?

Ila Safari Lodge is on the banks of the Kafue River inside Kafue National Park, in western Zambia. Kafue covers roughly 22,400 km², making it Zambia's largest national park, one of the largest in Africa and the country's oldest. The nearest airstrip is Chunga. The lodge is run by Green Safaris and has ten eco-luxury tented suites.

How do you get to Ila Safari Lodge?

Ila Safari Lodge is reached by road or air. The road transfer from Lusaka takes three to four hours. By air, a light-aircraft charter flies from Lusaka to Chunga airstrip in about one hour, or from Livingstone in about 1 hour 20 minutes, followed by a short road transfer to the lodge. Uyaphi arranges all flights and transfers as part of your safari.

Is there malaria at Ila Safari Lodge?

Yes. Ila Safari Lodge is in Kafue National Park, which is a malaria area. Guests should take antimalarial prophylaxis on advice from a doctor or travel clinic. Use insect repellent and wear long sleeves in the evenings. The risk is highest during and just after the rainy season, but precautions apply all year round.

Is Ila Safari Lodge suitable for children?

Yes. Ila Safari Lodge welcomes children aged six and over on most activities and has two family tents. Each family tent sleeps four, in a king bed plus two single beds, with an indoor bath and shower. Children under six can go on activities only with a private vehicle, which must be requested and cannot be guaranteed. Walking safaris have a minimum age of 12.

What activities are offered at Ila Safari Lodge?

Ila Safari Lodge offers morning and afternoon game drives, with the afternoon drive continuing about 1.5 hours after dusk to look for nocturnal species. Other activities are:

• Walking safaris, run from May to November for up to six guests aged 12 and over
• Silent, solar-powered eBoat cruises on the Kafue River
• Community visits to Chunga

How many nights should I spend at Ila Safari Lodge?

Three to seven nights at Ila Safari Lodge is recommended. Three nights covers game drives, an eBoat cruise and a walking safari. Five to seven nights lets you explore more of Kafue National Park at an unhurried pace. Ila also combines well with other Kafue camps, Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa or Victoria Falls on a longer Zambia safari.

Plan Your Ila Safari Lodge Safari With Uyaphi

Ila Safari Lodge is the stay to choose if you want Kafue National Park in comfort, with a clear conscience. Its ten river-facing tents are powered by the sun, and the eBoat lets you glide past hippos without a whisper of engine noise. Walking, driving and boating fill your days, and families are genuinely welcome.

When to go: May to November, when walking safaris run and the dry season draws wildlife to the Kafue River.

How we make it happen:

• We tailor-make your Ila Safari Lodge stay, typically three to seven nights.
• We arrange your road transfer or light-aircraft charter from Lusaka.
• We pair Ila with the rest of Zambia, whether that's Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa or Victoria Falls.

Uyaphi.com has been planning African safaris from Cape Town since 1999. That's 27 years of matching travellers to the right lodge, season and route, with no booking fees and no credit card surcharges. Tell us when you'd like to travel and who's coming, and we'll build your Ila Safari Lodge safari around you.