Impalila, River island at the eastern tip of Namibia
Impalila is a river island at the eastern edge of Namibia, situated between the Zambezi to the north and the Chobe to the south. The island contains waterways, marshes, and drier interior areas with fishing villages scattered along its shores.
In the 1800s, explorer David Livingstone used the island as a base during his journey from Angola toward Mozambique. His travels were part of broader efforts to map and understand this remote region of Africa.
The Basubiya people shape daily life through traditional governance where community elders and the Induna meet regularly to address local issues together. This way of making decisions is woven into how the island community functions and organizes itself.
Most visitors reach the island by boat from Kasane in Botswana, stopping at a small immigration checkpoint on the southern shore. Expect basic conditions and limited facilities, so it helps to plan ahead and bring what you need.
An ancient baobab tree in the island's center marks a special spot where visitors can see four countries at once. This vantage point reveals how the borders of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe meet in this corner of Africa.
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