building Ila Aerial View Boma

Our Story

Ila's story stretches back more than a decade. Our original U-shaped boma was built from locally sourced, sustainable materials, using innovative sandbag technology that required only a whisper of cement.

Eight years on, after losing that much-loved space to fire, Ila rose again. Inspired by the nests of the Busanga Plains, the new infinity boma now stands complete — woven from natural materials and locally sourced sticks, shaped to belong wholly to the land around it. Built with forever in mind, it is a symbol of resilience, continuity, and our enduring commitment to wild places.

Background pattern

Our Love
For Kafue

The Kafue is an environmentally sensitive area so all solid waste is sorted and removed from site and all our rubbish is stored where no animal can access them until they are transported for further disposal. All cleaning products, chemicals and guest amenities are bio-degradable and single use plastics are avoided by providing filtered water in reusable bottles. We have banned the use of cling-film and straws and use recycled paper and bags wherever possible. We also make use of local resources including shopping from the local markets and purchasing produce from our own farm.

Ila was awarded the 'Best Zambian Eco-Lodge Award' on the year of our opening in 2016 and is now a well-established and thriving safari lodge widely recognised for its beating green heart.

Decorative pattern
Solar panels eCruisers eBoat

Sunshine Power And
Silent Safaris

We design and operate all Green Safaris properties in the most sustainable way, actively involving the local communities. It is with this mission in mind that Ila’s Dutch Founder, Vincent Kouwenhoven, brought together a group of like-minded individuals, local communities and conservation-driven stakeholders to develop Zambia’s first premier eco-luxury property. Ila features trailblazing eco-technology in a park that has long been regarded as the Jewel of Zambia.

Ila was opened in July 2016 and was purpose-built 'green'! The lodge is off-grid with a huge solar bank providing the vast majority of power. Hot water is generated by solar water heaters and black water is reticulated through a central reticulation so no soakaways are required. The main boma is made from materials sourced locally and sustainably and the walls are built using sandbag technology that only requires a small percentage of cement.

It was for Ila Safari Lodge, that we developed and operated the very first electric game drive vehicle (our e-Cruiser) in Africa, which was then followed by several eCruisers and an e-Boat. We have a tree planting program in place that has seen hundreds of trees planted in the immediate surrounds and along the access road.