The M.V. Ilala

Forget Luxury cruising. The Ilala is an experience from another era - and a thoroughly enjoyable one. She is fifty years old, built as a hard-working ship carrying passengers - and everything else backwards and forwards, up and down, the lake. Four double and two single cabins are available on the top deck. The accommodation is basic, but perfectly adequate and passengers are well looked after by friendly staff.
Those travelling in less comfort on the other two decks are in for an enjoyable - though noisy- time. Passengers climb down the side of the ship into waiting dugout canoes or the ship's own motor boats and are ferried ashore with much excitement from those waiting ashore and from those left on board. The ship calls at villages all around the lake and sometimes goes right to the north, to the port of Kambwe, near Tanzania. All the stops are interesting - and they are all different. Bear in mind that the schedule is flexible and subject to delays.

The Ilala is named after the place where David Livingstone died.

The MV Ilala
© Central Africana