The luxurious Zambezi Queen conducts 2 and 3 night cruises on the Chobe River. This is a 5-star, 42m long houseboat which offers adventure, excitement and supreme comfort in one of Africa's most sought-after wildlife-rich destinations. On board, the houseboat's classic yet contemporary interior is complemented by excellent service, fine wining and dining and top-quality guiding.
Your captain will navigate along an exclusive 25km stretch of Chobe River, offering flexible activities which can vary according to the needs of their guests. You will stop at selected mooring points every afternoon until the next morning. In the interests of safety the Zambezi Queen will not sail if the wind is stronger than 11 knots.
Enjoy totally unimpeded views of wildlife as you explore in search of the very best game viewing opportunities Chobe has to offer. Huge densities of elephant are the main drawcard with buffalo, predators, antelope and a huge variety of birds resident in the region as well.
Admire panoramic views as you take your seat at your own private table in the dining room on the upper deck. On board meals usually consist of a full English breakfast, a buffet lunch and a choice of 2 plated dinners. An African themed dinner happens on one night of your stay, which includes the staff singing and dancing afterwards. Special dietary requirements can be catered for if booked in advance.
Relax and unwind in the comfortable lounge, the ideal venue to chat with fellow guests on the day's activities and adventures. The bar offers a selection of local and imported wines, spirits and beers. The plunge pool is on the forward deck and offers the perfect respite from the hot afternoon sunshine.
The main electricity supply is supplied by generators which switch off at 22h00 when a battery powered inverter system takes over for the night. The cabins then lose functionality of the air-conditioning unit, main over-head lights and wall socket electricity. You can still use the fan, the bed-side reading lights and emergency lighting in the bathroom.
Guests stay in 14 stylishly decorated cabins spread across the 2 lower decks of the boat.
Cabins: 10 x cabins equipped with an en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning, floor standing fan, twin/double beds, hair-dryer, toiletries, gowns, slippers and an electronic safe. Enjoy superb river views from your private outer deck.
Master Suites: 4 x larger suites with front and side glass sliding doors, an en-suite bathroom with flush loo, handbasin, shower cubicle and similar facilities to the cabins. Commanding views of the Chobe River and it's bank are afforded from your private outdoor deck, best viewed on a relaxing sun-loungers. Some of the suites have a sleeper couch for a 3rd adult or child.
Get close to nature on a water-based game drives on a tender boat. Game viewing on the Chobe River is best from March to November. Huge herds of elephant swim across the water. Frequent sightings of buffalo, lion, hippo, crocodile, lechwe, puku, giraffe, zebra, sable, kudu and the occasional leopard at watering holes offer additional excitement.
With over 450 species recorded in the region, amateurs and experienced birders alike have plenty to look-out for. The first migrants arrive in September. African skimmers, rock pratincoles, African finfoot, carmine bee-eaters, cattle egrets, fish eagles, pied kingfishers, open-billed storks and lesser-striped swallows can be observed.
The 2 night/3 day cruise departs on Monday and Wednesday.
Day 1: After immigration and transfers have been completed you will arrive on board for lunch/snacks and weather permitting you can hop into a tender boat for a game viewing trip. Return to the Zambezi Queen for a sumptuous dinner and a night cap.
Day 2: The choice is yours. Chill on the upper deck game viewing; water-based game viewing or a village tour. The afternoon is the best time to see wildlife on the river banks from your tender boat. Return for dinner.
Day 3: Breakfast and game viewing on a final cruise. Say farewell to the Captain and crew and proceed on your onward journey.
The 3 night/4 day cruise departs on a Friday.
Day 1: As per Day 1 on the 2-Night Cruise.
Day 2: Choose your own activity. Some guests prefer to stay on board whilst others like to experience another outing on the tender boat to game view. Fishing, birding and a trip to the local village can also be arranged. At lunch you have the opportunity to game view from the comfort of the upper deck.
Day 3: After breakfast you can either repeat one of your favourite activities or partake in one you just didn't have time for previously. Return for lunch and more upper deck game viewing before another activity to your liking. The evening meal is traditional fare where you can try your skills at singing and dancing with the staff. Day 4: A breakfast game viewing cruise is the highlight. One last chance to witness some unbelievable wildlife interaction. After bidding a fond farewell to the Captain and crew you can look forward to the next leg of your Namibian vacation.
Fishing: Try your luck on a fishing safari. Stay on board the Zambezi Queen or hop onto a smaller tender boat. You might catch the famed tiger fish or if not, there are many species of bream, African pike and catfish in the rivers and meandering channels. Fishing equipment is included on the trip as is a highly knowledgeable guide.
Photography: Chobe is a photographer's paradise especially in the early morning and just before sunset. Sundowner: Enjoy game viewing and a thirst-quenching drink as the beautiful sun sets.
Cultural: Take a tender boat to Ijambwe, a local Namibian village. On your visit you will meet village elders and locals who can inform you of their traditions and daily routines. This is one of the best ways to learn more about the inhabitants of this beautiful country. Purchasing locally made arts and crafts gives you a great souvenir from your trip and helps the locals earn a living. The children will always welcome gifts such as school books and clothing. Villagers will show their appreciation by performing traditional dances and songs at the end of your tour.
On the Kwando River, perfectly situated to visit the Nkasa Rupara (Mamili) & Mudumu Reserves.
Just outside the town of Katima Mulilo lies this small river front lodge. The accommodation is rustic with open fronted bungalows overlooking the river.
Explore the Chobe & Zambezi Rivers on an adventurous houseboat holiday. Certainly one of the most enjoyable and relaxing ways of exploring the waterways of this area.
Part of the Zambezi Queen collection these three smaller houseboats operate on the Chobe River.
This unique tented camp offers the experience of a lifetime. Each chalet is built on elevated stilts to accommodate the seasonal flooding of the great Chobe River, the natural border between the Camp and the Chobe National Park in Botswana. Home to a seasonal large animal migration, this is the wildlife enthusiast’s dream. Take a boating opportunity to glide through the waters, entering the wonderland that is the Zambezi. Guests have the opportunity to float along the river on a boat cruise and see the wildlife in the Chobe National Park. And evenings are spent in laughter and good spirits around a warm boma fire.
Overlooking the Chobe River and Botswana's Chobe National Park, this boutique hotel offers an excellent opportunity to experience all the wildlife and activities the Chobe Region has to offer.
Within the Chobe National Park lies the fascinating game rich Savuti area. Ghoha Hills Savuti Lodge is ideally positioned on the edges of the Ghoha Hills overlooking the Savuti Plains.
One of the best lodges in this area has accommodation in both traditional land based units as well as on two houseboats.
A four room private camp set inside the Nkasa Rupara National Park. A remote and private location in Namibia's least visited hidden gems of a game park makes this a must visit lodge. The lodge can also be booked for exclusive use on a self catering basis.
Jackalberry Camp is situated in an exclusive concession inside the Nkasa Rupara NP (Mamili) situated 150km west of Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi Region (Caprivi) of Northen Namibia.
This lodge is located at the only place in the world where four countries meet. It is a wonderful Chobe destination with eight luxury chalets.
Situated in the Mudumu National Park this is one of the east Zambezi Region's most popular lodges.
Nambwa Tented Lodge is within the heart of KAZA and the only lodge uniquely situated inside the Bwabwata National Park
Settled along the banks of the Kwando River, each tented unit can sleep four people in comfortable beds. With en suite bathroom and a fully equipped kitchen, this is an iconic way to experience the Zambezi Region. Elephants, hippos and a myriad of bird species will keep you company amongst waterlilies and the African bush. Spend your evenings around a campfire with the sounds of the Kwando to keep you company. Or visit the lodge a short walk away to enjoy a dining experience of plunge in the pool. In addition, game drives and boat cruises are also available to guests – unless they wish to experience the mighty Bwabwata as a self-drive experience.
The Zambezi Region – Namibia’s Best Kept Secret Along the banks of the majestic Kwando River lies a thatched kingdom. Views stretch across the marshlands of the Bwabwata National Park, as a xylophone of sounds lead the sun to the western horizon and dancing hippos welcome it at dawn. Namushasha River Lodge is home to abundance. The thatch-roofed chalets peak out from between the thick trees, with the slow flow of the Kwando below. Game drives in the Bwabwata National Park where elephant, hippo, and buffalo reside. Or view the wild wonders from the river with a scenic cruise. Discover the wealth the river holds.
The abundance of the Kwando River flows into this intimate setting. Anchored in its own channel along the river, this floating Villa offers an escape like no other. Guests are ferried to the location from Namushasha River Lodge, via a private game drive through the Bwabwata National Park. The entire Villa is equipped to cater to every need. With a selection of snacks, pastries, condiments and more, as well as a wide range of wine, whiskeys and gins – guests will have everything they need. As the sun sets, a crackling fire dances in the fire pit on the terrace. Every evening is spent in blissful peace as your only company is the abundant wildlife moving along the banks of the river.
Nogatsaa Pans Chobe Lodge is in the heart of Chobe National Park with some of the best game viewing right on the doorstep.
A small luxurious houseboat, offers awesome game viewing, bird watching & fishing experiences on the Chobe & Zambezi Rivers.
Sharwimbo River Camp is elevated high on the banks of the Kwando river
Explorers Village offers the modern pioneer a perfect haven from which to investigate Victoria Falls
In the Bwabwata National Park this is a perfect land and water camp with six luxury suites, each with private plunge pool.
A blissfully rugged escape, this is the place for adventure on the Zambezi River. Whether guests are in search of the bright Carmine Bee Eaters, the ultimate Tiger fish catch-and-release, or a relaxing outdoor moment – Zambezi Mubala Camp is the place to be. Offering full lodge facilities, as well as self-catering options, this property truly tickles every kind of fancy. Each tented chalet has a fully equipped kitchen, private braai-facility and can sleep four people. Spend your evening at the lodge bar with a cold G&T and watch the sun set the Zambezi alight.
Criss-crossed with riverine lifelines, the expansive Zambezi grasslands and floodplains are as unexpected as they are bountiful. This is a place of natural splendour. Home to one of the largest colonies of Carmine Bee Eaters, there is no shortage of colour here. The lodge can only be reached by boat, via the Zambezi Mubala Camp, and offers pristine views of the Zambezi River and Zambia beyond. Guests can enjoy sitting by the poolside or joining a sunset boat cruise to end the day in style. Between August and March each year the bee-eaters arrive in full flourish. This is the ideal location for a peaceful zen-breakaway
In the far eastern Caprivi this lodge offers lots of water based activities on both the Chobe & Zambezi Rivers.
Zambezi Queen trips start either from the Botswana Immigration Post at Kasane, or from the Impalila airstrip
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