A floating boutique hotel surrounded by wildlife
The Zambezi Queen cruises the wide reaches of the Chobe River where it spreads between the northern border of Botswana and that of Namibia’s furthermost extremes, the Caprivi Strip. While game rich, this area of the Chobe National Park can also be busy with visitors and it is sometimes hard to escape to areas of the bush less driven on, photographed and generally used. This beautiful, stylish and comfortable river boat offers a perfect opportunity to enjoy Chobe without spending the whole time tangling with the masses.
The fourteen cabins, vast top-deck and reading room have a funky modern look and constantly changing panoramic views that glide gently by. The food is some of the best you are likely to taste on safari and includes cappuccinos (huge bonus points here), home-baked muffins, delicious salads, meat and fish dishes. This is all a little problematic if you are an active person but not fatal for just two or three nights. The boat designers have hit every nail squarely on the head; mosquito screens so that you can sleep in the balmy night air without unwelcome guests to a small plunge pool, LED reading lights for when the generator goes off and telescopes for views of passing game and stars.
Muted tones and stunning wildlife prints combined with the aesthetics of the islands and channels to create a truly unique environment. And even better than the prints: real live elephant, buffalo, puku and hippo not to mention a wide variety of birdlife surround you constantly. If you want to get out and about, you can take game drives into Chobe National Park, view wildlife by boat or try your hand at snagging a Tigerfish.
This is still a popular area so you should be prepared to see other boats passing by, and to cruise by other lodges on the land. You also have views of the buildings and masts of the little town of Kasane. There is also a certain rigmarole involved in stamping in and out of Botswana (from where you embark) and Namibia where the boat is moored but the crew do their best to minimise the hassle, even filling in all the forms for you. The border opening times forestall early morning game drives which can mean you’re in for a bit of a toasting. It’s possibly wise to enjoy the river and leave land activities for another spot.
The Zambezi Queen is a thing of beauty and this is definitely one of the nicest ways to enjoy the Chobe and waking up to the gentle lapping of water and silhouettes of fishermen casting their nets from dugouts into the calm water, or watching elephant swim the channel in front of you is difficult to beat. This is a good choice for people who like the idea of something a little different, enjoy excellent food, stylish decor and just “beingÇ?? in a beautiful location.
14 luxury en-suite cabins
A floating boutique hotel surrounded by wildlife
The Chobe River rises in the Angola from which it travels under it's Hambukushu name, Kwando. It becomes the Linyanti (named by the Subiya) as it reaches Botswana and finally becomes the Chobe at the border post of Ngoma. The Chobe runs along the northern border of Botswana, meeting the Zambezi and tumbling over the fault-line of Victoria Falls. Towards the end of it's journey, the river becomes a twisting, broad arm of water snaking its way through swampland. The Chobe National Park rests on its banks at this point and is home to a huge number of herbivores, especially elephant. The wide banks and sweet grass attract plains game of all sorts; of particular interest are the swamp antelope, red lechwe. The birdlife here too is extraordinary. Read more?
Safaris in Botswana offer dramatic extremes. One the one hand, the lush landscapes of the Okavango Delta and the Linyanti/Chobe River systems, on the other, the beautiful other-worldly expanse of the Makgadikgadi Pans and the Kalahari Desert. The variety of habitats makes for varied animal and birdlife as well as beautiful scenery. Strict controls mean that Botswana safari camps and lodges are generally small, and due to the tricky logistics of operating in a delta or a desert, a safari here is seldom cheap, and it's important to know where to go if you are looking for that authentic safari experience. Read more?
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Vanessa's 16 years in travel has seen her knowledge develop from sub-Saharan Africa into North Africa, Central and Southern America and the Galapagos. Consequently, she’s a veritable encyclopaedia of travel information and exceptionally cool, calm and collected in the face of the greatest planning demands.
At Natural High, we've had long experience putting together trips in Africa that really work. Whether it's intimate bushcamps in out of the way places, or a private lodge in one of Africa's top-billing wildlife areas, light mobile camping or remote island escapes, we know there is a lot to choose from. We're absolutely confident that we can recommend the right places for you.
