A luxurious houseboat that drifts along the Chobe River, between Chobe National Park and the Caprivi Strip
Entertainment deck with lounge and dining areas, bar, sundeck with plunge pool, reading room, and curio shop
Ten standard suites and four master suites, each with a private deck
Two- or three-night itineraries, featuring game viewing, fishing, birding, photo safaris, and cultural tours
The Zambezi Queen offers a two- or three-night itinerary. Both options are flexible, allowing guests to set their own pace. Here are a few of the activities you can enjoy:
Watching the residents of the River Chobe and its banks is possible while you’re on board the boat, either from your very own deck or from the communal areas. However, to get a little closer to the wildlife, you can hop on to a smaller tender boat and transfer to a special double-storey game-viewing vessel. There’s plenty to see between the Caprivi Strip and Chobe N.P.! Among the highlights are big cats, huge herds of elephant and buffalo, lots of plains game, hippos, crocs, and a wealth of waterbirds.
Special year-round trips can be arranged for keen anglers, with all equipment supplied. The main attraction in this part of Safari Africa is the mighty tiger fish, but you can also try your hand at catching the likes of catfish, yellowfish, pike, and an assortment of breams. Please note, all fishing is offered on a catch-and-release basis only.
The River Chobe is home to over 450 species of feathery friend! Come September, a variety of migrant species flies into the area, further boosting the bird scene. safaris are available in the company of a knowledgeable guide. You’ll set off in a tender boat and have many a happy hour spotting fish eagle, cattle egret, carmine bee-eater, and more.
The Zambezi Queen Collection has a custom-made photographic safari boat, perfect for capturing your most memorable moments in Chobe on film. The boat features swivel chairs and mounting for your SLR camera, and all photo safaris are accompanied by an expert guide.
Visits to Ijambwe, a Namibian village, provide exciting opportunities to find out about the peoples of the East Caprivi. You’ll travel to Ijambwe by tender boat. Once you’ve arrived, you can meet the villagers, purchase some of their craft items, and enjoy some traditional singing and dancing too! And guests are welcome to bring gifts for the village children – books, clothing, and stationery are always well received.
*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.
The boat is accessed via 15 minutes’ motorboat transfer from the immigration post for Namibia, guests having also come through the Botswana office approximately 10 minutes’ drive from Kasane. The boat’s base is about 80 kilometres from Victoria Falls.
*As this is a houseboat, the location of this property may change based on the houseboat’s position on the water.
For the most part, the communal spaces aboard the Zambezi Queen are found on the boat’s top deck.
Here you’ll find the entertainment deck, which contains a number of seating areas, a dining area, and a very chic bar. As mentioned, food and drink is of high quality, from every day’s full English breakfast to tasty buffet lunches to lavish served dinners! The uppermost deck is also home to a sundeck, where you can lie back in a sunlounger or take a dip in the plunge pool while looking out for the Chobe river’s wildlife. On the middle level, there’s a pleasant reading room, which is ideal for enjoying a little quiet time and catching up with the wider world via the boat’s Wi-Fi connection. This area has a small curio shop too, where you can browse for souvenirs.
Guest accommodation consists of ten standard suites and four master suites.
Occupying the two lower levels of the boat’s three storeys, all feature super-stylish interiors by Jenni Button, a prolific South African designer. Each standard suite offers a king-size bed or twin beds, and a couple of larger units can sleep up to three adults. The well-appointed en-suite facilities comprise flush toilet, washbasin, and shower. There’s a safe within the bedroom area, and staff provide robes, slippers, toiletries, and a hairdryer. The entire space is kept pleasantly cool thanks to air conditioning, ceiling fans, and an effective shutter system. Sliding doors just beyond the foot of the bed/s lead out onto a private deck, where you can relax and enjoy wonderful river views! The master suite option is more spacious and offers both front and side doors onto a deck, which is set with two deckchairs and a table.
Perhaps best known as the venue for Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor’s second marriage in 1975, Chobe Game Lodge has an illustrious past with a thoroughly modern outlook on conservation and eco-awareness. It’s the only permanent game lodge on the banks of…
A remote riverfront safari lodge in the far reaches of the eastern Caprivi, Chobe Savanna Lodge occupies an enviable setting on the banks of the Chobe river on the Namibian side. The lodge offers a thoroughly water-focused safari experience – you can expect…
Zambezi Queen is listed in the Zambezi Queen Collection, a member of the Mantis Collection of Hotels, Eco-Escapes, and Lifestyle Resorts. The name Mantis is synonymous with luxury, and guests of the Zambezi Queen enjoy high-quality food and drink, service,…
Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero is an exclusive country-house-style retreat on the border of Chobe National Park that stands out for its beautiful gardens, panoramic views of the Chobe river, and easy access from Kasane International Airport. Guests can expect all…
The lodge itself sits on the edge of a rocky bluff, overlooking the Chobe River, with spectacular views right across into Namibia ’s Caprivi Strip. Elephant, buffalo and zebra can often be spotted grazing on the plains below. We love Ngoma Safari Lodge for…
Muchenje Safari Lodge is a no-frills, great-value safari lodge with epic views of the Chobe river and an excellent base from which to explore Chobe National Park and its surrounds. Privately owned and run, with a focus on first-rate guiding and a diverse…
Linyanti Bush Camp is slightly larger than Linyanti Ebony but they have similar facilities. Both camps can be booked together by large groups. We think they offer very good value when compared to some of the higher-priced reserves.
Letaka Safaris, a citizen-owned company, has been operating safaris across Botswana since October 2000. It offers mobile tented accommodation in some of the country’s most wildlife-rich areas.
