There are three houseboats cruising the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers: the Ichobezi Mukwae, Ichobezi Moli and Nguni Voyager. These are luxurious, fully catered boats all offering the holiday of a lifetime.
They mainly cruise the game-rich river areas of the Chobe National Park, but also navigate the Kasai Channel and Zambezi River when fishing is a priority. There’s less game on the latter, but plenty of birds, fish and white sandy beaches.
Houseboating on the Chobe River is like being on a large floating hide in the biggest wildlife waterhole - day and night. You’ll see hundreds of elephants and buffaloes, plenty of hippos and crocodiles, as well as antelope that are rare elsewhere: puku, lechwe, sable and Chobe bushbuck. Birding in this area is truly phenomenal, especially in summer, with over 450 species, including many specials.
These houseboats operate out of Namibia’s Caprivi Strip. If you’ve got spare cash, you can charter a plane directly, but most people fly from Joburg to Livingstone (Zambia) or Vic Falls (Zimbabwe), then take a series of land and water transfers through the various border posts to meet the boats.
Rates on these boats are generally high (more than R2 500 a person a night).
Getaway Travel is offering these specials until the end of May: two nights on the Nguni Voyager and one night B%26B at Vic Falls Safari Lodge from R7 390 a person. Three nights on the Nguni Voyager only from R8 390 a person and four nights from R10 190. Call 0860 43 8292, email
getaway@galileosa.co.za, or see www.getawaytravel.co.za.
Bobbing on its game-rich waters
Flame of Africa is offering three- to six-night packages, starting at R7 299 a person, until the end of April. Packages include B%26B at A’Zambezi River Lodge in Vic Falls and/or an all-inclusive stay at Ichingo Chobe River Lodge on Impalila Island before boarding the Ichobezi houseboat. Call 0861 31 2312 or 031 762 2424, email getaway@flameofafrica.com, or see www.flameofafrica.com.
If you’d like to fly more directly, Ichobezi luxury safari boat is also offering its own special until April 30. A three-night trip costs R8 700 a person, including flights to Livingstone, a Moremi Air charter flight from there to Impalila Island, two nights on board the Ichobezi and a night at Ichingo Chobe River Lodge on Impalila, all inclusive. It’s available for four to five passengers.
You can also book its three-night special for R8 100 a person, which includes all the above, except you’ll take road and boat transfers from Livingstone to Impalila. Call 011 706 6242, or 079 871 7603, email info@ichobezi.co.za, or see www.ichobezi.co.za.
There are now two fully catered Shayamanzi houseboats cruising Lake Jozini in the Pongola Game Reserve. The scenery is beautiful as you cruise along the verdant banks of the Pongola River and dam - with the Lebombo Mountains in the background - and overnight at a variety of spots.
You’ll be able to see big game, a variety of antelope and more than 350 species of birds. Lake Jozini is reputedly the only place in South Africa to catch big tigerfish. At night in the gorge near the dam wall, you’ll be able to see fireflies signalling to their mates.
Hundreds of elephants and buffaloes
Shayamanzi I has six en-suite cabins sleeping two guests each, with large sliding windows to let in the sights and sounds of hippos, birds and other creatures. There are sleeper couches on the top deck for an extra four people (sharing ablutions).
Shayamanzi II has three levels. The middle level has six en-suites as well as another four en-suite cabins downstairs - all spacious with big windows. The downstairs cabins have the luxury of a lounge area, which can be converted to provide additional beds for families. There are also four extra sleeper couches on the top deck sharing a bathroom.
All cabins on Shayamanzi II are air-conditioned - a big plus in the mid-summer heat. Both boats are luxurious and comfortable, with oak-panelled cabins; fans, mosquito netting, window gauze and hairdryers are supplied.
Crew members attend to all your needs, cooking up delicious meals, keeping drinks flowing, taking you to the best spots for tigerfishing, servicing your cabin and pointing out interesting birds and animals. Overnighting on the Shayamanzi costs from R875 to R1 250 a person, depending on the number of passengers. Meals are an extra R300 a person a day. Call 034 413 2299, or see www.shayamanzi.co.za.
You can now houseboat in a brand-new Lightleys leisure liner on the Kowie River in Port Alfred. The four houseboats moored outside the Halyards Hotel cruise 23km up the river.
The boats sleep up to four adults. Each has a stove, fridge, CD player, CB radio, portable braai and electric lights, plus cutlery, crockery, bedding and kitchen utensils.
They’re also equipped with swimming platforms at the back, making access to the water easy, and have a collapsible awning for hot days. The boats are equipped with hand-held showers and chemical toilets, but there are also bathrooms on shore that you can use if you’d prefer more space.
Houseboating the Kowie costs from R880 to R1 149 a night for two people and R968 to R1 391 a night for four people. Discounted packages are available. Contact Lightleys Holiday Houseboats on 044 386 0007, or see www.houseboats.co.za
Kariba is still the largest houseboating destination in Southern Africa, with the most boats - both catered and self-catering - bobbing on its game-rich waters. Flame of Africa represents a selection of houseboats.
On the eastern side of the lake are Zambuka, Tantalika, Sovereign, Southern Belle, Lorna D and Karibeer, and in the west are OB Joyful, Meremaid, Catalina and Abangane.
There’s also Lady Jacqueline. The Lady J, as she is affectionately known, is a fully equipped 20-metre cruiser available for self-catered or catered family holidays on Lake Kariba. She’s berthed at Musumu River Lodge, 10km from Binga.
Lady J can sleep up to 15 guests. The sleeping quarters consist of two air-conditioned, en-suite double cabins as well as a cabin with a bunk bed and another with two sets of bunk beds, both sharing a separate bathroom.
For those who like to sleep under the stars, the top deck can be used as a sleeping area for another five people on mattresses (mozzie nets are provided).
The air-conditioned saloon has colour television and a video machine, as well as a CD player and tape deck. There’s a spacious upper deck with bar, sunbathing area and splash pool.
A tender boat for fishing, game viewing and sunset cruises is provided. A second tender can be hired for R250 extra a day, or you can tow your own boat.
It costs R3 950 a night (about R265 a person) to hire the Lady J. This includes the services of the crew (captain, chef and deckhand) and use of the tender boat, but excludes fuel and national park fees. Catered meals and drinks are R300 to R400 each a day (half-price for children). Call 0861 312 312, see www.flameofafrica.com
Published by arrangement with Getaway magazine. For the full story, see the March issue of Getaway.
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