ZAMBEZI VOYAGER
Situated on the Chobe River, within the Chobe National Park, the Zambezi Voyager gives you the freedom to explore the iconic riverine environment and wildlife-rich floodplains in the relaxed style and comfort of a bygone era. After a day’s activity on the river, or walking on the floodplains your tastefully appointed en-suite cabin awaits you upon your return.
Situated on the Chobe River, within the Chobe National Park, the Zambezi Voyager gives you the freedom to explore the iconic riverine environment and wildlife-rich floodplains in the relaxed style and comfort of a bygone era. After a day’s activity on the river, or walking on the floodplains your tastefully appointed en-suite cabin awaits you upon your return.
THE HOUSEBOAT
Lower deck The lower deck features five en-suite cabins that can be configured as either double or twin berths. The well-appointed cabins are tastefully decorated with solid African rosewood furnishings. Handmade Egyptian cotton linen is used on the custom-made mattress for your comfort. All the cabins have built-in cupboards, a safe, a cooling fan and mosquito repellant, and all the windows are mosquito-proofed. The en-suite bathrooms feature showers, with complimentary biodegradable shower gel, shampoo and hand wash from Maria Garcia. A touch of old-world elegance is evident in the dark rosewood trim, brass fittings and fixtures. Middle deck The lounge and dining areas are located on the middle deck. This area can be opened on three sides, affording panoramic views for watching game. The large dining table is the centre-point for the four daily meals from our seasonal menus, provided by our onboard chef. As the sun rises and Africa awakes, you can enjoy coffee, tea, cereal and muffins before departing on your morning game-viewing or fishing expedition. When the heat of the African sun drives you back to the comfort of the Zambezi Voyager, a brunch to remember awaits. Towards late afternoon a high tea is served before you depart on your afternoon adventure. After the traditional African safari sundowner, you sit down to a three-course evening meal, often punctuated by the call of a lion or hyena. This meal concludes with fine coffee and a nightcap of your choice. The lounge area offers comfortable leather sofas and individual chairs. There is a reference library and binoculars to enhance your viewing experience. Drinks are available throughout the day, and the open-air, unheated jacuzzi is also located on this deck for cooling off on those hot African days. Upper deck The open-air top deck offers sun loungers, chairs and tables, ideal for viewing the river surroundings, relaxing and enjoying sundowners, or for an evening of unforgettable stargazing. ACTIVITIES
Fishing: The upper Zambezi and Kasai channel offer some of the best river fishing around, and the Zambezi Voyager offers you the opportunity to fish for the Zambezi Grand Slam: catching a tigerfish, bream and catfish in one day. The tigerfish, one of the most explosive fighting game fish in the world, can grow up to 10kg in the upper Zambezi, and catfish of 25kg are not unheard of. Bream can grow up to 4kg, and resemble the form and behaviour of the largemouth bass of North America.All of these fish respond to the fluctuations in water level and quality throughout the year. Birding: Due to the diverse array of habitats, the Chobe certainly qualifies as an important birding area. Renowned birder Warwick Tarboten has compiled a list of over 390 bird species (download below) that can be seen from the boats alone. This does not include those that can be seen away from the river.This list includes 14 birds that are of exceptional interest: Slaty egret, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Rock Pratincole, African Skimmer, Schalow’s Turaco, Coppery tailed Coucal, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Greater Swamp Warbler, Chirping Cisticola, Luapula Cisticola, Shelley’s Sunbird, Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Brown Firefinch and the Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah. Cultural tours: As a passenger on the Zambezi Voyager, you will become part of the local Zambezi community. The people of the floodplains are called the Subiya, and their language is related to Western Tonga and one of the earliest languages of the Zambezi, believed to have arrived around the Iron Age. Passengers, by simply observing the Subiya as they go about their daily life, or by going on a village visit, can get a closer experience of their culture. Game viewing: Moving regularly between our moorings on the Chobe River, evoking a sense of exploration, the Zambezi Voyager exposes its passengers to the rich and diverse wildlife of the area. The Chobe is world famous for its vast elephant herds, which can be experienced up close in complete safety as they congregate at the river, or swim across to the Caprivi floodplains. It is not unusual to awaken to a herd of buffalo, in their hundreds, grazing peacefully next to the boat. Photo safaris: The photo opportunities aboard the Zambezi Voyager are endless.As arguably one of the top game viewing destinations in Africa, the Caprivi floodplain ecosystem offers passengers a rich and varied game viewing experience from the river.Apart from the huge elephant herds which the Chobe is renowned for, passengers will be rewarded with sights of large concentrations of buffalo and sable, and predators regularly make an appearance on the Chobe riverfront. Walking tours: Ask your guide to take you for a walk on the floodplains, or on the nearby Impalila Island. Climb a giant baobab tree at the point where the four countries of Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia meet, go birding in the indigenous woodland on the island, or hire bicycles from the conservancy office and explore the island and Subiya way of life.
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GALLERY
INCLUDED SERVICES
Accommodation in a double or twin room All meals daily Tea and coffee Alcohol (see list below) Bottled drinking water Guided activities Fishing, 20 litres of fuel per person per day Fishing licence Namibian tourism levy River transfers to and from the houseboat Namibian VAT 15% EXCLUDED SERVICES Premium brand Liquor, beer & wine Land based transfers Staff gratuities RATES 2014
HIGH WATER SEASON: 1 January - 31 May 2014 |