The three charming houseboats which make up The Chobe Princess fleet are a popular option for those wanting to focus on the Chobe riverfront safari experience. These boats are smaller and more simple than their bigger, and more luxurious sister, the Zambezi Queen Houseboat, but this also allows them to travel twice the distance up the Chobe River. Tender boats offer superb game viewing opportunities. Scheduled departs allow for 2, 3 or 4 night floating safaris.

The three charming houseboats which make up The Chobe Princess fleet are a popular option for those wanting to focus on the Chobe riverfront safari experience. These boats are smaller and more simple than their bigger, and more luxurious sister, The Zambezi Queen Houseboat, but this also allows them to travel twice the distance up the Chobe River. Tender boats offer superb game viewing opportunities. Scheduled departs allow for 2, 3 or 4 night floating safaris.

The Chobe Princess boats are the epitome of a slow safari, the chance to change gear from the dawn starts and rattle of the 4×4 – this is an entirely water based safari. The Chobe Princess boats sail on scheduled weekly departures every Monday (two-nights or four nights), Wednesday (two-nights) and Friday (three-nights).

Being smaller vessels, The Chobe Princess boats cover an area of approximately 50 km along the stretch of Chobe River as opposed to the larger Zambezi Queen vessel that travels only 25km.

Each boat has 4 or 5 rooms, these air -conditioned and contemporary styled cabins provide comfortable accommodation for the duration of your safari while overhead on the deck, an open – air dining room where delicious meals are served, a bar, lounge and plunge swimming pool are available for guests’ enjoyment.

The preferred time to safari on the Chobe River is between May and November when the bush is drier and the animals are more concentrated on the river. For enthusiastic photographers, the period from December to February makes for enthralling photographic opportunities as the landscape transforms itself following the first seasonal rains.

Leisurely spotting game from the vantage point of the boat deck, guests can appreciate the sweeping views across the river and into the Chobe National Park. Whether preferring an early morning wake- up call or a late morning lie- in, there are a number of activities to be enjoyed daily. Dedicated tender boats take guests out on birding excursions and visits to the local Namibian village – Ijambwe- located on the floodplains of the East Caprivi, giving guests the opportunity to meet village elders and locals and gain a greater understanding of the day to day lives and traditions of this century old village. The sale of handmade crafts assists members of the community to make a living.

Nature lovers can seize the opportunity of a short, guided walk through the bush with the final destination being a 2000-year-old baobab tree where one can discover more about the medicinal and spiritual value of Impalila Island’s flora.

The boating safaris offer the best game viewing, huge herds of Chobe elephant often swim across the water. Other animals often seen include buffalo, lion, crocodile, lechwe, puku, giraffe, zebra, sable, kudu and the occasional predator as they converge at the river bank in the late afternoon to drink.

Keen fisherman can indulge in several hours of catch-and-release fishing of sizeable tiger fish and bream throughout the year. Experienced guides provide all the tackle and bait needed as you explore the Chobe and Zambezi rivers, manoeuvre through the winding Kasai Channel and visit the exciting Chobe and Mambova rapids.

Three-hour photographic safaris, timed so as to take advantage of the perfect golden light of early morning or later afternoon that Africa is famed for, can be arranged for a group of six people at a time on The Chobe Princess. Especially designed swivel chairs within the photographic boat allow for greater stability and 360-degree views for a wider range of subject matter. Each seat is equipped with a mounting for resting SLR cameras of all types Tea and coffee will be offered in the morning during the winter months and sundowners – a traditional highlight of any African Safari – are enjoyed at dusk during the hotter months of the year. Light snacks are also served during your excursion, making your wildlife photographic excursion an experience to remember.

The Zambezi Queen is actually based on the Namibian side of the Chobe river, so a visit to the Botswana and Namibian immigration offices on the river is necessary before boarding the boat. A simple process.