Zambezi Queen by Mantis

The Zambezi Queen is a forty-two-metre vessel that moves along the Chobe River during the day and returns to its mooring each evening. It operates as a floating hotel rather than a point-to-point cruise: you have a fixed suite, three meals a day, and the river and Chobe National Park as your immediate surroundings throughout your stay.

The vessel holds ten suites and four luxury suites across three decks. All suites have private balconies, en-suite shower bathrooms, and full-length sliding shutters. The four luxury suites are slightly larger, with front and side sliding doors that open to a wider view; they each have two deckchairs and a table on an enlarged balcony. Two of the standard suites are configured as triples, each sleeping up to three adults.

The crew-to-guest ratio runs at two crew for every three guests. Meals are all-inclusive: a continental or cooked breakfast, a buffet lunch, and a four-course plated dinner each evening. Drinks — including local beer, house wine, standard spirits, soft drinks, and hot drinks — are included. The kitchen team sources seasonal produce from local markets.

Game viewing goes out by tender boat on the water, putting you at the same level as elephants and hippos drinking at the bank. The Chobe River corridor records over four hundred and fifty bird species, with migrant numbers peaking between December and March. Catch-and-release fishing for tigerfish is available, as are guided village visits by tender boat to Ijambwe on the East Caprivi floodplains. A spa operates on board. Complimentary airport transfers are provided.