The four houseboats are set above the flowing waters of the Chobe River on Namibia’s Impalila Island.
Travel Promoters extend a warm welcome to the Zambezi Queen Collection by Mantis, joining its portfolio of “properties with personality”.
Located on the great Chobe River that borders Namibia and the Chobe National Park in Botswana, the Zambezi Queen Collection is made up of four houseboats; the ever-elegant Zambezi Queen and her three Chobe Princesses, as well as the intimate and secluded Ichingo Chobe River Lodge, set above the flowing waters of the Chobe River on Namibia’s Impalila Island.
Zambezi Queen
The Zambezi Queen by Mantis luxury floating boutique hotel, offering a unique and adventurous way of exploring a roughly 25km stretch of the Chobe River, promising amazing views over Namibia’s Caprivi Strip on one side and Botswana’s Chobe National Park on the other. The 42-metre-long houseboat caters for up to 28 guests split over three decks. Her upper deck boasts an inviting dining room, panoramic lounge, bar, stern deck with comfortable loungers with a gin bar and pool deck for sun worshipping or enjoying a refreshing dip in the splash pool. Elegant, ensuite accommodation is either in one of four luxury suites situated at the bow or ten standard suites – all air-conditioned and furnished with king sized/twin bed configurations. All suites have private balconies with deck chairs for maximum enjoyment of the views. Luxury suites have balconies to two sides and bigger balconies with sun loungers. Thrilling safari excursions by smaller tender boats offer activities such as Tiger-fishing, birding, photography and cultural tours, if guests can bare to drag themselves away. The Zambezi Queen offers scheduled departures every Monday (2 nights), Wednesday (2 nights) and Friday (3 nights).
Chobe Princess
Chobe Princess, cabin
The Chobe Princess by Mantis is a trio of deluxe houseboats that offer an intimate and very exclusive river safari experience on the Chobe River. These elegant houseboats offer spacious, comfortable accommodation, and are very popular for both FIT clients as well as for families or groups of up to ten wanting exclusive use. All cabins are air-conditioned with either king-sized or twin beds, and beautiful ensuite bathrooms. The houseboats offer a lounge, dining room, bar and sundeck with plunge pool. Catering for up to eight or ten guests, each houseboat has a warm, hospitable crew including a Captain, host, chef and team of river guides. Chobe Princesses are, thanks to their smaller, nimbler size, able to traverse up to 50 km along the river and usually moor by night at three different sites, namely Kasai, Elephant Bay and Leguva.
Ichingo Chobe River Lodge
Located on the intimate 4 x 12 km Impalila Island, which is on the Namibian side of the Chobe River, Ichingo Chobe River Lodge by Mantis is ideal for fishermen, or just those wanting a quiet, very personalised wilderness retreat overlooking the river. The island is known for its fantastic catch-and-release fishing for the mighty Tigerfish and many other popular species along the Chobe River, Kasai Channel and Zambezi River. It is also very popular with photographers, birders (450+ bird species) and those who enjoy game viewing by boat and on foot a little off the beaten track. The lodge comprises just eight spacious, air-conditioned and tastefully appointed Meru-style safari tents with private balconies overlooking the flowing rapids of the Chobe River.
Ichingo Chobe River Lodge, standard tent.
“We are thrilled to be adding these four incredible houseboats and lodge to our portfolio and look forward to engaging with the trade on how best to market these adventurous river-based safaris. It is very hard to beat that floating hotel experience of hearing the hippos grunting from nearby at night, watching a fish eagle catching his breakfast – and spotting herds of elephant along the river banks as you slowly glide past.” said Ailsa Tavares.
Access is only via Botswana’s Kasane Airport, with road and boat transfers from Kasane International Airport and nearby Kasane lodges included in the rate. It can take as little as 45 minutes from Kasane Immigration Office, via the Namibian Immigration Office (via motorboat) to boarding the house boats.
On the sustainability side of things, the boats are Humane Tourism Certified and source fresh seasonal ingredients from their organic kitchen garden. The Zambezi Queen Collection also supports a number of impact projects including Forever Wild Project, Kasika Primary School Funding, Ijambwe Village Community Development and Conservation and the Ijambwe Village Garden Project situated on the floodplains of the East Caprivi.
Travel Promoters operates as a seamless extension of some of Africa’s most iconic hotels and safari lodges – calling on tour operator product managers, training and supporting them and travel agents to ensure they have all the knowledge they need to ensure their clients stay in the perfect properties that are packed with personality.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
