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Breaking free from the traditional land safari, the Zambezi Queen is a steel hull luxury river boat that provides guests with a unique insight into the African bush as they travel down the Chobe River. Since Botswana’s Chobe National Park is one of Africa’s most highly-acclaimed regions for wildlife viewing, the Chobe River—which separates Namibia and Botswana—is the ideal place for a luxury river safari.

With accommodation for up to 28 passengers during each of its voyages past the banks of Botswana’s Chobe National Park, the Zambezi Queen’s intimate atmosphere allows travelers to enjoy a private setting, superior service, and exceptional accommodations.

This luxury river boat is equipped with a dining room, bar and lounge area, sunbathing area, and private pool. It also features a library filled with timeless classics, a variety of games, and a telescope for star gazing.

Built in 2009, the Zambezi Queen is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, facilities, and interior décor that exude elegance, luxury, comfort, and a warm African spirit. Each evening when guests retreat to their five-star suites, they’re able to view Africa’s wildlife from the privacy of their own balcony. Frequent sightings of elephants, giraffes, lions, sables, buffaloes, and leopards make this luxury river safari a must for travelers looking to view Africa’s dense eco-systems from an untraditional perspective.

What features are exclusively unique to the Zambezi Queen that makes it one of the most exceptional luxury river boat safaris in all of Africa?

• Stylish and Comfortable Cabins: All of the Zambezi Queen’s 14 rooms are equipped with either a double bed or two single beds and each has their own private balcony. In addition to these features, each cabin has its own en-suite bathroom, full-length shutters, mosquito netting, and fans. Decorated with earth tones and relaxing hues, the ambiance of each cabin reflects the riveting beauty of the African bush.

• Exceptional Activities: The Zambezi Queen offers guests activities that they can enjoy both on and off the water. From smaller boats, travelers can enjoy a unique perspective on game-viewing and birding in the area. These water-based safaris allow each traveler to completely submerge themselves into the subtle sounds of the African bush while taking in the surrounding scenery. For those who love to fish, the Zambezi Queen also provides tiger and bream fishing safaris. When guests are ready to explore the area from land, Zambezi Queen’s private and highly knowledgeable guides offer game drives through Botswana’s Chobe National Park. Since Zambezi Queen’s expert guides have been trained by world-renowned African field guide, Garth Thompson, guides provide guests with a deeper insight into nature than ever imagined. Other land activities include cultural tours through local villages, which are highly recommended for all guests.

• Five-Star Dining: Delectable cuisine is created by renowned South African chef, Pete Goff-Wood, who uses local ingredients and flavors to create authentic African dishes. Matching Chef Goff-Wood’s exceptional dishes, the dining room is nothing short of graceful. With three walls constructed of windows, the dining area boasts an atmosphere that completely immerses each diner into the natural surroundings of the Chobe River. Designed for guest to retreat to at any time of the day, the dining room’s relaxing ambiance welcomes guests to eat and drink in comfort and reminisce about the day’s events.

Don’t you think this would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

Explore the beauty of Africa’s Chobe River and Botswana’s Chobe National Park on the Zambezi Queen luxury river boat safari. Let Hills of Africa Travel create a customized itinerary for your next African family safari or honeymoon safari. Contact us today at (877) 845-4802. We’re looking forward to making your dreams come true . . .

Commonly found in southern parts of Africa, the yellow-billed stork is a popular sighting among visitors on a Zambia or Zimbabwe safari vacation. Yellow-billed storks can frequently be seen in lakes, mud plains, floodplains, and lagoons. Displaying an orange-red face and long bright yellow bill, the yellow-billed stork is one of the most beautiful birds to observe in the wild. Their body is white with a slight pink accent on the tips of the feathers and the legs range in color from a crimson red to a light pink.

Remarkable facts about the yellow-billed stork:

• The female yellow-billed storks could be considered extremely forward by some, since they are the ones who approach the males for courtship. The male, on the other hand, does have decision making capabilities though: he gets to choose where the nest is built.

• Yellow-billed storks primarily eat small crustaceans, fish, frogs, aquatic insects, and small mammals. Because of their taste for aquatic creatures, yellow-billed storks follow the floodwaters, constantly in search of water with a high concentration of fish.

• The yellow-billed stork breeds colonially and frequently with other species. This occurs in intimate groups of up to 20 pairs.

• Usually, flocks include an average of 50 members and live in trees canopying the water or in larger trees on land. On average, there are about 10 – 20 yellow-billed stork pairs nesting in each tree.

• Yellow-billed storks are frequently found in large swamps, river and lake banks, lagoons, marshes, and floodplains. These birds are rarely seen in forested areas and areas with a lot of flooding.

• Yellow-billed storks could be considered slightly anti-social and inactive. Frequently seen standing in swamps and rivers alone, these birds don’t particularly socialize with other yellow-billed storks. Also, they aren’t the most active bunch—relaxing and eating are their primary activities.

• Relatives to the roseate spoonbills, the yellow-billed stork displays similar pink feathers during breeding season.

• When feeding, the yellow-billed stork will stir the water with its foot, sending small aquatic creatures out of hiding. At this point, the yellow-billed stork will quickly dip its head into the water to snatch the prey with its sharp bill.

Don’t miss out on an amazing birding and game-viewing experience on a Zambia or Zimbabwe safari vacation. Whether looking to enjoy an African honeymoon safari or family safari, Zambia and Zimbabwe are the perfect destinations to visit. Let Hills of Africa Travel create a detailed and customized itinerary for you around your every individual preference. Contact us today at (877) 845-4802.  We’re looking forward to making your dreams come true . . .