The Zambezi Queen is a one of a kind African river boat experience.
The Zambezi Queen offers river trips on the Chobe River between the Southern African nations of Namibia and Botswana. The boat is moored on the Caprivi Strip and is only a short distance from the where uniquely, four countries meet at one point: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.
The Zambezi Queen.
We are often asked about which safari lodges & nations are the best to combine with an extended stay at the Victoria Falls. The answer is simply whichever takes your fancy with literally several hundred options on offer for intrepid safari travelers to Africa. We have though assembled a compilation of superb safari lodge options to assist in narrowing down what can otherwise be a somewhat daunting task of deciding which of the various lodge options to go with.
Botswana is arguably the most loved of all African safari nation states. Combing a trip to Vic Falls with a week at one of the Okavango Delta‘s myriad elite safari lodges allows you to experience two of the continent’s natural wonders in one vacation. Jao Camp is a name that springs to mind for those wishing to experience the Okavango Delta in luxury that is of an intimate nature. Another similarly intimate & high end option is Duba Plains.
Our #1 pick though in Botswana would be Jack’s Camp as it offers just that perfect mix of African wildlife, excellent service & high end amenities.
Tubu Tree Camp is a luxury safari lodge is in the nature rich Okavango Delta region of Botswana. The lodge offers a camp safari experience that is both intimately Africa & magically infused with big game African wildlife.
Tubu Tree Camp is intimately African.
Among the other high end safari experiences we recommend in Botswana are Abu Camp & the peerless Mombo Camp.
Europeans began settling at Victoria Falls and surrounding areas around 1900 as Cecil Rhodes’ British South Africa Company sought mineral rights in and around the Zambezi River.
Rhodes’ vision of a Cape-Cairo railway saw the construction of the first bridge across the Zambezi with Rhodes’ himself adamant the bridge be built so as to allow the spray from the falls would reach passing locomotives. The Victoria Falls became an increasingly popular attraction during British colonial rule of Northern Rhodesia (or what is now Zambia) and Southern Rhodesia (what is now Zimbabwe), with the town of Victoria Falls becoming a significant center for international tourism.
In 1964, Northern Rhodesia gained independence and became Zambia. A year later saw Rhodesia unilaterally declare her independence from Britain. This action was not recognized by the outside world and resulted in sanctions that were widespread and cumbersome.
1966 saw Zambia shut her borders to Southern Rhodesia (Rhodesia); a state of affairs that continued until 1980. In 1972 the Zimbabwe-Rhodesia War commenced. Tourist volume slowed on the Rhodesian/Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls markedly during this period. The conflict resulted in Zambia escalating security measures – stationing military personnel in an effort to restrict access to the gorges and certain parts of Victoria Falls.
Zimbabwean independence came in 1980 and ushered in a period of peace. During the 1980s tourism picked up with the region becoming known for adventure sports. These adventure sports included whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, fishing, horse riding, and kayaking.
300,000 people were visiting the falls annually by the turn of the millennium. Victoria Falls hosts a larger amount of local visitors than it does international visitors each year as it is readily accessible and inexpensive to visit.
Zambia & Zimbabwe both allow tourists to take day trips from either side. Prices are typically below $50.00 for the day. Visitors are required to have proper visa documentation when crossing the Zimbabwean/Zambian sides of the Falls. Visa regulations are subject to rather regular changes.
A naturally created pool universally known as the Devil’s Pool at the edge of the falls, can be reached via Livingstone Island on the Zambian side of the Falls. When the river flow is at a modest level, from September to December, people safely swim as close as possible to the edge of the falls.
Victoria Falls: Historical world wonder.
The Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls generally enjoys far more tourists than the Zambian side, owing to higher levels of development on the Zimbabwean side. Tourist volumes saw a steep decline in the early 2000s as president Robert Mugabe’s controversial policies of land reform met with international apprehension and concern. By 2006, hotels on the Zimbabwean side of Vic Falls enjoyed only a 30% occupancy rate, whereas the Zambian side was at virtual constant capacity.
The rapid human stimulated development of the area in and around Vic Falls has led the United Nations to ponder revoking Victoria Falls’ status as a World Heritage Site.
Alongside South Africa’s Kruger National Park & Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls is one of the jewels in the African tourism crown.
Singita is a name synonomous with ultra luxurious African safari travel. This is a brand of safari lodges for folks who wish to experience the best of African wildlife whilst simultaneously enjoying the trappings of ultra-comfort hospitality of the highest order.
Singita Boulders is one of several superb Singita safari lodge options.
Singita offer a range of safari lodge options throughout Southern Africa. The most notable arguably being their two flagship lodges: Singita Boulders & the Singita Ebony. The two are well known to most regular safari goers and for good reason. Singita as a provider of luxury African travel experiences have managed to fuse the best that Africa’s natural endowments of ecology and wildlife and the highest levels of worldclass hospitality into a travel experience worthy of any superlative and all the accolades habitually directed toward them.
The remainder of Singita’s offerings are, though, equally worthy of consideration and each offer something unique and noteworthy; starting with the famous lions of Singita Castleton.
The Faru Faru River Lodge is another gem of a safari holiday venue not to be missed. Singita is the undisputed #1 name is luxury African safari magic.
Africa enjoys a plethora of wonderful safari lodge options.
Shamwari offers the following high end lodge options to safari holidaymakers:
Eagles Crag: Eagles Crag is the most sought after Shamwari Lodge with striking & utterly spectacular architectural finishes & attention to detail. The feel is one of complete seclusion and raw luxury.
Riverdene Lodge. The lodge with a colonial aura, gives a base from which to discover the enormous malaria-free African wildlife reserve. The lodge is known for being extremely family friendly.
Cape Town is one of the world’s foremost tourism destinations & welcomes millions of international visitors every year with a unique travel offering. Cape Town is the perfect place for a dream wedding.The epicenter of the business travel sector of Cape Town’s tourism hub is the area in & around the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront with several leading hotel options on offer:
The Cape Grace Hotel is a fusing of colonial charm with modern convenience & service excellence. The emphasis at the Cape Grace is on facilitating an aura of comfort whilst making the visitor aware at all junctions that their hotel experience is taking place within the lavish surrounds of the world renowned tourist attractions of Table Mountain, Cape Town’s other must-see destinations & a truly magical African city seeped in history.
Cape Grace is set at the V&A Waterfront making for a believable meshing of the old with the very new and very convenient. The hotel’s offering is one you’d heartily recommend all business travelers experience at least once.
Mala Mala is among the most loved safari holiday lodges for American safari visitors to Africa. The Mala Mala experience is rich in wildlife viewing & endless in luxury.
The two main camps are:
Mala Mala Sable Camp
Each offer a lifetime of dreams encapsulated into one seamless African dream holiday. Heartily recommended.
Londolozi is among the highest regarded safari lodge brands in Africa.
Londolozi Tree Camp is a magical hospitality experience and is habitually rated as one of the most beautiful in all of Africa. The camp is set in the shade of an ancient African Ebony Tree with 6 high end camp suites. There remains a sense of ubiquitous harmony between mankind, fauna and flora.
Londolozi is perhaps best known for their leopard population & makes a superb safari experience for all forms of African safaris.
The following have made our listing of the Top 10 African safari lodge experiences for the year that was 2011. We have considered elements of the safari lodge experiences such as service excellence, access to big game, knowledgeable guides & overall feel of hospitality on offer to come up with the following listing of Africa’s very best in safari lodge magic.
In tenth place we have the magical Mala Mala Main Camp; a high end African safari lodge experience in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Ninth place goes to Puku Ridge, a wonderful & lesser known African safari lodge travel odyssey.
Xugana Camp is one of Botswana’s many safari lodge experiences that enjoys frequent return visits due to its high level of access to big African game & high levels of service excellence.
Eighth place goes to Singita Ebony & is one of two entrants from the Singita range of ultra-high end safari lodge options.
Seventh place goes to Madikwe River Lodge.
Fifth place goes to Chiawa Camp in Zambia.
Fourth place goes to none other than Singita Boulders.
Third place is held by Londolozi Pioneer Camp.
Second place winner is Ulusaba Safari Lodge.
And the winner for 2011′s finest African safari lodge is the peerless Mombo Camp in Botswana. Still the gold standard against which all other African safari lodges are judged into 2012 & beyond. It is such a sought after safari lodge experience that waiting lists of up to 18 months are not unheard of.
Tune in next time for our listing of Africa’s best safari lodges on a bang for the buck basis.
