Boating safari experiences

Messing about in boats is one of life’s great pleasures. Messing about on boats in Africa, however, must be the greatest pleasure of them all. Whether you’re bobbing up and down the Zambezi, sundowner in hand, or cruising past snorting hippo in the Rufiji River in Tanzania, boats offer a different perspective on your surroundings – those crocodiles certainly look a lot larger at eye-level. If you like your boats with a little less nature, then head to the coast where magnificent old dhows billow through the Zanzibar Archipelago and glittering catamarans jaunt around the Seychelles.

Enjoy a sundowner boat cruise on the Zambezi River

From a calming sunset boat cruise to adventurous morning boat safaris

It's safe to say the Zambezi River needs little introduction...And what better way to experience the crocodile-steeped waters, incredible birdlife and animals lining the banks in their hundreds than from the river itself? Swap your 4x4 for something slightly more mellow and float down the Zambezi by boat. By day, motor between the tiny islands and keep your eyes peeled for splashing elephant and colourful waterbirds. By night, mix G&Ts with a pastel-hued sunset and you’ve got the ultimate sunset river cruise. With most lodges offering trips on the water, this is an essential part of any Lower Zambezi safari.