Pangolin Voyager – Exclusive Charter

Mornings on the Chobe River are quite simply stunning. Very few boats venture out onto the river until later, so it seems like you have the whole park to yourself! Keen photographers will want to be up and onto the photo boat for first light, so we arrange for coffees and light breakfast snacks to be available 30 minutes before sunrise. Your guide will pack coffee, tea and “rusks” into the hotbox for the morning cruise, and then you will set off in search of photographic subjects in beautiful early morning light.

On these morning cruises, you will see plenty of hippo grazing out of the water, crocs hauling themselves out onto the banks, a multitude of bird species and even some larger mammals like buffalo and elephant grazing on the softer grasses along the river banks. For guests who prefer a later start, the coffee will remain warm and ready for you. You are invited to enjoy the first morning rays of sunshine from the deck with binoculars at your convenience.

We usually return from the morning photo boat excursion around 09.30 (depending on the season) to enjoy a hearty cooked breakfast as we set off to cruise to our next mooring point along the river.

We have well-spaced mooring points along the river and intend to spend each night at a different location – water levels permitting, of course. The time between the mooring points can take several hours of relaxed cruising, especially if we encounter something that we need to stop and see. The beauty of a private charter is that the 8-seater photo boat is on call for you to use throughout the day, especially if you chance upon a sighting that you want to get closer to. Otherwise, the deck and lounge (with floor-to-ceiling glass on three sides) make for great vantage points to relax and enjoy the world go by during the heat of the day.

Should you require any refreshments during the day, you need only ask a member of the crew and it will be organised straight away. The houseboat is chartered on an all-inclusive basis, allowing you to enjoy whatever you like to drink and eat throughout the day. It’s all included in the charter price.

In the mid-afternoon, we serve a delicious (light) high tea featuring sweet and savoury dishes to tide you over until dinner. Tea and coffee are served along with any other beverages you might desire.

Around 4pm you will set off in the photo boat for the afternoon game viewing and photography session.

For guests travelling with camera gear, specifically larger lenses with lens collars, you will be supplied with a base plate to attach your camera to the custom photo mounts on your chair. If you are just general game viewing without a big camera this mounting system can be removed from the rotating chairs on the boat to give you more room to relax.

The afternoons on The Chobe are very special, and you tend to see more of the larger herds of elephants coming to the river to slake their thirst after a long day in the heat. It is also the time that we tend to see more big cats as they arise from their slumber to prepare for the night’s hunting.

The guides on the Pangolin Voyager have lived in the area all their lives and know the river intimately. If there is anything in particular you want to see or find, simply ask, and they will do their best to obtain it for you. They love a challenge!

Onboard, we will have a cooler box filled with your preferred sundowner drinks and ice, along with a few snacks, to enjoy.

We return the Pangolin Voyager just after sunset to freshen up before meeting on the deck for a pre-dinner drink and to watch the African night sky reveal itself.

Dinner is a three-course affair served at the dining table in the lounge. All the ingredients are locally sourced and lovingly prepared by the chefs, Sabrina and Melody.

After dinner, you are free to relax in the lounge or on the deck for some star gazing before turning in for a good night’s sleep and the next day, onboard your private houseboat.

The charter rates for the Pangolin Voyager houseboat depend on the number of people onboard, the time of year and the duration of the charter. Please complete the form below to receive an accurate quote tailored to your specific requirements.

Please note that the minimum charter duration is 3 nights and maximum 8 guests onboard.

We are a full-service safari operator with excellent connections with all the top safari outfitters in the region. This places us perfectly to help design an extended safari itinerary for you and your friends and family in conjunction with your Exclusive Charter of the Pangolin Voyager Houseboat.

Your safari planner will work with you to design the perfect safari visiting our trusted partners in select locations. For example, you could opt for a couple of nights in Victoria Falls followed by time exploring the Okavango Delta and Kalahari. We also work with several companies in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia. Rest assured that any itinerary we put together for you will compliment your time on the Pangolin Voyager Houseboat.

Simply complete the form below with any ideas or suggestions you might already have and let us work our magic!

Unlike the Pangolin Chobe Hotel, we don’t have cameras available for you to use on the houseboat; however, this can be arranged along with a private photographic host to accompany you. They will occupy the guide’s cabin and be on hand throughout to assist you and guide you with your wildlife photography and post-production sessions during the charter. There is an additional charge for this, and our safari planner will be happy to explain the options to you.