Chobe Princess

With only a small number of guests per boat staying in one of the three Chobe Princesses is like being on your very own houseboat. The entire boat can also be booked exclusively, giving you your very own private villa on the water. As you drift down the Chobe River and spot incredible wildlife scenes, you'll be able to completely relax in an intimate river safari experience.

Each houseboat has a minimum of three smaller "tender" boats for use on daily excursions that take your fancy: mark off over 450 bird species found in this wetland paradise, try your hand at landing a tiger fish, or capture Africa's unique beauty on a photographic safari. Whatever you choose to do, your day trips will be personal and flexible because you’ll be sharing the tender boats with a small number of guests. Alternatively, simply laze on a deck chair with an ice-cold drink in hand as you soak up the tranquility that surrounds you.

Each cabin on board the Chobe Princesses is tastefully decorated in a contemporary style, and each has its own private view onto the ever-changing landscapes beyond. As you lie on your king-sized bed, spot an elephant grazing on the riverbank nearby, or see a fish eagle diving for its prey. On the upper entertainment deck, a spacious lounge and bar area encourages you to take time out while there’s also a plunge pool that's perfect for a refreshing dip. After a day spent doing as you please, fall asleep with the calls of hyena or even a lion drifting through the open doors of your cabin.

Potato Bush Camp in Zambia!

Potato Bush Camp

With a stunning panoramic view overlooking the Zambezi River and escarpment, this site is nestled under Mahogany, Sausage, Winter Thorn and Acacia Tortillas Trees, which provide excellent shade. Potato Bush Camp is comprised of three well-appointed Canvas and Rosewood Safari Tents and also a 2-bedroom Family Tent (similar to the very popular Kigelia House at Sausage Tree Camp).

 Activities at Potato Bush Camp

Game drives

Game drives are the most successful way to see a good variety of wildlife, both large and small. Visiting more areas, and witnessing the diversity of the Lower Zambezi National Park you can appreciate the unspoiled wilderness of Zambia. A larger area can be covered in a shorter time frame, increasing the chance to find good game. The vehicles also allow those ‘up close and personal’ experiences - our team of professional guides will ensure that it is not too close.

Night drives

Night drives are the perfect way to experience the nocturnal animals, including the elusive Leopard, Genet, Civet, Porcupine and Giant Eagle Owl. The big cats tend to be more active at night and you may find yourself following lions on the hunt. Other common sightings include Honey Badger, African Wild Cat and even the occasional sighting of the very rare Pangolin.

Your guide will also point out the constellations of the Southern night sky.

Canoeing

The Lower Zambezi is renowned for its spectacular canoeing. As one of the few privileged operators based inside the National Park, we are able to canoe guests down the most stunning section of the Zambezi River, the 14km long "Chifungulu Channel" starts just 100m downstream of the camp.

Led by one of our highly qualified canoe guides, explore the banks of the river, where game can be seen from a totally different perspective - looking UP rather than down! Canoe trips vary in length (from one to seven hours) however a one-hour canoe trip is a great prelude to an evening game drive.

No experience or particular strength is required - it is an effortless drift, as the flow of the Zambezi pushes the canoes downstream. Rather than a work out, this is a time to relax, listen to the sounds of the huge variety of bird-life and admire their sheer beauty. Min. canoeing age is 15 years old.

Boat Cruises

Potato Bush Camp operates scenic boat trips using 6 metre aluminium river cruisers. Designed for river systems, they are the perfect boat for the Zambezi River as sandbanks make navigation on the water very difficult.

Scenic boat cruises are a very relaxing way to view the game that comes down to the river to drink and bathe, whilst also taking in the unique water wildlife. Until the Zambezi River is explored by boat, it is impossible to truly appreciate the huge hippopotami pods and crocodile populations. Lucky guests have experienced the truly memorable sight of elephant crossing the Zambezi, from Mana Pools National Park to the Lower Zambezi National Park. To view the most amazing sunsets in Africa, floating sundowners (Gin and Tonic are de rigueur!) in the middle of the Zambezi is a must! This can also provide a photographic opportunity for that perfect African sunset.

Guides in the field report...

Bushwalk

We left the lodge early morning for bushwalk and just outside Tremisana Lodge was one cheetah walking along Olifants road and we followed it for almost ten minutes. He had come to drink at Tremisana Dam which is pumping as it is the only water in a radius of 5 km. During the bushwalk we saw four zebras, impalas and one elephant bull that was very relaxed. Late in the afternoon Tanya saw the cheetah eating impala right next to the road and she called us on the radio. We drove straight to the area and we found the cheetah busy feeding. It was very close and visible and also very rare to see a cheetah - it is one of the endangered species in Kruger - they estimate only 180 to 200 cheetahs are left.


Guide Report
The dry conditions continue. This has left animals in desperate need of grazing as well as fresh water supplies.
 
 It has however made sighting prolific around the few places with water. The hippos have been the ones suffering the most, with such a major drop in water levels. They have been forced to share small puddles of water, which can lead to fighting amongst the mature males. In some cases, they have caked themselves in mud to survive the heat of the sun.

The elephant numbers are impressively high. When coming across most major water sources, you almost sure to find a herd. Elephants enjoy water a great deal and cannot survive without it for very long and it’s especially stressful for the young calves.

The one herd I came across had parked themselves around a cement man-made water hole. There were also several zebras, eager to have a drink. The elephants however had decided that this was their private water hole. As soon as the zebra went anywhere near the water hole, the elephants would rush forwards and chase them away.

The poor zebras eventually gave up and moved off in the opposite direction, leaving the adult elephants to suck up huge amounts of water with their trunks, while the calves just climbed right inside and rolled around in the refreshing water.

The buffalos are equally dependent on the water as the elephants and require at least a drink first thing in the morning and then later on in the afternoon. I’ve come across several big herds of at least a hundred individuals, mainly during the afternoon session.

The weaker ones not quite managing in these testing times and are often taken down by lions. When driving around Kruger, you are sure to see at least one fresh carcass of a buffalo.

The big cat sightings have been great - my most memorable one has to be several lionesses and their cubs playing in the rocks. We headed down south after stopping at Satara rest camp for lunch, mainly hoping to find a leopard. The leopard had unfortunately left its tree, only leaving scraps from an impala kill, nestled in the upper branches.

We however gathered information about a pride of lions not far away.

The lions were lying in the shade of a Natal Mahogany tree. We counted four females and at least six cubs. The cubs had split into two groups, the adventurous ones and the mommy’s babies. The adventurous ones had found a few large boulders in the river bed, and were have loads of fun climbing up and down then popping out from the gaps in-between.

The mommy’s babies found a safer option with their moms, just relaxing in the shade. A great lion sighting and awesome to see so many little cubs looking so healthy.

The leopard might not have shown up in the early afternoon, but we did get to see one five hundred metres from the gate. He was lying in the shade feeding on a warthog.