Top 10 Lodges for Canoe Safaris

Gliding silently through the water means you don’t scare the animals off (as you might from a motorboat or 4x4), as well as getting a front-row seat watching them come to drink. This is especially true of the smaller animals like frogs, insects, and birds, who can fright easily with a motorboat. There is also plenty of action at the riverbank! Crocs can lie in wait and other predators see it as an opportunity to catch animals off guard.

There are two areas in Africa that offer indisputably some of the best canoeing – Botswana's Okavango Delta and the Zambezi river, each offering its own unique canoeing experience.

In the Okavango Delta, canoeing safaris give you a magnificent view of aquatic life and are a signature activity of the region, as you drift peacefully along the many shallow waterways in a mokoro or dug-out canoe. This is one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet and the quantity of species is breathtaking – your guide will point out the many smaller creatures that live in the Delta, as well as the more obvious wading eles!

On the other hand, the parks and reserves that fringe the Zambezi river, such as the Lower Zambezi (Zambia) and Mana Pools (Zimbabwe), offer an engaging and thrilling experience, where guests will see large numbers of elephant, hippo, and other big mammals vying for river space in a spectacular scene. This is river canoeing with lots of action – elephants on their hind legs tugging at riverside trees and huge pods of implacable hippos!

1. Old Mondoro, Zambia

Old Mondoro is set within the Lower Zambezi National Park boundary and enjoys prime river views. This is a legendary property that finds the perfect balance between luxury and being a proper bushcamp! Boasting a superb location, with just five rooms this is also one of the most intimate lodges in the region, and it ranks among our top three camps in the whole of Africa.

2. Wilderness Pelo, Botswana

Another intimate camp with five rooms, Wilderness Pelo is one of our favourite adventure camps in the Okavango. Offering great value in a park known for extremely high prices, this is a fantastic rustic camp on a private island in the heart of the Delta. A wonderful location for all water-based activities – and the canoeing here is excellent, with many tributaries to explore.

3. Xigera Camp, Botswana

Xigera lies south-west of Chief’s Island in the Moremi Game Reserve, a perfect example of the sheer beauty of the Okavango. The facilities at this boutique stately lodge are wide ranging – and although big game viewing here is sparse, the deep water channels and small islands are home to rare species such as Pel’s fishing owl and sitatunga. You would combine this camp with a ‘dry camp’, but for your water-based activities it’s hard to beat!

4. Wilderness Ruckomechi, Zimbabwe

Supremely positioned on the banks of the Zambezi, with river views and set to the stunning backdrop of the Zambezi escarpment, Wilderness Ruckomechi is one of the finest camps in this region of Zimbabwe. As it’s located in its own private reserve just to the west of Mana Pools National Park, you have all the benefits of being away from the busier areas, while enjoying the wealth of activities that comes from being outside the park boundaries.

5. Wilderness Little Vumbura, Botswana

Situated in the Vumbura Private Concession in the north of the Okavango Delta, Wilderness Little Vumbura is widely regarded as one of the Okavango’s finest small camps, with just six rooms. Perched on its own private island with the wealth of the Delta’s wildlife and waterways all around it, this is a famous and popular camp, where hippo, Nile crocodile, and stunning waterbirds abound.

6. Selinda Explorers Camp, Botswana

Extremely comfortable and amazingly good value, this Great Plains Conservation camp manages to retain a wonderfully adventurous feel in a reserve that is more often known for its luxury. Tented, Old Africa in style, and beautifully set amidst mangosteen and jackalberry trees, this is an authentic camp with just four rooms and has brilliant water activities.

7. Chula Island Camp, Zambia

If you want back-to-basics safari accommodation run by its passionate owners, then you will love Chula Island! Wild, raw, authentic… Chula Island Camp is a remote and adventurous fly-camping option in Lower Zambezi National Park. You won’t see other people in this remote region, and your closeness to nature thanks to the basic-yet-elegant tents makes for a truly unforgettable experience.

8. Vundu Camp, Zimbabwe

Vundu Camp is situated among groves of riverine forest on the banks of the Zambezi river, in a private concession within Mana Pools National Park. The camp is owned and operated by Nick Murray, a Pro-Zim guide with almost thirty years’ experience of guiding in the country. Since 1997, Nick has been based in Mana Pools, which is home to some of the best game viewing in Africa. David Attenborough’s Dynasties involved many months filming here!

9. Kanana Camp, Botswana

Kanana is a friendly camp that may not be quite as chic or smooth as many other camps in the Delta, but that is part of its appeal! This rustic, wooden, tented property certainly has great water-based activities to enjoy alongside classic game drives, walking, and night drives. Kanana offers excellent value in an outstanding game area.

10. Chiawa Camp, Zambia

Family owned and operated, Chiawa Camp is one of Zambia’s finest luxury camps. It has beautiful open-fronted rooms, stunning views of the Zambezi from camp, and is located within the Lower Zambezi National Park boundary. This is one of our favourite camps in the country. It has supreme water-based activities and receives consistently superb game reports!