Okavango Spirit Houseboat

It’s no secret that a mobile expedition is one of our favourite ways to discover the African wilderness. But what if that expedition was on water? Welcome to the Okavango Spirit, a seven-bedroomed houseboat that floats along the lily-strewn channels of the Panhandle, the quiet and remote end of the Okavango Delta where most safari traffic doesn’t even think about venturing. Sliding glass doors open from each cabin onto a private deck just above the water and you’ll wake up to elephants slurping noisily and crocodiles slithering off the banks.

During the day, you’ll explore on tender boats: game drives along the water’s edge, guided walks on the larger islands, birdwatching, and the occasional excursion to Tsodilo Hills, a World Heritage Site with more than 4,000 San Bushman rock paintings hidden in its rock faces. There’s fishing for those who want it (tigerfish are the prize), and most days end with sundowners on the upper deck, harrumphing hippos the soundtrack to your G&T.