Kazinga Channel
Uganda
Kazinga Channel
A wildlife dense channel linking Lake Edward and Lake George, with one of Africa's largest hippo concentrations.
Visit UgandaBoat & Canoe Safaris
A slower, water level view of Africa's wildlife, from a boat cruise to a hand poled mokoro canoe.
Overview
Water draws wildlife in numbers a vehicle rarely matches, and a boat puts you closer to it without disturbing the scene. Hippo pods, elephant herds coming to drink, and dense birdlife are all easier to approach by water.
In Botswana's Okavango Delta, a mokoro canoe poled by a local guide replaces the engine entirely, moving silently through channels a 4x4 could never reach.
Kazinga Channel, UgandaWhy Do This
01
Wildlife viewing at water level, often closer than from a vehicle
02
Silent mokoro canoes in Botswana's Okavango Delta
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A different pace and perspective within a longer safari
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Strong for birdlife alongside hippo and elephant
Boat & Canoe Safaris By Country
Uganda and Botswana offer the two most distinct water based safaris we run, one by engine, one by hand poled canoe.
Uganda
Visit Uganda- Logistics
- The Kazinga Channel sits inside Queen Elizabeth National Park, an easy add on to any southern Uganda game drive itinerary.
- Cost
- Cruises run around $30 per person and are usually built into your park itinerary cost rather than booked separately.
- Where To Stay
- Lodges along the channel itself, such as Mweya Safari Lodge, put the cruise departure point a short walk from your room.
- Our Take
- The most convenient boat safari on our list, easy to add to almost any Uganda itinerary without extra travel time.
Botswana
Visit Botswana- Logistics
- The Okavango Delta is reached by light aircraft from Maun, landing on a bush airstrip close to your camp.
- Cost
- Mokoro trips are generally included in your camp's daily rate, which itself runs at the premium end of our destinations.
- Where To Stay
- Small, tented camps built specifically around the Delta's flooded channels, most accessible only by air or boat.
- Our Take
- The most tranquil, exclusive water safari we offer, at a genuinely premium price point.
Best Parks & Regions For Boat & Canoe Safaris
These wetlands hold some of the densest hippo, elephant and birdlife concentrations we cover.
Kazinga Channel
Okavango Delta
Botswana
Okavango Delta
A vast inland delta of flooded channels, explored by silent mokoro canoe deep into the Kalahari's interior.
Visit Botswana
The Sudd
South Sudan
The Sudd
One of the world's largest wetlands, formed by the White Nile, and one of the least visited landscapes we plan trips to.
Visit South SudanWildlife You Might See
Water draws wildlife in numbers a vehicle safari rarely matches.
Sample Boat & Canoe Safaris Itineraries
A few of our ready made itineraries built around Boat & Canoe Safaris, or ask us to design your own.
Murchison Falls, UgandaUganda Wildlife Safari Adventure
Queen Elizabeth's tree climbing lions, a Kazinga Channel boat cruise, and Murchison Falls in one loop.
FROM $1,690 ppView Itinerary
What To Expect
Boat trips run one to three hours, with life jackets provided. Mokoro canoe trips move at a walking pace and carry two passengers per canoe with a poler standing at the stern.
Okavango Delta, BotswanaWhen To Go
Water levels and wildlife concentrations are strongest in the dry season, June to October.
GOOD
JanGOOD
FebFAIR
MarFAIR
AprFAIR
MayGREAT
JunBEST
JulBEST
AugGREAT
SepGOOD
OctFAIR
NovGOOD
Dec
Best — ideal conditions
Great — very good conditions
Good — solid, fewer crowds
Fair — wetter or hotter, still workable
Pair It With
Other experiences you might like
Boat & Canoe Safaris pairs easily with any of these.
Gorilla Trekking
A forest hike that ends with an hour in the presence of a habituated mountain gorilla family, on foot, in Uganda…
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Chimpanzee Trekking
Track chimpanzees on foot through rainforest, listening for the calls that give away a group's location long before…
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Game Drives
4x4 safaris across open savannah and floodlit waterholes, the classic African wildlife encounter.
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Cultural & Community Visits
Direct time with the communities who call these landscapes home, led by community members themselves.
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Mountain & Volcano Climbing
From an overnight hike to a churning lava lake to a sunrise dune climb, added altitude changes the whole character of…
ExploreBoat & Canoe Safaris Frequently Asked Questions
Are boat safaris safe around hippos?
Yes, licensed operators keep a wide, respectful distance and never idle directly in a pod's path. Hippos are responsible for more wildlife related incidents in Africa than almost any other animal, which is exactly why our guides take the distance rules seriously.
What should I wear on a boat safari?
Light layers, a hat and sun protection. Mornings on open water can be cool even at the equator, and spray is common on faster river cruises like Murchison Falls.
Can young children join a mokoro trip?
Generally yes with a life jacket, though we recommend checking with us first since canoe stability and trip length vary by location and season.
Let's plan your journey
Ready to add Boat & Canoe Safaris to your trip?
Tell us your dates and we will build it into a full itinerary.
Talk to a Safari ExpertOur Kampala team replies within 24 hours · +256 705 087 906