Day one
Transfer from Shakawe to Miss Elly. After an introductory briefing and unpacking aboard Miss Elly, we cruise slowly upriver to the new suspension bridge at Mohembo, where you will be entertained by views of a variety of birds, basking crocodiles and pods of hippopotamus.
A finger lunch will be served enroute, while drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, will be available at all times, as will be tea and coffee.
After viewing the bridge we turn downriver to seek a secluded cove where we will overnight onboard Miss Elly.
We will toast the setting sun on the upper deck, and follow this with a 3-course dinner at around 8pm, prepared in our onboard kitchen.
Guests may refresh and enjoy a hot shower at any time, utilising the onboard facilities to be found in the stern of the boat.
Retiring for the night to our pre-made up, queen-sized clamshell tents on the upper deck, is at guests’ discretion. These tents are equipped with lighting, as well as a USB port for the charging of mobile phones and/or cameras. (Please note that mobile phone signal will only be available on day one)
Day two
Wake to the call of the Fish Eagle and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, and join us for a Continental and/or cooked breakfast.
The upper deck tents are closed up, and we continue with our downriver meander. Keen fisher-persons are welcome to troll a lure from the back of the boat and flirt with the possibility of hooking one of the renowned Tiger fish patrolling the channels. Fishing in these parts is done on a catch-and-release basis.
Along the way we will view a variety of birds, possibly a herd of elephants amongst the tall reeds and papyrus, and various antelope may be spotted on the grassy plains in between.
We arrive at Red Cliff, where, at certain times of the year, a variety of Bee-eater species can be found nesting in the high banks. A light lunch will be served as we view this unusual spectacle.
We continue downriver all the time enjoying the changing scenery that accompanies every twist and turn of the river. As evening approaches we tie up to a mooring of choice, where we disembark and explore the palm covered island. Table and chairs will be set up and a fire lit with the setting sun as our beautiful sundowner backdrop. Once again, a 3-course dinner will be prepared for your enjoyment onboard Miss Elly at around 8pm. Thereafter, a night-cap and storytelling around the fire, should you choose, before the sounds of the night, together with the lapping of the river against Miss Elly’s hull, lulls us to sleep.
Day three
We awaken to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the song birds on the island, the fire is rekindled, which we sit around whilst breakfast is prepared onboard Miss Elly. With breakfast done, we take another walk on the island in search of the secretive Green Pigeon, as well as the entertaining Vervet monkeys feeding on the fruits of the Wild Fig. After packing up Miss Elly, we’ll set off further downriver at a leisurely pace. As this area is remote, and therefore with very few fishing nets set out by the local inhabitants, keen fisher-persons may, once again, wish to troll for Tiger fish and Bream.
While negotiating the rivers’ many twists and turns, at times even almost back on itself, refreshments will be enjoyed, and a light lunch served.
We have a certain tree-covered island in mind for our third night lay-over and as the sun begins to dip towards the horizon, we moor up and disembark to further explore the area. Dining facilities will be set up on land and a fire lit for our dinner of a sumptuous barbeque, or braai, as it is called in our neck of the woods. Naturally, refreshing drinks around the fire are the order of the day, and for those who with, the facilities onboard Miss Elly are there for your convenience.
Further stories and night-caps are to be enjoyed should the fire beckon, before heading off for a last relaxing night aboard Miss Elly.
Day Four
We rekindle the previous nights’ fire, brew coffee, and welcome you to join us as the Fish Eagles and Hippos vocalise the new day in.
Your Continental and/or cooked breakfast will be prepared onboard, and while you enjoy that we’ll pack up our equipment, extinguish the fire, and get Miss Elly prepared for the days’ journey.
With the bow pointed back upstream, we will commence our return meander. Time dependent, we may stop at Red Cliff for further viewing of the nesting Bee-eaters, and along the way we will enjoy a light lunch, before arriving back at our departure point in the early afternoon.