For those of us who love spending time on the water, houseboats really are the perfect solution, not only for living, but for vacationing as well. All over the world, you can find houseboats to rent that offer every comfort of a hotel, with the added bonus of ever changing scenery and your choice of where to go next.



Perhaps the most well-known option is renting a barge in France, slowly meandering your way along the Canal du Midi while getting off the boat every now and then to do some shopping, sightseeing and sampling the local cuisine. Lovely, yes, but if you are looking for something a bit more exotic and adventurous, you might want to give one of the destinations below a try.

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is the largest inland delta in the world, featuring many waterways to explore, and an amazing variety of wildlife. Sit on the top deck of your houseboat and watch giraffes, elephants, crocodiles, lions, buffalos and an astonishing variety of birds (more than 400 species) as you slowly glide along in the African landscape. There are many houseboats available for rent here, and the best time to go depends on what you are interested in. The dry season (May - October) offers the best wildlife viewing, while the rainy season (Nov - April) is prime time for bird watching and for those more interested in the local vegetation.

Another great area to explore on a houseboat is the wetlands and waterways around Impalila Island, 43 miles west of Victoria Falls, where the upper Zambezi and Chobe rivers meet. (This also happens to be the only place in the world where four countries meet: Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe). There are many houseboats available for rent here, with great features such as bedrooms with huge sliding windows that open onto the water (with mosquito nets of course, this is Africa after all) so that you can lie in bed and watch wildlife on the shore or elephants swim across the river. This area is also known for its exceptional bird life and fishing, and if you visit November - April, you might see as many as 300 different species of birds in just a few days.

Lake Jozini (also known as The Pongolapoort Dam) in South Africa is another spectacular houseboating destination. Jonzini is the third largest lake in South Africa (18.6 by 4.3 miles) and very popular among anglers because of its large, feisty tigerfish population. Bordering the lake are the Lebombo Mountains and the Pongola Game Reserve, providing magnificent scenery and an abundance of wildlife. Winter (May-July), with warm, sunny days and virtually no wind or rain is the best time to visit. Gather a bunch of friends and spend a week in luxury aboard one of the fully crewed Shayamanzi houseboats. Imagine watching hippos and giraffes from the top floor lounge or maybe from one of the Jacuzzis while the chef is preparing dinner. Now that's my kind of safari!