SOUTH AFRICA OUTDOORS

BACKGROUND INFORMATION - The Houseboat Experience

Take the helm of a houseboat and navigate the Vaal River. Cruise the 55km of South Africa’s most dynamic permanently navigable inland waterway.

Explore the vibrant shorefront attractions, docking at restaurants, bars, spas, golf courses, and a casino resort. Try your hand at watersports.

Enjoy house-spotting on Millionaires’ Bend. Test your skill with a fishing rod. Haul out the twitching kit.

Experience the tranquillity of unspoilt wetlands, misty sunrises and balmy evenings. Moor in a secluded spot, light up the on-board braai and watch the sun set. Then retire to bed on the boat under the starry sky with the lapping waves and croaking frogs as company. It’s totally exclusive and totally private. And very, very memorable.

A houseboat charter on the Vaal River is a unique experience. It’s the perfect romantic getaway for a couple, tremendous for a family holiday, idyllic for honeymooners, outstanding for fishermen and birders, great for groups and fantastic for friends.

The Fleet

Our fleet of seven LeisureLiner houseboats are manufactured by Knysna Leisure Craft and are tailored to our specific needs. The LeisureLiner has been designed to the highest marine specifications by Australian naval architect Angelo Lavranos. The houseboats meet and often exceed all marine safety requirements.

We are the exclusive commercial operators of new LeisureLiner houseboats on Vaal waters. Our affiliation with Lightleys Holiday Houseboats on Knysna Lagoon (www.houseboats.co.za) means that we can draw on years of houseboat charter experience – all of which helps make your charter experience unforgettable.

Our boats have everything you might need. Just bring your clothes, food and towels.

The LeisureLiner can sleep up to five people. Inside it has:

Ø       a fore-cabin with a double bed, storage space and bench seat

Ø       a fully-appointed galley with gas stove, oven, fridge and sink

Ø       a small heads with a hot shower, chemical toilet and basin

Ø       an inside dining area that converts into a double bed.

Ø       a radio/CD player

Outside is a sitting area under a retractable awning, a fold-out table and a charcoal braai. Deck chairs and an umbrella are provided on the upper deck.

We have outfitted the houseboats to a high specification, so it is truly a comfortable experience. All bedding and kitchen requirements are provided on the houseboat. All you need to bring with you are clothes, toiletries, food and beverages (including filter coffee for the coffee plunger) as well as your choice of CDs.

When to come

The river has something to offer all year round. 

The sunny summer skies are synonymous with swimming, skiing and sun-tanning. Lounge on the upper deck under the umbrella as you cruise the river. The warm, balmy summer nights are the ideal backdrop to an evening braai under starry skies on the boat.

The beautiful misty mornings of autumn (April/May) and spring (August/September) are memorable. The river is quieter and than in summer. The days are mild and a jersey in the evening takes the nip out of the air.

In winter the clear blue skies, warmish midday sun and absence of other boats make the river a pleasantly private place to be. The nights can be cold, but down duvets and hot water bottles on the boat will help you keep warm. Doing the Winter River Wine Route can also help keep the chill at bay!

For those wanting to get away from it all, the weekdays are perfect as the only people are you likely to see are those at the waterside venues where you choose to dock. On the weekends, the river becomes a very social, albeit busier, place to be. Even on the busiest of weekends, it is almost always possible to escape the crowds, and after sunset the river is deserted.

Boarding and disembarking times

Our standard check-in time is from 14h00, and our standard check-out time is 10h00. However, we offer a limited number of ‘delayed departures’ on Sunday through Thursday that guarantees you the boat until 16h00 on your day of departure, at an additional charge.