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Rivers & Rails of Africa 2026

River/Barge Cruise

3 nights in Cape Town, 4-night wildlife cruise, 2 nights in Victoria Falls and 4-night Rovos Rail train journey from Victoria falls to Pretoria
Relive the romance of a bygone era traveling on the world’s most luxurious and historic train, the Rovos Rail. Before experiencing the timeless grace and high romance of African exploration via this legendary train, you’ll spend three nights in Cape Town. Cradled by the imposing Table Mountain, Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head, Cape Town is known for its majestic beauty, offering a blend of cosmopolitan city life and outdoor adventure. From here, fly north to Victoria Falls and transfer to the Zambezi Queen and your wildlife and safari cruise in Namibia and Botswana. Revel in the Chobe National Park’s breathtaking scenery and marvel at its mighty elephants splashing in the water and the stealthy lions ruling over the plains. Continue to the UNESCO-designated Victoria Falls for two nights prior to spending your last four nights traveling 1,000 miles through Zimbabwe and on to South Africa. Experience five-star cuisine, excellent South African wines, extraordinary scenery, amazing wildlife and a safari at Hwange Game Reserve and visit Polokwane Nature Reserve as you journey through southern Africa.

From price

$27,765
From price per person, twin share
Tour Provider AmaWaterways
Number Of Days
16
Start Location
Cape Town, South Africa
End Location
Johannesburg, South Africa
Age Range
No age restriction
Group Size
20 to 228
Tour Style
Luxury
Tour Themes
River/Small ship/Barge
Physical Rating
Easy to Moderate

Departure dates

From price per person, twin share
Start End Availability Price
06 Nov 2026 22 Nov 2026 Available $27,765
20 Nov 2026 06 Dec 2026 Available $28,215

Inclusions

  • Embark the Zambezi Queen in Kasane. This afternoon, enjoy the view as you settle in on the Chobe River before a Welcome Cocktail and Dinner. (D)
  • Embark on an exhilarating, morning boat safari to explore the Chobe River’s diverse game viewing. Afterwards, return to the Zambezi Queen for lunch. As the Zambezi Queen cruises along the Chobe River, relax on board in the afternoon and enjoy what nature has to offer. Be sure to spend time in the splash pool or perhaps catch-up with your favorite book. Later in the day, revel in panoramic view with another thrilling boat safari. (B,L,D)
  • Join a full-day safari of Chobe National Park in open-top 4x4 vehicles. Be on the lookout for elephants, giraffe, zebra, sable, warthog and cape buffalo. For lunch, take a seat under the trees and savor a delicious picnic. (B,L,D)
  • Visit a typical African village where you’ll spend time with the village children as well as its elders. Back on board and following lunch, you’ll have a choice to take a boat safari, bird watch or fish. Enjoy your last evening aboard with a festive African- themed dinner hosted by your crew. (B,L,D)
  • Disembark your cruise in Kasane. (B)
  • LAND PACKAGE
  • 3 nights at the Cape Grace Hotel in Superior Room with a harbor view, including daily breakfast
  • Welcome Reception with drinks and tapas
  • Full-day Cape of Good Hope tour and local lunch with drinks
  • Cableway to the summit of Table Mountain (weather permitting)
  • Cape Winelands tour including tastings and lunch OR guided visit to Robben Island followed by lunch
  • 2-night stay at the Victoria Falls Hotel in upgraded Stable Wing room, including daily breakfast
  • Cocktail reception aboard a vintage steam train followed by dinner on the train
  • Guided tour of Victoria Falls National Park
  • Exclusive Sundowner Cruise with tapas, followed by dinner
  • 4-nights journey on the Rovos Rail luxury train in an upgraded Deluxe Suite
  • All meals and drinks
  • Excursions accompanied by a qualified guide
  • 24-hour full room service and bar facilities
  • All airport transfers

    • Itinerary details

    Day 1 - Cape Town
    ARRIVE IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA. Situated amidst majestic mountains and lined with pristine beaches, Cape Town has a rich cultural heritage with extraordinary attractions. After being greeted at the airport by an AmaWaterways representative, transfer to your Cape Town hotel. Get to know your Tour Director and fellow travelers at the Welcome Reception. (WR)
    Day 2 - Cape Town
    CAPE TOWN. Embark on a full-day exploration along one of the world’s most stunning routes, taking you past the 12 Apostles, Hout Bay and Chapman’s Peak. Stop at the Cape of Good Hope, first rounded in modern times in 1488 by the Portuguese in their attempt to establish trade in the Far East and still a significant landmark for sailors today. Visit Boulders Beach, home to thousands of African penguins, and then be treated to lunch with drinks overlooking beautiful False Bay. (B,L)
    Day 3 - Cape Town
    CAPE TOWN. Take a cableway up to Table Mountain followed by a trip to the Cape Winelands where you’ll visit two of its best vineyards, complete with wine tasting. A delicious lunch will be included along the way. Or choose to explore another side of Cape Town at famous Robben Island, once used as a prison for many political inmates, including Nelson Mandela. Ferry over to the island where you will take a tour led by a former warden. Back in Cape Town, enjoy lunch, and then visit the colorful historic Bo Kaap neighborhood before boarding the cableway to Table Mountain’s summit. (B,L)
    Day 4 - Cape Town
    CAPE TOWN – VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE – ZAMBEZI QUEEN – EMBARKATION. In the morning, transfer to the airport for a flight to Victoria Falls. Here, you will be transferred to the Chobe River that forms the border between Botswana and Namibia. Then board tender boats that will take you to the Zambezi Queen moored on the Namibia side of the river. Settle into your stateroom, enjoy a mid-afternoon snack, and in the evening, be treated to a Welcome Cocktail Reception and Dinner. (B,D)
    ZAMBEZI QUEEN – EMBARKATION. Embark the Zambezi Queen in Kasane. This afternoon, enjoy the view as you settle in on the Chobe River before a Welcome Cocktail and Dinner. (D)
    Day 5 - Chobe River
    ZAMBEZI QUEEN. Embark on an exhilarating, morning boat safari to explore the Chobe River’s diverse game viewing. Afterwards, return to the Zambezi Queen for lunch. As the Zambezi Queen cruises along the Chobe River, relax on board in the afternoon and enjoy what nature has to offer. Be sure to spend time in the splash pool or perhaps catch-up with your favorite book. Later in the day, revel in panoramic view with another thrilling boat safari. (B,L,D)
    Day 6 - Chobe River
    ZAMBEZI QUEEN. Join a full-day safari of Chobe National Park in open-top 4x4 vehicles. Be on the lookout for elephants, giraffe, zebra, sable, warthog and cape buffalo. For lunch, take a seat under the trees and savor a delicious picnic. (B,L,D)
    Day 7 - Chobe River
    ZAMBEZI QUEEN. Visit a typical African village where you’ll spend time with the village children as well as its elders. Back on board and following lunch, you’ll have a choice to take a boat safari, bird watch or fish. Enjoy your last evening aboard with a festive African- themed dinner hosted by your crew. (B,L,D)
    Day 8 - Chobe River
    ZAMBEZI QUEEN – DISEMBARKATION. Disembark your cruise in Kasane. (B)
    ZAMBEZI QUEEN – DISEMBARKATION – VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE. Enjoy a morning cruise during breakfast and be on the lookout for wildlife. Afterward, transfer to the legendary Victoria Falls, one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Spend the afternoon exploring the town or experience one of the many activities offered at your hotel. Later this afternoon, join a cocktail reception followed by dinner aboard a vintage steam train and make your way to the Victoria Falls Bridge to watch the sunset over the Falls. (B, D)
    Day 9 - Victoria Falls
    VICTORIA FALLS. A local guide will take you on a tour of the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls. You’ll learn about its history, and the flora and fauna that make this area so unique. In the evening, embark on a private sunset cruise along the Zambezi River. Relax on board as you observe a variety of game while enjoying a delicious mix of tapas with drinks, followed by a special dinner with live local entertainment at the hotel. (B,D)
    Day 10 - Victoria Falls
    VICTORIA FALLS – ROVOS RAIL. Enjoy a leisurely morning before touring the town of Victoria Falls and being treated to a home-hosted lunch. Later in the day, head to the Victoria Falls colonial-era rail station where you’ll board the Rovos Rail. (B,L,D)
    Day 11 - Rovos Rail
    ROVOS RAIL. Start the morning with a safari to the Hwange Game Reserve, Zimbabwe’s largest national park, boasting a tremendous selection of wildlife with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 different birds. The elephants of Hwange are world famous and the park’s elephant population is one of the largest in the world. After your safari, return to the train for a lovely brunch as you travel through the vast landscapes of central Zimbabwe on the way to the border town of Beitbridge. Take in the southern African landscape from the lounge, observation cars or your deluxe suite. (B,L,D)
    Day 12 - Rovos Rail
    ROVOS RAIL. Stop in the village of Gwanda with time to stroll. Travel through baobab tree country and cross the Limpopo River and enter South Africa in the town of Musina for border formalities. (B,LD)
    Day 13 - Rovos Rail
    ROVOS RAIL. Cross the Tropic of Capricorn and then visit the Polokwane Nature Reserve home to more than 20 species of wildlife including the white rhino. Continue your journey south through Warmbaths (Bela-Bela) and onto Pyramid. (B,L,D)
    Day 14 - Pretoria
    PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – JOHANNESBURG. Disembark the train in Pretoria where you will be transferred to the airport in Johannesburg for your onward flight home or extend your trip with four nights in Rwanda. (B)
    Note: Please do not schedule your onward flight before 4:00 p.m.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    This tour offers a uniquely luxurious and diverse experience of Southern Africa, combining a stay in the beautiful city of Cape Town, a wildlife cruise on the Zambezi Queen, and a historic journey on the world-renowned Rovos Rail. You will enjoy five-star cuisine, excellent South African wines, and the chance to see iconic wildlife in Chobe National Park and Hwange Game Reserve, all while traveling in timeless grace and style.
    This tour is designed for luxury travelers who appreciate high-end comfort, historic romance, and a comprehensive exploration of nature and culture. Those who enjoy a blend of cosmopolitan city life, river cruising, and legendary train travel, as well as wildlife enthusiasts eager to see elephants and lions, will find this experience particularly rewarding.
    The pros include an exceptionally high standard of luxury, a diverse itinerary covering multiple countries (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe), and the inclusion of iconic experiences like the Rovos Rail and Victoria Falls. A potential con may be the high price point of $28,215.00, which reflects its luxury status.
    While the text does not explicitly mention specific groups, the romantic nature of the Rovos Rail and the luxury cruise settings make this an excellent choice for couples. The high-end amenities and organized nature of the tour would also suit solo travelers or families looking for a premium, stress-free African adventure.
    This tour is an excellent option for both. First-time visitors will benefit from a curated itinerary that hits major highlights like Table Mountain and Victoria Falls, while experienced travelers will appreciate the exclusive luxury of the Zambezi Queen and the historic prestige of the Rovos Rail.
    The physicality rating for this tour is listed as Easy to Moderate. While many activities are relaxed, such as the train and cruise portions, some excursions involve 4x4 vehicles and walking tours, so guests with significant mobility concerns may wish to contact us for further details on specific accessibility.
    This tour provides a balanced blend of all three. It offers sightseeing at landmarks like Table Mountain and Victoria Falls, cultural immersion through visits to an African village and the Bo Kaap neighborhood, and adventure via wildlife safaris in Chobe and Hwange Game Reserves.
    The pace of the tour is generally relaxed, emphasizing luxury and leisure. While it covers a vast distance, much of the journey takes place on a cruise ship and a luxury train, allowing guests to enjoy the scenery and five-star amenities at a comfortable speed.
    The itinerary feels relaxed, featuring multi-night stays in key locations like Cape Town and Victoria Falls, as well as a four-night leisurely train journey. There are dedicated times for relaxing by the splash pool, reading, and enjoying long gourmet meals.
    Yes, the tour includes many of Southern Africa's most famous landmarks, including Table Mountain, the Cape of Good Hope, Boulders Beach, the Chobe River, and the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls.
    The tour includes a Tour Director and local guides, such as the former warden at Robben Island and specialists at Victoria Falls, who manage the experience and provide expert insight, ensuring that guests can navigate the regions comfortably.
    Disclaimer:
    These FAQs have been generated with the assistance of AI to provide a general overview. They are intended as a starting point only and should be reviewed based on your knowledge, current supplier information and client requirements.
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