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Iconic Africa River Cruise
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Iconic Africa River Cruise
This is the longest and broadest of AmaWaterways‘ Southern Africa journeys, combining everything in the shorter Cape to the Falls itinerary with an extended stop in Johannesburg and a proper safari finish in Greater Kruger National Park. Five countries feature in total: South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia, whose border the Chobe follows for part of its course.
4.87
from
43 reviews
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Cruise Line: AmaWaterways -
Ship: Zambezi Queen -
Duration: 14 Nights
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Departure: Mar - Nov
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Iconic Africa Cruise Itinerary
Beginning in Cape Town and finishing in Johannesburg, this cruise adds so much value and enrichment to an already incredible itinerary with a Kruger safari, themed dinners, an array of cultural and historic excursions, and so much more.
Day 1
Cape Town
Touch down in Cape Town and transfer to your hotel, with the rest of the day free before an evening welcome reception and dinner with your tour director and fellow travellers.
Day 2
Cape Town
The cableway carries you up Table Mountain for city views, then the route follows the coast past the Twelve Apostles, Hout Bay and Chapman’s Peak to the Cape of Good Hope. A lunch in False Bay and a stop at the Boulders Beach penguin colony round out the day, with the evening left open.
Day 3
Cape Town
A guided tour of Robben Island, led by a former warden, covers its history as a political prison, including Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment there, followed by lunch and a visit to a nearby township, meeting local artists and residents. The day ends with a wine tasting and dinner at a vineyard in the Constantia Valley.
Day 4
Cape Town
Transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Victoria Falls, then continue overland to the Chobe River, which marks the border between Botswana and Namibia, and board tender boats out to the Zambezi Queen. After settling into your stateroom and a quiet afternoon, a welcome cocktail reception and dinner start the river safari portion of the trip.
Day 5
Chobe River, Botswana
A morning boat safari along the Chobe brings a good chance of elephants, hippos, buffalo and birdlife in one of Africa’s richest wildlife corridors. The afternoon is free to enjoy the sun deck or splash pool, and a second safari in the evening offers another window onto the wildlife gathering along the banks.
Day 6
Chobe River, Botswana
Following a morning boat safari, visit a local African village on the riverbank to spend time with residents, including children and elders, learning about daily life and tradition. The afternoon brings a choice of another safari, guided birdwatching, or fishing, before a farewell African-themed dinner on board with music and dancing from the crew.
Day 7
Chobe River, Botswana
A full day in open-top 4×4 vehicles takes you deep into Chobe National Park, one of the most densely populated wildlife areas in Africa, with real chances to spot elephants, giraffes, zebras, sable antelope, warthogs and Cape buffalo, plus the occasional predator. A picnic lunch is included before you disembark the Zambezi Queen in the afternoon and transfer to your hotel in Victoria Falls for dinner with live entertainment.
Day 8
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
A guided walking tour introduces the history of Victoria Falls and the surrounding rainforest ecosystem, with the afternoon left free to explore the town or relax at your hotel. In the evening, a private sundowner cruise on the Zambezi comes with drinks and tapas as the sun goes down.
Day 9
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Walk across the Victoria Falls Bridge to see the Zambian side of the falls and visit the historic town of Livingstone, then return to Zimbabwe for a free afternoon. The evening brings a guided safari in search of black rhino and other nocturnal wildlife, followed by a three-course bush dinner.
Day 10
Johannesburg
After breakfast, transfer to Victoria Falls Airport for your flight to Johannesburg, then settle into the Fairlawns Boutique Hotel, a quieter, park-like property with its own spa, for an evening at leisure.
Day 11
Johannesburg
Spend the day exploring Johannesburg and Soweto, the centre of resistance to apartheid, with a visit to the Mandela House and lunch at Sanctuary Mandela in the township. The Apartheid Museum, guided by experts who bring the city’s history to life, rounds out the afternoon, followed by a special multi-course dinner and presentation in the evening.
Day 12
Johannesburg
After breakfast, fly to Hoedspruit and transfer to your five-star tented camp on the edge of Greater Kruger National Park. A late-afternoon game drive gives you your first shot at the Big Five, followed by dinner and stargazing back at camp.
Day 13
Johannesburg
Today brings two safaris, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, both timed for the best wildlife viewing, with chances to spot lions, cheetahs, hyenas and more alongside giraffes and zebras. The evening is free for dinner and conversation back at the lodge.
Day 14
Johannesburg
Another full day of morning and afternoon safaris, again timed around the cooler, more active hours for wildlife, with the evening left open at the lodge.
Day 15
Johannesburg
One last early morning game drive rounds off the safari before a transfer to the airport for your flight back to Johannesburg to connect with your onward journey.
Note: Please do not schedule your homebound flight before 5 p.m.
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Chobe River Cruise Deals
This sits at the top of AmaWaterways’ Southern Africa range, and there are shorter versions covering similar ground in less time, along with entirely different routes through East Africa. Peruse the full range to see which adventure calls to you.
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Iconic Africa Cruise Review
Iconic Africa FAQs
Do I need a visa for this trip?
Yes, visas are required for travel across this itinerary, and the requirements differ by nationality and by country, so it’s worth checking directly with the relevant consulates for South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia well before you travel. Given the number of countries involved, it’s sensible to start this process earlier than you would for a single-country European sailing.
How many internal flights does this trip involve?
Several: Cape Town to Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls to Johannesburg, and Johannesburg to Hoedspruit for the Kruger leg, plus the return flight to Johannesburg at the end. All of these are built into the itinerary, but it’s worth keeping baggage allowances for regional African flights in mind, as they can be stricter than long-haul routes.
What is the Apartheid Museum, and is the Soweto tour appropriate for all travellers?
The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg traces the history of South Africa’s apartheid system through original artefacts, photography and film, including the 1976 Soweto Uprising, when thousands of schoolchildren marched in protest against being taught in Afrikaans, a turning point that’s widely seen as accelerating apartheid’s eventual end. The tour is guided and handled with care, but it does cover difficult and sometimes distressing history directly, so it’s worth going in aware that this is a more serious, reflective day than most of the trip’s wildlife-focused itinerary.
What currency should I bring for this trip?
You’ll cross several currencies over the two weeks: South African rand, Botswana pula, and US dollars, which are widely accepted and often preferred for tourist spending in Zimbabwe. Small notes in US dollars tend to be the most broadly useful option across the whole trip, with a little local currency handy for tips and markets.
What is Sandringham Game Lodge, and where does it fit into the Kruger leg?
It’s the private game reserve where the Kruger portion of this trip is based, sitting alongside the Timbavati and Thornybush reserves as part of the wider Greater Kruger ecosystem. The property is split across two small camps, Shisaka and N’Weti, each with just six suites and their own plunge pools, so the safari experience here is on a fairly intimate scale rather than a large resort-style lodge.
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