Please note the tour price reflected on the brochure is subject to change. Due to seasonality, and taxes prices of the tour are subject to change without due notice. Please consult with the operator directly for the recent price.
Rivers & Rails of Africa
Preferred
Overview
Highlights (Bullets)
- Discover Cape Town
- Enjoy the safari of Chobe National Park
- Explore the Chobe River’s spectacular game viewing
- See the magnificent Victoria Falls
- Amazing travel by rail to Hwange Game Reserve
Short Description
Your African journey begins with a three-night stay in Cape Town where you’ll explore the Atlantic Seaboard including the Cape of Good Hope and an African penguin encounter. You’ll also take a cableway up Table Mountain and then choose between a wine region tour or a visit to Robben Island that includes a cultural tour of Cape Town’s diverse neighborhoods. Next, fly to Kasane, Botswana for your four-night Zambezi Queen safari cruise on the Chobe River. Explore Chobe National Park, home to one of the densest populations of wildlife on the African continent. Then continue with two nights at the legendary Victoria Falls, one of the world’s great and impressive natural wonders. From here, you will join the Rovos Rail. Enjoy a three-night luxurious train journey as you travel through approximately 1,000 miles of breathtaking scenery from Zimbabwe through Botswana and into South Africa.
Activities & Interests
Bird watching Culture Historic sightseeing History Nature River cruise Safari Trains & Rail Wildlife viewing WinetastingItinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Cape Town
Situated amidst majestic mountains and lined with pristine white sand beaches, Cape Town is home to a rich cultural and historical heritage. After your airport greeting by an AmaWaterways representative, transfer to your hotel. Your Tour Director hosts a Welcome Reception at 6:30 pm. (WR)
Day 2: Cape Town
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Your full day exploration on one of the world’s most beautiful drives takes you southeast along the Atlantic seaboard 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. Also visit Boulder Beach, home to thousands of African Penguins. Lunch today is fine dining with drinks overlooking False Bay.
Day 3: Cape Town
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Choose from two sightseeing options today: The first option is to take a cableway up Table Mountain for spectacular views from the summit. Then head out to the scenic Cape Winelands, which comprises the Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl valleys. Visit two renowned vineyards and sample their wines. A sumptuous regional lunch will be included along the way. Or you can choose to board a ferry to Robben Island, once used as a prison for many political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela. Your tour will be led by a former inmate before returning back to Cape Town. After lunch, board the cableway to the summit of Table Mountain followed by a drive through some of the city’s diverse neighborhoods.
Day 4: Cape Town – Zambezi Queen – Embarkation
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Fly to Kasane, Botswana (via Johannesburg) and board the Zambezi Queen. This afternoon, enjoy the view as you settle in on the Chobe River before a Welcome Cocktail and Dinner.
Day 5: Zambezi Queen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning embark on a boat safari to explore the Chobe River’s spectacular game viewing. Then journey back to the Zambezi Queen for lunch and time to relax on board. Later today, enjoy a slightly different version of a river safari aboard a special double decker barge which will allow you to venture into the southern channels. This excursion will offer you an unusual viewpoint to observe hippos and elephants in their natural habitat.
Day 6: Zambezi Queen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Join a full day safari of Chobe National Park in open-top 4x4 vehicles. Chobe National Park is home to one of the most dense populations of wildlife in Africa. Be on the lookout for elephants, giraffe, zebra, sable, warthog and cape buffalo. Prides of lions, hyenas and (more rarely) cheetahs, are normally visible along the way. Lunch will be a delicious picnic served up under the trees.
Day 7: Zambezi Queen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning, enjoy an unforgettable visit to a typical African village to experience the local culture first hand. Spend time with the children of the village as well as its elders and learn about their day-to-day life. After lunch on board, you can choose your afternoon activity including an afternoon safari by boat, bird watching or fishing. Tonight your crew hosts an African themed dinner complete with singing and dancing.
Day 8: Zambezi Queen – Disembarkation – Victoria Falls
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Transfer to legendary Victoria Falls, one of the greatest natural wonders on earth. Spend the afternoon exploring the town or experience one of the many activities offered at your hotel. This evening you have a special dinner and encounter with Africa’s “gentle giants.”
Day 9: Victoria Falls
Meals: Breakfast
Join a local guide for a tour of remarkable Victoria Falls, more commonly referred to as the smoke that thunders. The afternoon is free for independent activities. Relax and enjoy the amenities and grounds of your iconic hotel, walk into town for a little shopping or perhaps take an optional outing. Tonight, embark on a private and festive Sundowner cruise complete with drinks and tapas, along with music.
Day 10: Victoria Falls – Rovos Rail
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
A free morning for independent activities. Later this afternoon transfer to the Victoria Falls train station. Once onboard, be sure to check out the Lounge and Observation Cars. Dinner is served in the dining car tonight as your train journey begins.
Day 11: Rovos Rail
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
An early morning as you disembark for your safari in the Hwange Game Reserve. After returning to the train, enjoy brunch as you journey towards Botswana. Delectable dinner selections are served on board for you to savor tonight.
Day 12: Rovos Rail
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Enter South Africa, your third and final country during this voyage. Lunch will be served in the dining car as the train travels through the farmlands of the Marico Valley. Enjoy your last afternoon on the train as you prepare for your final dinner on board.
Day 13: Johannesburg
Meals: Breakfast
This morning your train journey comes to a close, but not before you enjoy one last breakfast on board and a final scenic stretch. After your 10:00 am arrival in Pretoria, South Africa you will be transferred to the airport in Johannesburg for your onward flight home. Please do not schedule onward flights before 4:00 pm.
Availability
- Deposit Price: $ 2,400
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39 AMA Waterways Travel Reviews & Ratings
Rivers & Rails of Africa
Company Reviews
I’ve sailed with AmaWaterways 4 times
Cancel for any reason
Refund my deposit for the Danube River Cruise
There is no better society
highly recommend this company
Everything!
Details
Ship Name
Zambezi Queen
Ship Stats
Built: 2009
Renovated: 2015
Built in: Namibia
Length: 150 feet
Width: 25.6 feet
Crew: 22 (African)
Staterooms: 10
Suites: 4
Registry: Namibia
Home port: Kasan
Ship Description
With a design specific for safari river cruising on the Chobe River, the 28-passenger Zambezi Queen offers a sophisticated onboard experience designed to maximize animal sightings. Your comfort is ensured when staying in any of the 14 air-conditioned balcony staterooms (which range up to 300 sq. ft), all decorated in contemporary style. The air-conditioned top deck of the ship offers a dining room, lounge, bar and pool area for your comfort. Enjoy game watching from your stateroom, or visit the top deck for a beverage, sun bathing and more game watching. Peruse the library of books, enjoy a board game and explore the riverbanks of the Chobe River on the Zambezi Queen.
Deck & Cabin Plans
Deck Plan:
Cat Ms
Flight & Transport Inclusions
All internal ground transport
Group Size
Standard Group - 25 + people
Cancellation policy
Cancellation Charges: In the unfortunate event a participant must cancel travel, notice to AmaWaterways must be via email to Res@AmaWaterways.com, which must include a return receipt and read notation, or other writing stating clearly and correctly each guest’s name, ship name, start and end date of the cruise and a brief statement of the reason for cancellation. Other forms of notice are not sufficient. The effective date of the cancellation is the date we receive the written cancellation notice. Name changes, a substitution of a participant or a reduction in the number of guests in a stateroom are treated as a cancellation in that all applicable cancellation charges apply. Cancellation charges for bookings within charter and part-charter agreements are as per the charter contract. All other cancellation charges are per-person, based on the cancellation date, as follows:
89-60 days prior to departure
Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: 35% of cruise and land price
Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty
Other Charges (except insurance): 35% of all charges
59-30 days prior to departure
Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: 50% of cruise and land price
Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty
Other Charges (except insurance): 50% of all charges
29-7 days prior to departure
Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: 80% of cruise and land price
Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty
Other Charges (except insurance): 80% of all charges
6-0 days prior to departure
Cruise & Land Cancellation Charge: 100% of cruise and land price
Airfare Cancellation Charge (Economy Contract fares): $350 penalty
Airfare Cancellation Charge (Business/First Class Contract fares): $600 penalty
Other Charges (except insurance): 100% of all charges
Additional Information
All rates are per person, based on double occupancy. Unless explicitly stated that single supplement is waived, solo travelers in a double occupancy stateroom must pay an additional single supplement amount before receiving any discounts. Offer is not combinable with any other promotions/discounts, is limited to availability, is capacity controlled and is subject to change or termination without notice. Other restrictions apply.
Trip ID#:
RivRaiAma
What's excluded
- International Flights
- Passport and Visa Charges
- Personal Expenses
Meals Included
12 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches and 8 Dinners
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