At the edge of a fast-paced world, southern Africa’s beautiful, tranquil landscapes await. From Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, you’ll not only discover spectacular panoramas and tumultuous histories, but also incredible wildlife and carefully crafted menus that reflect the flavors and savors of Africa. This in-depth voyage will take you to the heart of one of the most beautiful natural reserves—Chobe National Park. On board your premium ship, the African Dream, you’ll discover the secrets of Lake Kariba—a veritable oasis at the other end of the earth—before taking in the grandeur of what David Livingstone called the “smoke that thunders,” Victoria Falls.
Highlights
Experience luxurious and comfortable lodge and ship
Enjoy a cruise on Lake Kariba through emblematic and mysterious landscapes
Tour on land and water safaris in Chobé and Matusadona National Parks
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
strong>Meet up at the hotel at 11:30 a.m. Departure by coach with your guide. We’ll have lunch before visiting the Apartheid Museum which opened in 2001. It is famous the world over for being the first museum centering on South African history in the 20th century, and more particularly on Apartheid. Afterwards, we’ll set off for a panoramic tour of the city. In addition to being South Africa’s financial capital, Johannesburg is also the city of superlatives. It is indeed the richest town in Africa, with the tallest buildings and widest social discrepancies, but is also infused with one of the best atmospheres you’ll ever come across. We’ll arrive at our four-star hotel LS where you’ll be welcome to settle into your rooms before dinner. You’ll spend the night at the hotel.
Day 2: Johannesburg - Kasane - Arrival at Cascades Lodge (South Africa-Botswana-Namibia)
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
We’ll take a regular flight from Johannesburg to Kasane, Botswana. You’ll be transferred from the airport to your lodge on board a small private boat. Take advantage of your trip to observe the numerous bird species living among the flooded flatlands. You may even catch a glimpse of a few hippos or crocodiles basking in the sun! You’ll be greeted by our crew upon arrival and settle into your comfortable lodge ideally located in an island created by one of the tributaries of the Zambezi River. We’ll have dinner and spend the night at the lodge in absolute tranquility at the heart of the wilderness.
Day 3: Chobe National Park (Namibia-Botswana)
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
We’ll journey out on a full-day safari in Jeeps to explore the Chobe National Park that is home to more than 1/4 of the total elephant population in Africa. Enjoy lunch in a “floating restaurant” in the middle of the river where the views of the surrounding nature are unparalleled. Afterwards, we’ll board a small private boat and sail off on Chobe River all the way to Sedudu Island and its marshes. We’ll have dinner and spend the night at the lodge.
Day 4: Impalila Island (Namibia)
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Join us for a trip to authentic villages on Impalila Island, Namibia, to discover the traditional Namibian houses, culture and customs. We’ll return to our lodge for lunch. This afternoon, you can enjoy time at leisure at the lodge, taking advantage of the private pools and comfortable fittings, or join us for a discovery of the Zambezi River on a small private boat. We’ll have dinner at the lodge. Tonight, let a local tell you all about the traditions of this particular island. We’ll spend the night at the lodge.
Day 5: Cascades Lodge - Kasane - Lake Kariba - BOARDING THE SHIP (Namibia-Botswana-Zimbabwe)
We’ll depart from the lodge for one last water safari in the Chobe National Park area. After lunch, we'll set out for the Kasane airport. On board private planes, you’ll be amazed at the stunning panoramas over Lake Kariba and the changing landscapes of the wilderness during your flight from Kasane to Kariba. You’ll be transferred to board the African Dream and comfortably settle into your cabins. We’ll start sailing across the lake. Reaching over 140mi/200km in length and spanning a distance of approximately 25mi/40km at its widest point, the lake flooded flatlands, hills and forests alike, creating unique and emblematic landscapes. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on board.
Day 6: LAKE KARIBA - SAILING ON THE GACHE-GACHE RIVER (Zimbabwe)
At sunrise, we’ll set sail through the rare and mysterious landscapes of Lake Kariba where drowned trees reach skywards from the depths of the reflecting water. We’ll set out on a small private boat to discover the Gache Gache River and its unique wildlife. Gliding along its meanders, large bends and small, unspoiled inlets, you’ll be amazed by the magical atmosphere all around. We’ll return on board for lunch. This afternoon, we’ll sail towards Changa. When the sun starts to set, we'll set out on a small private boat to admire the changing colors of the sky. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on board.
Day 7: LAKE KARIBA - MATUSADONA NATIONAL PARK (Zimbabwe)
We’ll journey out this morning on a safari to discover the area around Matusadona National Park. Bordered by the Sanyati and Ume Rivers, this 1,400km²/540 sq mi-large untouched area is home to numerous animal species such as elephants, hippos, crocodiles, buffalos as well as thousands of birds, among which the legendary African Sea Eagle, the majestic Yellow-billed Stork, or the Black Heron with its interesting hunting method. We might be lucky enough to cross paths with a big cat or two! The history of the park is closely linked with that of the lake: during the construction of the dam, the rising floodwaters affected the native wildlife although the damage was mitigated by Operation Noah, an initiative which saved the lives of over 6,000 animals. This rescue operation allowed for large mammals, big cats, impalas and more to be moved to Matusadona where hunting is strictly prohibited. We’ll enjoy lunch on board and start sailing again. During this time, a round table will be the opportunity to learn more about the creation of the Lake, its inhabitants as well as its ecosystem. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on board.
Day 8: KARIBA - Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
At sunrise, we’ll set sail towards Kariba to disembark and journey out to the airport. We’ll discover the gigantic Kariba Dam which was created in 1955 to form Lake Kariba. Today, the dam serves as a source of electric power for 70% of Zimbabwe. You’ll get to discover the history and legends surrounding the creation of the lake, including the tale of NyamiNyami, the river god. We’ll fly out to Victoria Falls on board private planes. Enjoy an exceptional lunch cruise on the Zambezi River, upstream from the falls. This afternoon, we’ll leave for a tour on foot of the falls where the views are among the most exceptional in the world. We’ll also see where the Zambezi River plunges over the cliff to become the widest waterfall in the world, creating the “smoke that thunders.” Tonight we’ll enjoy a dinner at the hotel. We’ll spend the night at a four-star hotel LS.
Day 9: Victoria Falls
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Join us for a guided tour of the Victoria Falls Bridge. Built at the turn of the 20th century, this steel arch spans the Zambezi river, linking Zimbabwe and Zambia. You will get to learn about the history of its construction and stroll along its walkway as you take in the impressive view. Lunch. This afternoon, you can enjoy time at leisure at the hotel. Optional excursion: Soar over Victoria Falls in a helicopter (must be booked before departure). Tonight we’ll enjoy a “Boma” dinner with traditional dance and music. We’ll spend the night at the hotel.
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$8,244
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Suite
6 French Balcony Suites 17 m2 (with floor to ceiling sliding windows opening to a railing)
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by Bank transfer or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.8 | 167 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 167 reviews on
5 hours ago
Adventure Life has been an extraordinary travel resource for us over the years and today was no exception. Our River Cruise booking was handled by Jess (who has been our personal trip planner for several years) the same day as our inquiry. Suggestions were given for cabin choice and pre-trip options (that were not shown on the cruise line's website) like airport transfers and prepaid gratuities. Trip insurance recommendations followed and we were assigned a travel co-ordinator till the end of the tour. All we have to do is show up! Great service from friendly folks.
APtravelwell
1 day ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
1 day ago
Although there was a lot of paper work, I received help and guidance when I needed it.
Donna Kirby
2 days ago
Our travel was flawless! The rider pickup (airport, hotel, ship) was seamless. Jane's recommendation for Emerald Cruise Sakara was everything I wanted but the experience was soooo much more. Adventure Life took care of each and every detail and this was the easiest of all my travels.
Anne Petty
3 days ago
Follow up was effective any questions were answered in a timely manner