Our Favorite River Cruises to Africa in 2026

10 Best Africa River Cruises for 2026

Best Luxury River Cruises on the Nile River

Trip Name	From	Days	Summary
Secrets of Egypt & the Nile	$6,529	12	Experience the wonders of ancient Egypt on a 12-day Nile cruise aboard MS Amadahlia. Explore iconic sites like Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, and the Great Pyramids while savoring authentic cuisine. 0
Luxor to Aswan	$1,550	5	Explore this historic region of Egypt on a 5-day Nile River cruise from Luxor to Aswan. Aboard the Sanctuary Sun Boat IV, discover the legendary Nile River and explore some of the most significant Egyptian ruins in the region. 0
Egypt Tour: Cairo & Dahabiya	$5,077	10	Explore Egypt on a 10-day tour from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan. Visit the Pyramids, Sphinx, and Grand Egyptian Museum. Cruise the Nile on a luxury Dahabiya, stopping at Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Edfu, and Kom Ombo. In Aswan, see Philae Temple, sail on a felucca, and visit a Nubian village. Optional trip to Abu Simbel. 0
Egypt in Depth	$10,486	15	Experience a 15-day cruise on the Sanctuary Sun Boat III, exploring Egypt’s iconic sites like the Great Pyramids and Abu Simbel. Enjoy a blend of history, archaeology, and relaxation along the Nile and the Red Sea. 0
Passage Through Egypt	$9,580	12	Sail the Nile aboard the luxurious Oberoi Philae on a 12-day adventure. Visit Egypt’s top sites, including the Pyramids of Giza, Valley of the Kings, Karnak, Hatshepsut’s Temple, Dendera, Philae, Abu Simbel, Esna, and historic Cairo, experiencing the country’s rich history and culture. 0
Classic Egypt Tour	$3,353	8	Join this 8-day Egyptian journey, starting in Cairo with visits to the Giza Pyramids. Fly to Luxor to explore its temples and tombs before setting sail on a serene Nile cruise. Visit the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Temple, Karnak Temple, and more. Sail to Aswan, stopping at Kom Ombo and Edfu for tours of these iconic temples. 0

African River Cruise Travel Guide

A view of the Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town

The Best Time to Take an African River Cruise

In general, the best time to go on an African river cruise is during the dry season between May and October, but when exactly in the dry season really depends on the specific river and area you’re planning on visiting.

Highlights of the Rivers of Africa
The rivers of Africa are the origin of life for all creatures that roam the plains of this mighty continent. Human civilization was born on the banks of these rivers and the wildlife characteristic of each region comes to the water's edge to drink. That's why cruising the Nile or Zambezi Rivers make for the perfect way to get a great snapshot of authentic Africa.

The Nile River
Flowing north through Egypt into the Mediterranean, the Nile is most famous for the great pyramids of the West Bank. As you cruise from Luxor to Aswan, you will see some of the most important sites of the ancient world as well as the busy metropolises of modern Egypt.

The Cuando Chobe & Zambezi Rivers
From its source near the Zambia/Congo/Angola the Cuando River is Africa's fourth longest river flowing through Angola and Namibia's Caprivi Strip and into the Linyanti Swamp on the northern border of Botswana. Below Linyanti, it is called the Linyanti River and, farther east, the Chobe River, before it flows into the Zambezi River. As you cruise along this river, you will see amazing savanna wildlife on daily safaris, including elephant, giraffe, zebra, sable, warthog, cape buffalo, prides of lions, and hyenas