If the idea of watching elephants gather at the river’s edge, then flying on to deserts, coasts, and famous game reserves sounds like your kind of holiday, AmaWaterways has just raised the stakes. From August 2026, the line is expanding its Africa Safaris & Wildlife Cruise program with four extra itineraries that link the Chobe River to some of the continent’s most iconic regions.
From August 2026, AmaWaterways will introduce four new 9 to 18-night itineraries in Africa, combining a three-night Chobe River sailing on Zambezi Queen with land stays in Victoria Falls, Kenya, Namibia, Zanzibar, and the Skeleton Coast, giving guests more multi-country safari, culture, and small-ship cruising options in one curated journey.
Why AmaWaterways Is Expanding Its African Collection
AmaWaterways has operated African safaris and river journeys for years, but rising demand for longer, multi-country holidays has pushed the brand to widen its reach. The new itineraries extend beyond Southern Africa into East Africa and Namibia’s wild coastline, offering more ways to shape an African journey around your interests.
At the same time, the line is keeping the group sizes small and the river experience intimate, something that matters if you prefer meaningful wildlife viewing and local encounters over large-group sightseeing.
Responding to Travellers’ Appetite for Multi-Country Journeys
More travellers are now looking for trips that justify a long flight with a variety of experiences in one go. Rather than flying in for a single game reserve, they want to pair river cruising, classic safari drives, coastal landscapes, and perhaps a relaxed island stay.
By expanding the Africa Safaris & Wildlife Cruise program, AmaWaterways is making that style of holiday easier to access. You can now move from Cape Town to Victoria Falls, on to Greater Kruger, Kenya, Namibia, or Zanzibar, all within a single, pre-arranged itinerary, which removes a lot of the usual research and logistics from your shoulders.
Broadening the Map to New Regions
Previously, AmaWaterways’ African options focused more tightly on Southern Africa. With the new itineraries, the map now stretches to Kenya’s Amboseli and Maasai Mara reserves, Namibia’s NamibRand Nature Reserve and Etosha National Park, plus the remote Skeleton Coast and the spice-scented streets of Zanzibar.
This broader reach lets you decide whether you want classic savannahs and big cats, stark desert landscapes and starry skies, or a combination of both. It is a more nuanced take on Africa, with culture, scenery, and wildlife sharing the spotlight.
Keeping Things Seamless Behind the Scenes
Anyone who has tried to organise a multi-country safari will know how quickly visa rules, internal flights, and transfer timings can become overwhelming. One of the key reasons AmaWaterways is expanding its African collection is to bundle that complexity into a hosted journey.
You still enjoy a sense of exploration, but itineraries are structured so that you move smoothly from river to land, city to reserve, without constantly second-guessing logistics. For many guests, especially those travelling with family or friends, that peace of mind is a major part of the appeal.
What to Expect on the Chobe River With Zambezi Queen
All four new itineraries share a core element, a three-night stay aboard Zambezi Queen on the Chobe River. This boutique river ship is purpose-built for wildlife viewing, with just a small number of staterooms and suites so that the focus stays firmly on the riverbanks instead of the crowds.
From the moment you board, your days fall into a relaxed rhythm of morning and late-afternoon water safaris, quiet midday hours on deck, and unhurried evenings as the sky fades from orange to deep blue.
A Floating Base in the Heart of Chobe
Because Zambezi Queen is relatively small, she can navigate stretches of the Chobe River where larger vessels would feel out of place. Her design centres on wide windows, an open Sun Deck, and vantage points that let you watch hippos, elephants, and birdlife from surprisingly close quarters without disturbing them.
Instead of racing from one sighting to the next, you are gently carried along the river, watching scenes unfold at their natural pace. It is a calm, almost meditative way to experience a wildlife-rich region, especially compared with the constant movement of traditional road-based touring.
Intimate Staterooms With River Views
Staterooms on Zambezi Queen are configured so that the river is always in view. Many feature floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies, which means you can enjoy early-morning coffee while watching the banks come to life, or end your evening listening to the sounds of the river before sleep.
You are not dealing with flashy waterparks or endless entertainment venues here. Instead, the onboard experience is about comfort, attentive service, and a front-row seat to one of Africa’s most impressive wildlife corridors.
Sustainable Cruising in a Sensitive Environment
Chobe is a delicate ecosystem, so the ship incorporates eco-friendly technology such as solar heating, fuel-efficient systems, and shallow-draft water jet propulsion to minimise its impact.
For travellers who care about responsible tourism, this approach is reassuring. You are able to enjoy the river while supporting an operator that is mindful of its footprint and that works with local partners on the ground.
Inside the Four New Safari and Cruise Itineraries
Although they share a common river segment, the four itineraries each have their own personality. They range from nine to 18 nights and combine urban stays, wildlife-rich reserves, and striking coastal or desert environments in different proportions.
This is where you can really tailor the journey to your interests, whether that is a shorter, punchy introduction to Africa or a longer circuit that dives deeper into the continent’s varied landscapes.
From the Cape to the Falls
From the Cape to the Falls is the shortest of the new options, with nine or eleven-night versions that run from Cape Town to Victoria Falls. Think penguins on Boulders Beach, wine and city views, the Chobe river cruise, and time at the Falls, with an optional extension in Johannesburg if you would like a little more urban flavour at either end.
This itinerary is a great fit if you want a concentrated experience that still feels rich. It can also be easier to pair with other travels, such as a longer visit to Europe, the Middle East, or another part of Africa, because it does not require almost three weeks away.
Iconic Africa
Iconic Africa steps things up to 14 nights, combining Cape Town, Victoria Falls, the Chobe river cruise, and a three-night stay in Greater Kruger National Park, where the so-called Big Five are a major drawcard.
With more time on safari, you can settle into the rhythm of early-morning and late-afternoon game drives, returning to your lodge for generous meals and poolside downtime. It is a compelling middle ground for those who want a deep dive into Southern Africa without adding Kenya or Namibia to the mix.
Classic Kenya & Southern Africa
For guests who have always dreamed of Kenya’s savannahs, Classic Kenya & Southern Africa delivers a cross-regional journey. After your Chobe segment and Victoria Falls, you continue on to Kenya for stays in Amboseli, with its views of Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Maasai Mara, famous for big cats and sweeping plains.
There are 14 and 18-night versions, and some departures offer an optional extension in Zanzibar, which gives you a softer, beach-based finale after the intensity of safari days. For many travellers, that blend of river, bush, and coast is exactly what they imagine when picturing a once-in-a-decade Africa journey.
African Wonders & the Skeleton Coast
Finally, African Wonders & the Skeleton Coast turns the spotlight on Namibia. After Johannesburg, the Chobe river cruise, and Victoria Falls, you head to the NamibRand Nature Reserve, the Skeleton Coast, and Etosha National Park.
This 15-night itinerary is all about big skies, dune fields, shipwreck-strewn shores, and the chance to see desert-adapted wildlife. It is ideal if you have already experienced more classic safaris and now want something that feels visually and atmospherically different.
Who These New Africa Journeys Are Perfect For
With four different itineraries and varying lengths, there is a good chance that at least one of these journeys will feel like “your” version of Africa. Thinking about who each trip suits best can make the decision much easier.
It is worth considering not just destinations, but also how comfortable you are with internal flights, how much downtime you enjoy, and who you are travelling with.
First-Time Visitors to Africa
If you are new to the continent, From the Cape to the Falls is a fantastic first step. The mix of a well-loved city, a spectacular waterfall, and a manageable amount of safari time offers a strong sense of Africa without over-complicating things.
You still get the thrill of wildlife viewing from both river and land, but your route is relatively straightforward, which can be reassuring if you are travelling long-haul or are not yet sure how you will feel about extended time in remote regions.
Experienced Safari Fans Wanting Something New
For travellers who have already ticked off a traditional safari, the expanded collection is a perfect excuse to return with a twist. Iconic Africa layers familiar touchpoints like Greater Kruger on top of the river cruise, while African Wonders & the Skeleton Coast take you into landscapes that feel entirely different from the usual grassland images associated with Africa.
In both cases, the variety of settings keeps seasoned safari-goers engaged, giving them new photography opportunities and new stories to bring home.
Multi-Generational Families and Groups of Friends
If you are travelling as a family group or with friends, the mix of structured activities and relaxed time on Zambezi Queen works in your favour. Those who love early starts and every possible game drive can go all-in, while others take advantage of slower mornings on deck or at the lodge.
Because so much is already pre-arranged, you are free to focus on shared experiences rather than logistics, which is especially valuable on complex, long-haul trips.
Planning Your 2026 or 2027 Africa Safari Cruise
The first departures for these new itineraries begin in August 2026 and continue into 2027, which means there is still time to plan properly. That said, small-ship river products with linked lodge stays are capacity-limited, so popular dates and specific stateroom categories can book quickly.
Taking a thoughtful approach now will help you secure the right itinerary, season, and cabin type for your needs.
Thinking About Timing, Weather, and Wildlife
Dry season months, including August and September, are typically strong for wildlife viewing in regions such as Chobe and Greater Kruger, since animals cluster around remaining water sources and visibility is clearer.
Shoulder periods can be attractive too, especially if you prefer slightly fewer travellers around major sites. A cruise specialist can walk you through how conditions vary month by month across the different regions on your chosen itinerary.
Securing the Right Stateroom or Suite
With only a limited number of staterooms and suites aboard Zambezi Queen, it pays to decide early whether you would like a balcony, which deck you prefer, and how close you want to be to shared spaces like the lounge or pool.
On the land side, certain lodge categories and specific room types are also in high demand, particularly for guests travelling in pairs or as small groups seeking nearby rooms. Early planning helps align these preferences.
Building Your Journey Around the River Core
One of the easiest ways to think about these trips is to treat the Chobe segment as your anchor and then decide how you want to build out from there. Do you lean more towards classic Southern Africa with Cape Town and Greater Kruger, want to weave Kenya into the story, or feel drawn to Namibia’s dunes and coastline instead?
Once that decision is in place, the rest of the planning becomes a matter of finer detail, such as how many nights to add pre- or post-cruise and how to arrange your flights. Throughout, you are still benefiting from the structure of the Africa Safaris & Wildlife Cruise program, which keeps the overall journey cohesive.
Before you lock in a specific departure, it can be really helpful to see how these African itineraries compare with other river and ocean options around the world. S.W. Black Travel’s online Cruise Finder lets you line up dates, regions, and trip lengths side by side, so you can check how AmaWaterways’ Africa journeys fit into your bigger travel plans.
If you like the idea of pairing Africa with, say, a European river sailing or a voyage in another part of the world, you can explore combinations, note down your favourites, and share that shortlist with your cruise specialist. You can start playing with options.
Turn Your Africa Safari Cruise Idea Into a Plan
A trip of this scale often starts with a simple idea, a glimpse of elephants on the river, or a long-held wish to see NamibRand or Maasai Mara in person. The next step is turning that inspiration into dates, cabins, and concrete arrangements that match your budget, travel style, and available time away.
Talking through your preferences with a dedicated cruise specialist makes an enormous difference, whether you are travelling solo, as a couple, or as a larger group. A specialist can help you compare the four new itineraries, secure suitable staterooms on Zambezi Queen, and navigate details like visas, health requirements, and flight connections, so your focus stays on the experience rather than the admin.
If you are ready to explore which of AmaWaterways’ new Africa journeys might be right for you, the easiest next step is to get in touch with our team's cruise specialist so we can walk you through the options and organise a tailored proposal.
Wherever you are starting your trip from, these expanded itineraries offer an inviting way to experience rivers, reserves, coastlines, and cultures in one thoughtfully curated holiday as part of AmaWaterways’ Africa Safaris & Wildlife Cruise program.
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