RV African Dream, 4 Night Safari Cruise along the Zambezi River - South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe ex Johannesburg, South Africa to

From Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, you’ll discover spectacular panoramas and tumultuous histories, but also incredible wildlife and carefully crafted menus that reflect the flavors and savors of Africa, as well as the most beautiful natural reserves and the secrets of Lake Kariba before taking in the grandeur of the “smoke that thunders,” Victoria Falls.

Day 1
We’ll meet up at the hotel at 11:30 a.m. We’ll have lunch before visiting the Apartheid Museum (the Museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday. In case of a visit a Monday, this museum will be replaced by the Mandela House. On Tuesday, it will be replaced by the Hector Pieterson Museum), the first museum centering on South African history in the 20th century. Afterwards, we’ll set off for a panoramic tour of Johannesburg, the city of superlatives. We’ll arrive at our five-star hotel LS. You’ll enjoy dinner and spend the night at the hotel.  

Day 2
We’ll take a regular flight from Johannesburg to Kasane, Botswana. You’ll be transferred from the airport to your CroisiEurope lodge on board small private boats. You’ll settle into your comfortable lodge ideally located at the heart of the wilderness. We’ll have dinner and spend the night at the lodge.

Day 3
This morning, set out on a thrilling 4x4 game drive through Chobe National Park, home to more than a quarter of Africa’s elephant population. After lunch, embark on a private boat safari along the Chobe River, gliding towards the lush wetlands of Sedudu Island. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 4
This morning, cross into Namibia for a visit to traditional villages on Impalila Island. Discover the authentic lifestyle and customs of the local communities before returning to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, set off on a private boat excursion on the legendary Zambezi River. Stretching over 2,500 kilometers and flowing through six Southern African countries, the Zambezi offers spectacular panoramas where unspoiled nature reigns supreme. Dinner will be served at the lodge, followed by an evening of storytelling as your guide shares island traditions and legends. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 5
Return to Botswana’s untamed jewel, Chobe National Park, for another exhilarating 4x4 safari. Encounter lions, buffalo, giraffes, antelopes, and countless vibrant bird species. Enjoy a traditional African lunch in the heart of the wilderness before heading back to the lodge. Take time to relax and make the most of the pool and its comfortable surroundings. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 6
This morning, enjoy a final private boat safari in the Chobe region. Lunch on the river before continuing by road to Kasane Airport. A scenic private flight(1) over the savannah will reveal breathtaking views en route to Lake Kariba. Transfer to your ship, embarkation, and check-in. With its 200 kilometers in length and 40 kilometers in width, Lake Kariba has flooded valleys, hills, and forests, creating landscapes of rare beauty. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 7
Morning 4x4 safari through Matusadona National Park, nestled between the Sanyati and Ume rivers. Return to the ship for lunch as we cruise along the shimmering waters. Later, set out by private boat to explore some of the lake’s most picturesque corners, where herds of elephants come to drink at the shore. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 8
Board a private boat to explore the winding waterways and hidden coves of Matusadona National Park, a sanctuary of extraordinary biodiversity. Lunch will be served on board during navigation. In the late afternoon, switch to 4x4 vehicles as the golden light of sunset paints the vast plains. After dinner, step onto the sun deck for a magical stargazing experience. Overnight on board.

Day 9
Sail across Lake Kariba this morning, where ghostly silhouettes of sun-bleached trees rise from the water, creating a strikingly mysterious atmosphere. Lunch on board. Later, your guide will share the fascinating story of the lake, its people, and its fragile ecosystem. As dusk approaches, head out on a private boat to admire the breathtaking African sunset, when the sky turns a brilliant shade of pink. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 10
Early morning navigation to Kariba, then disembarkation. Before reaching the airport, discover the immense dam wall, an engineering feat built in 1955 that gave birth to the lake and today provides nearly 70% of Zimbabwe’s electricity. A private flight takes you from Kariba to Victoria Falls. Lunch cruise on the Zambezi River, upstream from the falls. The afternoon is free to relax by your hotel pool and take in the surrounding savannah.Optional excursions:Helicopter flight over Victoria Falls.Safari in a private reserve in search of Africa’s rare black rhinoceros.(These excursions are compatible and take place consecutively. Please reserve them at the time of booking. The safari is offered as a private departure for CroisiEurope passengers when at least six people are registered; if fewer than six sign up, guests may join a shared excursion with other clients. In both cases, our local guide will be present to accompany and assist participants.)Dinner and overnight in a 4* hotel (local standard).

Day 11
Breakfast. 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.” End of our services at the hotel around 10:30 am. Do not schedule a flight before 2:00 pm.

Built in 2018, the RV African Dream is one of the gems of the CroisiEurope fleet with a magnificent setting for a dream safari-cruise in Southern Africa, overflowing with history and wildlife. A real cocoon of charm and elegance.Combining elegance and exoticism, comfort and refinement, the RV African Dream is a luxury cruise ship, which sails on Lake Kariba. The ship measures 33 m long and 8 m wide, and can accommodate 16 passengers, in 8 cabins with a size of 17 m2. Of all cabins, 6 are with a French balcony and 2 with a small private terrace, offering amenities and providing guests with all the comforts they need during their stay. The spacious areas and large windows give the ship a bright appearance. The interior is decorated with noble wood and local fabrics and blends in perfectly with the spendid surrounding landscapes. Situated on the upper deck are a small pool, the restaurant and lounge / bar where binoculars are available for wildlife and flora watching. The sun deck remains the ideal place to relax and admire Southern Africa’s magnificent sites, which are among the most beautiful in the world.

CroisiEurope has a fleet of Prestige category boats with cabins, which ply the most beautiful rivers in Europe. Spacious and light, they offer a welcoming and refined setting. Accommodation capacity varies from 100 to 180 passengers depending on the boat's design. At the cutting edge of technology, their facilities offer comfort and safety.

Carefully maintained and partially renovated each year, the CroisiEurope fleet is largely made up of recently built vessels, less than five years old, all with Veritas certification. The leading European river tour operator, our company owes its international reputation to its seriousness, its dynamism, its sense of innovation and its recognised value for money of long standing.

Vessels are rated four-star and food is superb – as you’d expect on a French-owned cruise line, staffed by French chefs and with top French and German wines aboard. One cruise of the Rhone and Saone Rivers in France concentrates on gastronomy and traditional French cusine, visiting Collonges Abbey, renowned for its great French chef, Paul Bocuse.

CroisiEurope is a family-owned and operated firm, with brothers and sisters running different aspects of the company and keeping a close eye on all operations to ensure excellence.

River cruising offers much free fun. Wake in the morning and observe the passing riverside scenery through your cabin window – perhaps from your bed. Gaze upon village churches or a patchwork of fields sparkling in the morning sun.

CroisiEurope’s network traverses a phenomenal number of European rivers and waterways. They range from the Guadalquivir and Guadiana (flowing through Spain and Portugal respectively); the Douro in Portugal, the Po and Venice Lagoon in Italy; the Rhone in Provence, plus the Seine from Paris to the Normandy Coast. And there’s more: the Moselle, the Neckar, the Saar, the Oder, the Havel, the Baltic Sea, the Camarge, the Rhine, the Main and the mighty Danube; the Tisza and the Black Sea; the Belgian and Dutch waterways. Everything from tulip time in Holland to Christmas Markets in Germany.

Drinks included with on board meals: mineral water, house wine, beer, fruit juice, and tea or coffee.