Safari Cruise along the Zambezi River

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.”Lunch will be served at the hotel. Guided tour of Victoria Falls Bridge. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, this superstructure spans the Zambezi River and connects Zimbabwe and Zambia. Learn about the history of the bridge and set off on a stroll across its walkways for some impressive views. You'll then head to the Victoria Falls train station, where you'll settle comfortably in your suite as the train sets out for a 932-mile trip (1,500 km). Enjoy dinner in the Dining Car and the night on board as the train begins its travels towards Southern Zimbabwe.

Morning dedicated to exploring Hwange National Park in four-wheel-drive vehicles. The best place for safaris in Zimbabwe, Hwange National Park, was delineated in 1928 and is one of the best places to observe the impressive "Big Five" animals: lions, African buffalo, leopards, rhinoceroses, and elephants. The park is home to the largest elephant population in the country. The train will continue on its way while lunch is served on board. You'll travel along one of the longest straight-line railroad tracks in the world this afternoon, approximately 71 miles (114 km). The line passes through Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe and the industrial capital of the country. We'll have dinner and spend the night on board.

Enjoy a morning in the Matobo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2003. You will discover caves once inhabited by hunter-gatherer peoples, with their rock paintings, as well as spectacular granite hills. It is also in this park that the tomb of Cecil John Rhodes is located. The founder of Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, had requested to be buried at the summit of Malindidzimu Hill. Lunch will be served on board as the train passes through landscapes dotted with baobab trees. The afternoon is free on board as the stunning scenes of Zimbabwean nature unfold. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Sit back and enjoy the scenery from the Observation Car as the train crosses the border and the Limpopo River before arriving in Musina, South Africa. We'll have lunch on board. We'll cross the Tropic of Capricorn, the southern-most latitude where the sun appears directly overhead at noon during the December solstice. Enjoy the tea service in the Lounge as the train continues its trips through the spa town formerly known as Warmbaths, now renamed in the local language as Bela Bela ("boiling, boiling"). Next is the city of Nylstroom, called Nyl by its first inhabitants, who believed they had discovered the source of the Nile River. The vast golden plains of Highveld, where zebras and antelope abound, will close out this adventure. We'll have dinner and spend the night on board.

Enjoy one last breakfast on board before disembarking. Visit the Rovos Rail museum to see its antique rail collection. You'll be transferred to the center of Pretoria—called Jacaranda City, as the tropical jacaranda trees turn the city a magnificent purple hue each spring. Enjoy a panoramic tour of the "Executive Capital" of South Africa. Discover its famous Union Building, home to the South African presidential offices. The building has been the site of many important events, including Nelson Mandela's inauguration. We'll have lunch in the city. You'll be transferred to the airport in Johannesburg. End of our services at OR Tambo airport around 5:00 pm.