Your journey begins with an overnight stay in Johannesburg (option to start with 3 nights in Cape Town). Next, fly to Kasane, Botswana and board the Zambezi Queen, your wildlife river cruise vessel on the Chobe River for the next 4 nights. Enjoy two nights at Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. From here, fly to Johannesburg for two nights at your intimate, all-suite hotel. Depart to Nairobi where a connecting flight brings you to your Tanzania safari. Enjoy two nights at three of the four luxury Tanzanian lodges: Tarangire Treetops, The Manor at Ngorongoro, and the luxury-tented Serengeti Migration Camp or Serengeti Pioneer Camp.
COUNTRIES:
Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
RIVERS:
Chobe
Golden Trails of Africa
At A Glance
On our cruises, you will enjoy an extensive lineup of included tours. We always include a large variety of activities so that you can choose how you want to explore. No matter your preference, your days will be full of discovery and wonder.
| Day 1 | Johannesburg | Arrival transfer and hotel check-in |
|
After being greeted at the airport by an AmaWaterways Representative, transfer to Fairlawns Hotel.
| Day 2 | Johannesburg | Flight to Kasane, Botswana |
|
| | Welcome Cocktail & Dinner |
|
After breakfast, fly to Kasane, Botswana where you’ll board the elegant Zambezi Queen on the Namibia side of the Chobe River. Settle into to your stateroom and in the evening, enjoy a Welcome Cocktail Reception and Dinner. (B,D)
| Day 3 | Zambezi Queen | Chobe River safaris by boat |
|
Embark on an exhilarating morning boat safari. Return to the Zambezi Queen for lunch. Later in the day, enjoy another thrilling boat safari. (B,L,D)
| Day 4 | Zambezi Queen | Full-day safari of Chobe National Park by open-top 4x4 vehicle with picnic lunch |
|
Join a full-day safari of Chobe National Park in open-top 4x4 vehicles. For lunch, take a seat under the trees and savor a delicious picnic. (B,L,D)
| Day 5 | Zambezi Queen | Morning visit to local African village |
|
Visit a typical African village spending time with the village children as well as its elders followed by lunch on board. During the afternoon, you can go on a boat safari, bird watch or fish, and then cap the day off with a festive African-themed dinner. (B,L,D)
| Day 6 | Zambezi Queen | DISEMBARKATION |
|
| | Transfer to Victoria Falls |
|
| Victoria Falls | Sunset cocktail reception aboard a vintage steam train, followed by dinner |
|
During breakfast, watch for wildlife as you cruise the Chobe River. Then transfer to Victoria Falls. Later, join a cocktail reception aboard a vintage steam train. (B)
| Day 7 | Victoria Falls | Guided tour of Victoria Falls |
|
| | Zambezi River sundowner cruise with drinks and tapas |
|
. Spend the day touring Victoria Falls and then later enjoy a private sunset cruise along the Zambezi River observing a variety of game while enjoying tapas with drinks. (B)
| Day 8 | Victoria Falls | Flight to Johannesburg |
|
Fly to Johannesburg and then check into the Fairlawns Boutique Hotel. (B)
| Day 9 | Johannesburg | Soweto tour with lunch |
|
| | Special dinner and presentation |
|
Take a fascinating tour of Johannesburg and Soweto. Walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela, visiting the Mandela House, followed by a township lunch. In the evening, enjoy a multi-course dinner. (B,L,D)
| Day 10 | Johannesburg | Flight to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
|
Fly to Arusha, via Nairobi, where you’ll be met by an AmaWaterways Representative at Kilimanjaro Airport and transferred to the Arusha Coffee Lodge. (B,D)
DAY 11, ARUSHA – TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK. Journey to Tarangire National Park, where you'll go on an adventurous safari before checking into Treetops Lodge. (B,L,D)
| Day 11 | Arusha | Drive to Tarangire National Park |
|
| Tarangire | Tarangire safari |
|
| | Arrive at Tarangire Treetops |
|
Journey to Tarangire National Park, where you'll go on an adventurous safari before checking into Treetops Lodge. (B,L,D)
| Day 12 | Tarangire | Morning bushwalk with lodge naturalist |
|
| | Afternoon safari and sunset drive in the bush |
|
Experience the wonders of Tarangire with a full day of activities, including a morning bushwalk, an afternoon safari and a sunset drive. This is home to the highest number of breeding bird species in the world along with thousands of elephants, huge herds of buffalo, stately fringe-eared oryx and the towering kudu. (B,L,D)
| Day 13 | Tarangire | Visit Maasai village and drive to Lake Manyara |
|
| Lake Manyara | Lake Manyara National Park safari |
|
| Ngorongoro | Arrive at Ngorongoro |
|
Visit a Maasai village before enjoying a game drive through Manyara National Park, home to tree-climbing lions, giraffes, cheetahs, monkeys, impalas and baboons. Be treated to a picnic en route to The Manor at Ngorongoro. (B,L,D)
| Day 14 | Ngorongoro | Full-day Ngorongoro Crater with picnic |
|
Go on a full-day exploration to the awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater. Once a gigantic volcano, it’s the world’s largest intact caldera offering a unique environment virtually unchanged since the dawn of time. The nearly three million years old caldera shelters one of the most beautiful wildlife havens on earth. Deep within the crater, some 25,000 large mammals wander the plains, lakes and forests. A picnic will be served on the crater floor, followed by further exploration before heading back to The Manor. (B,L,D)
| Day 15 | Ngorongoro | Flight to the Serengeti |
|
| Serengeti National Park | Afternoon safari and game drive |
|
Fly to the Serengeti and in the afternoon, go on a game drive to see the “Big Five.” (B,L,D)
| Day 16 | Serengeti National Park | Morning and afternoon safari |
|
Explore the vast Serengeti via an open safari cruiser during the morning and after lunch. It is not possible to say with any accuracy where the Great Migration of the Wildebeest will be located at any one time. There are several determining factors; however, one can be assured that if there is a good chance of seeing it, then this can be accomplished from the Pioneer Camp or Migration Camp. (B,L,D)
| Day 17 | Serengeti National Park | Morning safari, flight back to Arusha |
|
Take your final safari drive in the morning, and then transfer to the airstrip for your flight back to Arusha. Lunch will be served in the gardens of the lodge before your final transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport or extend your journey with four nights in magical Rwanda. (B,L)
Note: Please do not schedule your onward flight until after 6:00 p.m.