Our Favorite River Cruises to Africa in 2025

10 Best Africa River Cruises for 2025

Safari Cruise along the Zambezi River - South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe

9 Days from $8,340

From Johannesburg, South Africa, enjoy this 9-day exploration cruise of Southern Africa aboard the luxurious Zimbabwean Dream. Get an up-close experience of the region's wildlife, observe the grandness of Victoria Falls, and meet the locals. Along the way you'll visit Chobe National Park, Lake Kariba, and other top destinations.

Best Luxury River Cruises on the Nile River

Trip Name	From	Days	Next Departure	Summary
Egypt Tour: Cairo & Dahabiya	$4,250	10	Jul 04, 2025	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
Secrets of Egypt & the Nile	$6,294	12	Sep 03, 2025	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	Jul 07, 2025	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
Nile River Explorer	$8,196	10	Jul 01, 2025	Cruise the Nile aboard a luxuriously-outfitted riverboat and visit some of the world's greatest archaeological sites. The Pyramids of Giza are the only survivors of the Ancient World's Seven Wonders. 0
Classic Egypt Tour	$2,320	8	Jul 01, 2025	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
Alexandria & Ancient Egypt	$11,900	16	Sep 08, 2025	Experience a 16-day cruise on the Sanctuary Sun Boat III from Cairo, exploring the blend of ancient history and modernity in Alexandria. Explore key sites, including the Rosetta Stone and the iconic pyramids along the Nile, and immerse yourself in Egypt's rich cultural heritage. 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