Day 1 – Cape Town

ARRIVE IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA. Situated amidst majestic mountains and lined with pristine beaches, Cape Town has a rich cultural heritage with extraordinary attractions. After being greeted at the airport by an AmaWaterways representative, transfer to your historic hotel with its lush gardens and Table Mountain as a backdrop. Get to know your tour director and fellow travelers at a special Welcome Reception. (WR)

Day 2 – Cape Town

CAPE TOWN. Begin the day by taking the cableway up Table Mountain, which offers sweeping views of the landscapes below. Afterward, enjoy one of the world’s most stunning drives as you head southeast along the Atlantic seaboard past the 12 Apostles, Hout Bay and Chapman’s Peak. Stop at the Cape of Good Hope and its lighthouse, a historic landmark and crucial waypoint for European explorers after it was first discovered in 1488. After a local lunch, you’ll also visit Boulders Beach, home to thousands of African penguins. Back in Cape Town, the evening may be spent at your leisure.

Day 3 – Cape Town

CAPE TOWN. Today, you may visit Robben Island, once used as a prison for many political inmates, including Nelson Mandela. You’ll ferry over to the island, where a warden will lead you through the prison and recount its tumultuous history. Back in Cape Town, enjoy lunch and visit a nearby township where you’ll have a unique and memorable experience meeting residents involved in the arts (music and theater), market gardens, and other community projects, as well as learning about the day-to-day life of the locals. In the evening, enjoy a special wine tasting and gourmet dinner at a vineyard in the nearby winegrowing region of the Constantia Valley.

Day 4 – Cape Town

CAPE TOWN – VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE – ZAMBEZI QUEEN – EMBARKATION. In the morning, transfer to the airport for a flight to Victoria Falls. Here, you will be transferred to the Chobe River that forms the border between Botswana and Namibia. Tender boats will transport you to Zambezi Queen, moored on the Namibia side of the river. Settle into your stateroom, enjoy a mid-afternoon snack, and in the evening, be treated to a Welcome Cocktail Reception and Dinner.

Day 5 – Chobe River

ZAMBEZI QUEEN. Embark on a morning boat safari and experience the Chobe River’s diverse game viewing. Afterwards, return to Zambezi Queen for lunch. As the ship cruises along the Chobe River, you can spend time in the splash pool, visit the spa or perhaps catch up with your favorite book. Later in the day, revel in the panoramic views with another boat safari opportunity.

Day 6 – Chobe River

ZAMBEZI QUEEN. Start your day off with a boat safari. Later, a local African village invites you to experience the local culture firsthand. Spend time with the children of the village as well as its elders and learn about their day-to-day life. After lunch on board, you can choose between a boat safari, bird watching or fishing. Spend your last evening aboard reveling in a festive African-themed dinner hosted by your crew—complete with singing and dancing.

Day 7 – Chobe River

ZAMBEZI QUEEN – DISEMBARKATION – VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE. Disembark and join a wildlife safari of Chobe National Park in open-top 4×4 vehicles. Be on the lookout for elephants, giraffes, zebras, sable, warthogs and cape buffaloes. Prides of lions, hyenas and (more rarely) cheetahs may also appear along the way. For lunch, take a seat under the trees and savor a delicious picnic. Later this afternoon, transfer to Victoria Falls, then enjoy a special dinner with live local entertainment at your hotel.

Day 8 – Victoria Falls

VICTORIA FALLS. Join a local guide for a tour of Victoria Falls. Learn about its history as well as the flora and fauna that make this area so unique. In the evening, embark on a private sunset cruise along the Zambezi River. Relax on board as you observe a variety of wildlife while enjoying a delicious mix of tapas with drinks.

Day 9 – Victoria Falls

VICTORIA FALLS. This morning, you are invited on a leisurely guided walk across the Victoria Falls Bridge, which connects the countries of Zimbabwe and Zambia. Once in Zambia, explore the more intimate side of the Falls and visit the historic town of Livingstone. Later, head back to Zimbabwe for a free afternoon. As a special treat tonight, head out on a safari to seek out the elusive Black Rhino and other nocturnal animals, followed by a three-course bush dinner.

Day 10 – Victoria Falls

VICTORIA FALLS – JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA. Board your flight to Johannesburg, where you will be met by your AmaWaterways local guide, then transfer to the Fairlawns Boutique Hotel with its parklike setting and wonderful spa.

Day 11 – Johannesburg

JOHANNESBURG. Get an in-depth look at Soweto’s unique neighborhoods, which served as the center of the uprising against the apartheid state. Walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela and visit a youth center and school in the heart of Kliptown, one of Soweto’s neighborhoods. After a local lunch, tour the Apartheid Museum, which chronicles the history of apartheid in South Africa and the struggle of citizens to end the regime of racial segregation. Later, return to your hotel and enjoy free time, where you may visit the hotel’s renowned spa or take a swim in the pool. In the evening, you are invited to join a multi-course dinner.

Day 12 – Kruger Park

JOHANNESBURG – KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA. Board your flight to Greater Kruger National Park in the morning, where you’ll be transferred to the five-star Tented Camp. During the afternoon, set out on a game drive in search of the country’s “Big Five” and other native wildlife. Spend your first night and every night, if you wish, gathering with fellow travelers, sharing stories of the day’s adventures.

Day 13 – Kruger Park

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA. Early morning is the perfect time to go on safari, as the wildlife is prolific. Your open-air vehicle provides the ideal way to explore your private game reserve, located just a stone’s throw from the game-rich Kruger National Park. The rest of each morning and early afternoon can be spent enjoying the facilities and participating in various activities at a luxury tented safari lodge. Later, each afternoon, you will go on another game drive deep into the bush, where you may encounter South Africa’s top predators: cheetahs, hyenas and lions.

Day 14 – Kruger Park

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA. Early morning is the perfect time to go on safari, as the wildlife is prolific. Your open-air vehicle provides the ideal way to explore your private game reserve, located just a stone’s throw from the game-rich Kruger National Park. The rest of each morning and early afternoon can be spent enjoying the facilities and participating in various activities at a luxury tented safari lodge. Later, each afternoon, you will go on another game drive deep into the bush, where you may encounter South Africa’s top predators: cheetahs, hyenas and lions.

Day 15 – Kruger Park

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AREA – JOHANNESBURG. Join one last early-morning game drive before returning to the lodge for breakfast. Afterwards, transfer to the airport in Johannesburg for your connecting flight home. Note: Please do not schedule your onward flight before 5:00 p.m