African River Cruises
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10 best river cruises through Africa
Compiled by
NadineAfrica travel expert at TourRadar
- Safari Cruise along the Zambezi River - South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe with extended stay at the Cape Peninsula (port-to-port cruise) (including Livingstone)
- Safari Cruise along the Zambezi River - South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe (port-to-port cruise)
- 5 Days – 4 Nights Nile Cruise 5* From Cairo by Flight
- Discover Seychelles, Tanzania and Kenya 2028
- 15 Days Ancient Egypt & Lake Nasser Cruise
- 7 Days Of Wonder In Egypt (Domestic Flight Included)
- 5 Days 4 Nights Cruise from Luxor to Aswan
- 4-Night Nile Cruise: Karnak, Kom Ombo & Philae Highlights
- Elegance of the Nile (Small Groups, Winter, Royal Suite Cruise)
- Elegance of the Nile (Small Groups, Winter, Pharaoh Deck Cruise)
Sail Lake Kariba's 200km expanse aboard African Dream ship, weaving through hidden inlets and drowned forests. Float down Chobe River's channels to Sedudu Island, relish sunset boat safaris, and savor Zambezi River dining near Victoria Falls.
Duration 13 days Destinations South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator CroisiEurope River Cruises From $17,547
9% Off- NZ$15,971You save $1,576
Safari Cruise along the Zambezi River - South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe (port-to-port cruise)
1 Review by TourRadar travelers
Lake Kariba's sunken forests pass by aboard the African Dream, revealing hidden inlets rich with wildlife. Cruise Chobe River to Sedudu Island's marshes, and savor sundowner cruises while watching hippos and crocodiles in their natural habitat.
Duration 9 days Destinations South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator CroisiEurope River Cruises From $11,541
14% Off- NZ$9,965You save $1,576
5 Days – 4 Nights Nile Cruise 5* From Cairo by Flight
98 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The itinerary was well varied with plenty of ancient Egypt, storytelling and time to digest.”
Mabel, traveled in June
Sail Africa's mighty Nile aboard a 5-star cruise ship from Luxor to Aswan. Ancient temples and monuments await while you enjoy full-board dining and evening entertainment. Abu Simbel excursion offered as an option.
Duration 5 days Destinations Cairo, Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Esna, Giza, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, Aswan, Elephantine IslandSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Holiday In Egypt From $2,181
50% Off- NZ$1,090You save $1,090
Duration 20 days Destinations Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles Age Range Ages 12+ Operator Emerald Cruises From $61,743
50% Off- NZ$30,804You save $30,938
15 Days Ancient Egypt & Lake Nasser Cruise
12 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We loved all the monuments we were able to see. The Nile Cruise was a special highlight.”
Patricia, traveled in December
The legendary Nile awaits aboard premium vessels like Movenpick Prince Abbas. Ancient temples from Luxor to Abu Simbel unfold before you, with traditional felucca sailing around Kitchener Island. Guides rated 4.9 (50+ reviews) lead comprehensive shore excursions to UNESCO sites.
Duration 15 days Destinations Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Philae, Agilkia Island, Kitchener Island, Abu Simbel, CairoSee all destinations Age Range Ages 6+ Operator Vacations to go travel From
50% Off- NZ$10,072
7 Days Of Wonder In Egypt (Domestic Flight Included)
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“This is the truly recommendable tour for all, especially who really want to have a qick learning around GIZA, and escape from usual life to be relaxed in SIWA.”
MANAMI, traveled in April
The legendary river unfolds aboard 5-star ship visiting ancient temples. Sail from Luxor to Aswan exploring Karnak, Edfu, and Philae sanctuaries. Egyptologists share historical insights while passing traditional feluccas and riverbank ruins.
Duration 7 days Destinations Cairo, Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Chinese, Dutch, Russian Operator Itaca Holiday From
50% Off- NZ$1,553
5 Days 4 Nights Cruise from Luxor to Aswan
17 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Arranged the Nile Cruise for us from Aswan to Luxor with a guide and all activities before and after.”
Tala, traveled in December
The mighty Nile flows from Temple of Karnak to Aswan's High Dam on this 5-star cruise. Wander through Valley of the Kings, Temple of Horus, and Philae Temple while enjoying luxury dining and entertainment. Expert guides bring each historic site to life.
Duration 5 days Destinations Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Chinese, Dutch, Russian Operator Ancient Egypt Tours From $1,343
10% Off- NZ$1,209You save $134
Sonesta St George sails Africa's legendary Nile from Luxor to Aswan. UNESCO sites including Karnak Temple and Valley of the Kings await. Full-board dining and cultural entertainment complement guided shore excursions along this historic waterway.
Duration 5 days Destinations Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, Aswan Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish Operator Sun Pyramid Tours From
10% Off- NZ$1,417
Duration 11 days Destinations Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Philae, Abu Simbel, Elephantine Island, EdfuSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Luxury Gold From
10% Off- NZ$16,727
Duration 11 days Destinations Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Philae, Abu Simbel, Edfu, Esna Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Luxury Gold From
10% Off- NZ$12,527
River Cruises in Africa Reviews
- 5 Days – 4 Nights Nile Cruise 5* From Cairo by Flight
Just do it. Alaa was a brilliant tour guide offering small group ( just 3 of us) personalised, high quality guide through Egypt. His in-depth knowledge which he delivered in excellent English - gave us insight into the history of this amazing country. His courteous manner and ability to cater to all our requests and changing plans was most appreciated.
- 15 Days Ancient Egypt & Lake Nasser Cruise
On our Egypt Tour and Nile Cruise we had an extremely wonderful time. The representatives, guides, and drivers your company provided were extremely professional and courteous at all times. The information you provided about Egypt upon arrival was extremely helpful, especially the extra activities and tipping information. When touring in a foreign country one of the most difficult things to know is how much to tip each individual you deal with. The information about walking around the streets was extremely helpful also. We tried to learn a few Arabic words but our foreign language skills are minimal at best. The two guides you provided had a real love for Egypt and it's history. This was evident anytime they spoke with us about the sites we visited. We learned alot about Egypt present and past from these two gentlemen. The guides also provided a lot of good information about places to buy some good quality gifts. They were very flexible, able to change the schedule on the fly to make sure we saw and did everything we were scheduled to do and at the same time help us with any extra activities we wanted to do. The sites were beautiful, the camel ride was fun, and the Nile cruise was very relaxing. We really enjoyed our time in Egypt, met many interesting people and would very much like to visit again as there are still a lot of things to see and learn. Thanks again for a wonderful time, you all were the best. Thank You, Bobby and Debra Carroll
- 7 Days Of Wonder In Egypt (Domestic Flight Included)
The combination of the Cruise, lying on the sun deck and riding along the nile with the cultural trips to great temples and monuments was nice! The things we saw were great and the relaxation on the deck was great! The service personal on the ship was very nice! The ship was outdated but the crew made the best of what they had! Cairo Pass tour was available all the time and answered to all of our needs if we needed something! That was impressive! But we did not get an itinerary and that is very important to have at the beginning of the trip with information about what time to get up, what time the ship leaves, what time lunch is, when there is free time, when we would go where etc... So we can relax and prepare ourselves. He also tried to organise as much as possible for us with extra trips without really asking us which combination or what kind of vacation or what trips were better suited for us. It was just assumed that we want to see as much as possible and he didnt give us advice if the extra trip, we paid for extra!, were actually worth it or if we could have done less and then more relaxing.. We did not get free water as it was written on the website. Cairo Pass tour did drive us to places to buy water but we still thought we would get free water, which was not the case. The drinks on the boat are too expensive! Cairo Pass tour is a very great trip organiser and was there for us for everything! But we were just too ill informed and felt like we were pushed into extra trips and costs we didnt necessarily need or at least not in the way or in the time slot that he wanted us to go, wich led to an unrelaxing and expensive vacation for us. Also the fact that one expects us to tip everyone although everything was already paid for, was unexplicable to us. But Cairo Pass Tour is a great guy!! And the sights we saw were amazing! My friend and me always had our own guide, so we werent in a big group, which was also very nice and special.
What our customers ask about African River Cruises
What are the best times of year to take a Nile River cruise in Africa?
The Nile River cruise season peaks from October to April when Egypt's weather is most favorable for sightseeing. During September and October travelers find fewer crowds and better rates while December through February brings comfortable daytime temperatures averaging 25°C (77°F). A TourRadar traveler noted: "Our February cruise had perfect weather for exploring temples and enjoying the sundeck making every moment memorable." Most experienced travelers avoid June through August when Upper Egypt temperatures regularly exceed 40°C (104°F).
What are the main destinations and highlights visited on Africa river cruises?
The classic Nile River route connects Luxor and Aswan taking passengers to key archaeological treasures including the Valley of the Kings Karnak Temple and the temples of Luxor Edfu and Philae. Many routes offer Abu Simbel as an add-on excursion. A TourRadar traveler shared "The highlights were Abu Simbel—absolutely breathtaking. The hot air balloon ride over Luxor was magical offering stunning views of ancient temples" from their trip with Egypt Tours Club.
How much do African river cruises typically cost?
The price range for Nile River voyages spans from basic to ultra-luxury experiences. A 4-night journey starts at 550 USD while deluxe 7-night cruises reach 1850 USD. Premium experiences like AmaWaterways' South African cruise command 16280 USD for 17 days. A TourRadar traveler shared: "Our 5-star Nile cruise including Abu Simbel was excellent value at 920 USD for 7 nights with all meals and guided tours included."
What wildlife can I expect to see on African river cruises?
Each river offers distinct wildlife encounters. The Zambezi River draws elephants hippos and crocodiles while Chobe River cruises showcase large herds of elephants and buffalo. Nile cruises emphasize historical sites though water birds and occasional crocodiles make appearances. A TourRadar traveler on the Zambezi Queen reported: "The morning wildlife viewing from the boat was incredible - we saw entire herds of elephants coming to drink at the river's edge."
How long are typical Africa river cruise itineraries?
Nile River journeys commonly run 4-8 days with many travelers choosing 4-night trips between Luxor and Aswan. Extended programs like Uniworld's 12-day "Splendors of Egypt & the Nile" blend river cruising with land exploration. Statistics show 5-day itineraries are most popular with one TourRadar traveler commenting "The 5-day cruise was perfect to see all the major sites along the Nile."
What types of cultural experiences are available on Africa river cruises?
These river voyages connect travelers with local life through visits to Nubian villages traditional markets and archaeological wonders. Evening entertainment features belly dancing and regional music while vessels like the Zimbabwean Dream stop at authentic villages on Impalila Island. A TourRadar traveler observed: "Our guide Hassan made both sightseeing visits in Aswan & Luxor so enjoyable and aroused curiosity with his knowledge of local culture."
What are the typical cabin options available on Africa river cruises?
Nile River ships provide accommodations ranging from standard rooms to premium suites. The S.S. Sphinx offers four room categories from deluxe cabins to royal suites each with river views. Ships like the Princess Sarah feature 5-star rooms with private balconies. According to a TourRadar traveler "The Nile cruise was memorable with stunning landscapes and a tranquil Nile view from our room" during their 5-day Luxor to Aswan journey.
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