Experiences & Activities

Where can I find the best river cruise in Southern Africa?

Forget rushing from one safari vehicle to another. On the Chobe River, elephants come to the water while your boat drifts quietly past.

Photo: Gerhard Venter.

There is something wonderfully unhurried about watching Africa from a river. The landscape moves slowly, wildlife comes to drink, birds cross the sky, and the day's heat seems less urgent from the water.

For travellers looking for a Southern African river cruise, the Chobe River is difficult to overlook.

The Chobe forms part of the border between Botswana and Namibia before flowing towards its meeting point with the Zambezi. Its waters run alongside Chobe National Park, one of Botswana's premier wildlife destinations.

This is not a conventional European-style river cruise. The attraction is the wildlife.

Elephants regularly gather along the riverbank. Hippos surface close to the boat, crocodiles lie near the water's edge, and birdlife is abundant. Operators offer both short excursions and multi-night safari cruises.

For travellers seeking a particularly luxurious experience, the Zambezi Queen operates on the Chobe River. The 42-metre houseboat has 14 suites, each with air conditioning and a private balcony. The vessel navigates roughly 25 kilometres of the river, offering different perspectives of the surrounding wilderness.

The Chobe Princess offers a more intimate alternative. Its small houseboats operate between the Chobe and Zambezi rivers, with water-based activities, tender-boat excursions, meals and park fees included in the published rates.

Its 2026 two-night cruises are listed from R19,839 per person sharing for January and February, rising to R26,414 from March to November. Kasane is the practical gateway. Travellers can fly into Kasane Airport before transferring towards the river. The location also makes it possible to combine a cruise with a conventional safari in Chobe National Park.

Several longer itineraries incorporate the Chobe cruise into wider Southern African journeys. AmaWaterways, for example, offers 2026 programmes combining Johannesburg, Botswana, Namibia, Victoria Falls and the Chobe River.

The best cruise therefore depends on the holiday you want.

Choose a short river cruise if you want a taste of the Chobe. Choose a houseboat if the river itself is meant to be the holiday. Choose a longer itinerary if you want to combine Botswana with Victoria Falls and other Southern African highlights. For pure wildlife viewing from water, however, the Chobe is hard to beat.