AmaWaterways Rivers & Rails of Africa: 13 Nights, Fares in AUD

Rivers & Rails of Africa at a glance

Rivers & Rails of Africa is a 13-night AmaWaterways river cruise on the Chobe, from Cape Town to Johannesburg, on Zambezi Queen. There are 50 departures between November 2026 and November 2028, from A$26,227 per person twin share in a Balcony stateroom, cruise only, with port charges and gratuities included.

Southern Africa by river and rail, this 12 or 13-night adventure pairs Chobe River safari cruises with iconic train travel. The Chobe's wildlife, elephant, hippo, crocodile and more, meets the romance of vintage African rail for an experience unlike any other on the continent.

See dates and fares

Rivers & Rails of Africa facts
Length	13 nights
River	Chobe
Starts and ends	Cape Town to Johannesburg
Countries	South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe
Ship	Zambezi Queen
Departures	50, 13 Nov 2026 to 20 Nov 2028
From	A$26,227 pp, Balcony

Itinerary and fares from AmaWaterways, checked 2 November at 7:29am.

Rivers & Rails of Africa day by day

Day	Where	The day
1	Cape Town, South Africa	Welcome to Cape Town
2	Cape Town, South Africa	Journey to the Cape of Good Hope
3	Cape Town, South Africa	Table Mountains and the Winelands
4	Cape Town, South Africa	Embark on the Zambezi Queen
5	Chobe River, Namibia	Cruise the Chobe River
6	Chobe River, Namibia	Chobe National Park
7	Chobe River, Namibia	Village visits along the river
8	Chobe River, Namibia	Discover nature’s majesty
9	Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe	Journey to the falls
10	Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe	Journey on the Rovos Rail
11	Hwange National Park , Zimbabwe	Hwange National Park
12	Tropic of Capricorn & Limpopo River , Zimbabwe	Baobabs and borderlands
13	Polowane Nature Reserve, South Africa	Pololwane Nature Reserve
14	Johannesburg, South Africa	Bid farewell to Africa and prepare for your journey home.

As published by AmaWaterways. Excursions and timings can change with river levels and local conditions.

Rivers & Rails of Africa dates and fares

Every departure we list, with the lowest fare in each stateroom type, per person for two sharing, in Australian dollars, cruise only, with port charges and gratuities included, as listed by AmaWaterways on 2 November at 7:29am. Press Quote on a date and a specialist confirms what is open and the price for two before you pay.

2026

Departs	Ship	Window	Balcony	Suite	Quote
13 Nov 2026Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,216	Sold out
20 Nov 2026Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,216	Sold out

2027

Departs	Ship	Window	Balcony	Suite
5 Apr 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$27,007	Sold out
12 Apr 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$29,165	Sold out
30 Apr 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$29,885	Sold out
7 May 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$30,748	Sold out
17 May 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$30,173	Sold out
21 May 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$30,173	Sold out
4 June 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$30,686	Sold out
21 June 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$31,036	Sold out
9 July 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$29,021	Sold out
16 July 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$29,597	Sold out
23 July 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$29,597	Sold out
30 July 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,446	Sold out
6 Aug 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$31,036	Sold out
16 Aug 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$30,460	Sold out
1 Nov 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$27,870	Sold out
8 Nov 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$27,520	Sold out
15 Nov 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$26,227	Sold out
22 Nov 2027Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$26,977	Sold out

2028

Departs	Ship	Window	Balcony	Suite
6 Mar 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$27,055	Sold out
13 Mar 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$26,967	Sold out
20 Mar 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$27,599	Sold out
27 Mar 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$27,542	Sold out
3 Apr 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,463	Sold out
10 Apr 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,463	Sold out
17 Apr 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$27,830	Sold out
1 May 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,118	Sold out
8 May 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,750	Sold out
22 May 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,118	Sold out
5 June 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,118	Sold out
12 June 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,750	Sold out
3 July 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,118	Sold out
10 July 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,750	Sold out
17 July 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,118	Sold out
24 July 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,750	Sold out
31 July 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,750	Sold out
7 Aug 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,750	Sold out
14 Aug 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,750	Sold out
28 Aug 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,750	Sold out
4 Sept 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,750	Sold out
11 Sept 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$28,468	Sold out
2 Oct 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$27,399	Sold out
9 Oct 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$27,399	Sold out
16 Oct 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$27,399	Sold out
23 Oct 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$27,399	Sold out
30 Oct 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$27,399	Sold out
6 Nov 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$27,399	Sold out
13 Nov 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$27,399	Sold out
20 Nov 2028Cape Town to Johannesburg	Zambezi Queen	Sold out	A$27,399	Sold out

Staterooms on Rivers & Rails of Africa

The lowest fare in each stateroom type across the departures above, per person twin share. Each type has several categories by deck and size; we quote the one you prefer.

Window

The lowest deck (Piano Deck), with a fixed picture window
About 160 to 170 sq ft on the European ships, 205 sq ft on AmaMagna
The lowest fare on board, with the same dining and excursions as every stateroom

CurrentlySold outon every listed dateAsk us

Balcony

A French balcony, and on most ships a step-out balcony beside it: AmaWaterways’ twin balcony
From about 14 to 22 square metres, on the upper decks
Two twin beds or one larger bed, set up before you board

FromA$26,227ppA$52,454 for 2Choose a date

Suite

A larger sitting area and bathroom, from about 30 to 33 square metres
Twin balcony or a full outside balcony, depending on the ship
The top category on most ships; AmaMagna adds Grand Suites and an Owner’s Suite

CurrentlySold outon every listed dateAsk us

What’s included in your fare

AmaWaterways covers the dining, the guided excursions and the bikes. Drinks come with lunch and dinner and at the nightly cocktail hour, rather than all day.

All meals on board, including dinner at The Chef’s Table
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
The Sip and Sail cocktail hour before dinner, in Europe
Guided shore excursions, most days with a choice of pace
Bicycles in Europe
Wi-Fi
A cruise manager with you throughout
Port charges and gratuities, on the fly and cruise fares sold in Australia

Available at an additional cost

Premium and imported wines, and drinks outside the included times
Some excursions on selected sailings
Flights, fuel surcharges and baggage fees
Airport transfers, unless you book your flights through AmaWaterways
Laundry, insurance, visas and vaccinations

More Chobe river cruises

Rivers & Rails of Africa, answered

How much does the AmaWaterways Rivers & Rails of Africa cruise cost?

From A$26,227 per person, twin share (A$52,454 for two), in a Balcony stateroom. Fares are in Australian dollars, cruise only, with port charges and gratuities included, as listed by AmaWaterways on 2 November at 7:29am. They differ by date, so the table of departures above has each one.

When does Rivers & Rails of Africa sail?

50 times between 13 Nov 2026 and 20 Nov 2028: 2 departures in 2026, 18 departures in 2027, 30 departures in 2028.

Where does it start and finish?

It starts in Cape Town and finishes in Johannesburg.

Which ship sails it?

Zambezi Queen. Every AmaWaterways ship is small, most carrying fewer than 200 guests, with twin-balcony staterooms above the Window category.

What is included in the fare?

All meals on board, with wine, beer and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, guided excursions in most places you stop, Wi-Fi, port charges and gratuities. Flights, travel insurance, visas and premium drinks are extra.

How do I book Rivers & Rails of Africa?

Choose a date in the table and press Quote, or send the form with any date. A AmaWaterways specialist replies with the staterooms open on your date and the price for two in Australian dollars, before you pay anything. Or call us on 1300 214 840.

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