A Private Proposal · Prepared for Mary & Craig
An unforgettable journey through Southern Africa — Cape Town, the Chobe River aboard the Zambezi Queen, Victoria Falls, Johannesburg, and Greater Kruger. Fourteen extraordinary nights, curated for the two of you.
Journey
AmaWaterways
Ship
Zambezi Queen
Guests Aboard
28
Length
14 Nights
A Note on Timing
Zambezi Queen welcomes just 28 guests, with only 4 Luxury Suites. This intimate ship has exceptionally limited space, so selecting your preferred departure and suite early is essential.
Hold a Suite →A Personal Overture
What follows is an extraordinary arc through five countries — from Cape Town's coast to the wildlife-rich Chobe, the mist of Victoria Falls, the history of Johannesburg, and the open wilderness of Greater Kruger. Fourteen nights, refined suite by suite and sundowner by sundowner.
The Journey
AmaWaterways' Iconic Africa journey brings together Cape Town, a three-night Chobe River cruise, Victoria Falls, Johannesburg, and a Greater Kruger safari experience across 14 unforgettable nights.
IDays 1 – 3 · Cape Town
Three nights introduce you to Cape Town's mountains, coastline, and layered history. Explore the Cape of Good Hope, visit Robben Island, and savor an evening in the celebrated wine country before your journey continues north.
IIDays 4 – 6 · Aboard Zambezi Queen
Settle into a balcony suite for three nights where Botswana meets Namibia. Venture out on intimate boat safaris, meet residents of a riverside village, enjoy a Chobe National Park safari, and gather for an African-themed dinner as the landscape drifts past.
IIIDays 7 – 9 · Victoria Falls
Cross into the thunder of Mosi-oa-Tunya, the Smoke that Thunders. A guided encounter with Victoria Falls, a private sundowner cruise on the Zambezi, and a safari in search of rare black rhino reveal the wonder from every angle.
IVDays 10 – 11 · Johannesburg
Return to South Africa for Johannesburg and Soweto, where a guided experience traces the country's extraordinary story. Comfortable hotel accommodations, breakfast, airport transfers, and time to reset are woven seamlessly into the journey.
VDays 12 – 15 · Safari
Fly onward to the Greater Kruger area for an exclusive safari-lodge finale. Morning and afternoon game drives unfold across a thriving private reserve, with three nights in an elegant suite and time to seek Africa's most iconic wildlife before returning home.
The Iconic Africa Difference
This is far more than a river cruise. Hotels, transfers, guided experiences, wildlife encounters, and safari stays are woven into one effortless journey — with Sandy coordinating the details from your first flight to your final game drive.
Your Day-by-Day Itinerary
From your Cape Town welcome to a final sunrise safari in Greater Kruger, every day brings a distinctive place, story, or wildlife encounter.
01
Day 1
Cape Town, South Africa
Airport welcome and transfer to your hotel, followed by time to settle in. Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at an evening welcome cocktail and dinner.
02
Day 2
Cape Town, South Africa
Ascend Table Mountain by cableway, follow the Atlantic coast to the Cape of Good Hope, enjoy lunch in False Bay, and visit the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach. The evening is yours at leisure.
03
Day 3
Cape Town, South Africa
Tour historic Robben Island, visit a local township, and enjoy lunch before an evening wine tasting and gourmet dinner at a vineyard in the Constantia Valley.
04
Day 4
Cape Town to the Chobe River
Fly to Victoria Falls, continue to the Chobe River, and cross by tender to the Zambezi Queen. Settle into your suite before a welcome cocktail reception and dinner aboard.
05
Day 5
Chobe River, Botswana
Set out on morning and evening boat safaris along one of Africa’s most wildlife-rich waterways, with a relaxed afternoon aboard between excursions.
06
Day 6
Chobe River, Botswana
Pair a morning boat safari with a visit to a local African village. After lunch, choose another safari, guided bird-watching, or fishing, then gather for an African-themed dinner hosted by the crew.
07
Day 7
Chobe to Victoria Falls
Explore Chobe National Park by open-top 4x4 on a full-day wildlife safari with a picnic lunch. Disembark and transfer to your Victoria Falls hotel for dinner with live local entertainment.
08
Day 8
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Discover Victoria Falls on a guided walking tour, enjoy an afternoon at leisure, then take a private sunset cruise on the Zambezi River with drinks and tapas.
09
Day 9
Victoria Falls & Livingstone
Walk across Victoria Falls Bridge to explore the Zambian side and historic Livingstone. After free time, seek black rhino and nocturnal wildlife on an evening safari followed by a three-course bush dinner.
10
Day 10
Victoria Falls to Johannesburg
Transfer to Victoria Falls Airport for your flight to Johannesburg, then settle into Fairlawns Boutique Hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
11
Day 11
Johannesburg & Soweto
Tour Johannesburg and Soweto, visit Mandela House and the Apartheid Museum, and enjoy lunch at Sanctuary Mandela. The day concludes with a special multi-course dinner and presentation.
12
Day 12
Johannesburg to Greater Kruger
Fly to Hoedspruit and transfer to your five-star tented camp. Search for the Big Five on a late-afternoon game drive, followed by dinner and stargazing at camp.
13
Day 13
Greater Kruger, South Africa
Venture into the reserve on two game drives timed for prime wildlife viewing, with leisure time at the lodge and an evening beneath the vast African sky.
14
Day 14
Greater Kruger, South Africa
Enjoy another morning and afternoon of guided wildlife viewing, with time between drives to relax at the lodge before dinner and a final evening in the bush.
15
Day 15
Greater Kruger to Johannesburg
Begin with one last early-morning game drive and breakfast, then fly to Johannesburg for your onward journey. Homebound flights should be scheduled after 5:00 p.m.
Itinerary details are based on AmaWaterways’ 2027 Iconic Africa program and may change. Final travel documents will contain the most current schedule.
Life Aboard
Twenty-eight guests. Fourteen all-suite staterooms — and of those, only four true Luxury Suites, with wrap-around glass and the largest balconies on the river. Days measured in game drives at dawn, long lunches on deck, and evenings of gourmet dining paired with Stellenbosch reds and Cape whites, poured by name.
Service is quiet and personal, shaped by the intimacy of a vessel welcoming only twenty-eight guests. When the ship settles into the evening light, it feels less like a cruise and more like a small, elegant house party at the edge of the wild.
Aboard the Queen
The Deck Plan
A schematic of the Zambezi Queen, from bow to stern across three decks. The four Luxury Suites are highlighted in gold — corners forward on the Middle and Upper decks, with the widest views and the largest balconies aboard.
Sun Deck
Top-deck plunge pool · open-air lounge · sundowner bar
Upper Deck
7 suites · 2 Luxury Suites forward
Main Deck
7 suites · 2 Luxury Suites forward · lounge & dining aft
Schematic — for illustration. Bow at right. Official AmaWaterways deck plans provided upon reservation.
Why This Is Extraordinary
Of the fourteen all-suite staterooms aboard Zambezi Queen, only four are true Luxury Suites — wrap-around glass, expanded balcony, the finest views on the river. When they are gone, they are gone.
Water-based game viewing by small tender — into the channels the large boats cannot reach, where elephants and hippos gather at the river's edge.
Every suite opens to a private balcony over the Chobe. Zip-lining above the Falls, a helicopter over the gorge, night safaris in search of black rhino — every optional adventure, arranged.
A boutique vessel, all-suite, all-inclusive. Gourmet dining paired with the finest South African wines. The intimacy of a private yacht, at the edge of the wild.
"On the Chobe, you do not go to the wildlife.
The wildlife comes to you."
Curated by Sandy
Mary & Craig — this journey has been curated for the two of you personally, from Cape Town and the Zambezi Queen to Victoria Falls and the safari landscapes of Greater Kruger. Every hotel, every guide, and every intimate wildlife experience has been considered with you in mind.
As an ASTA Verified Travel Advisor, I am with you at every step — before you leave, throughout your journey, and after you return. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. If a flight shifts, if a plan changes, if you simply wish for a table at sunset, I am one call away.
— Sandy Holton
Next Steps · A Note of Urgency
Only four Luxury Suites exist on Zambezi Queen, and this intimate ship welcomes just twenty-eight guests. Choosing a preferred departure and placing the required deposit early offers the best opportunity to secure the suite and dates you desire.
Pricing, availability, and applicable deposit terms confirmed privately