Waterways of Southern Africa: A Luxury River Cruise Safari - 2021

Each Vantage Adventure is designed to help you fully experience local culture and to get out and explore while keeping active. We find these are the two most fulfilling and rewarding ways to transform any trip into an adventure, and into the experience of a lifetime. To that end, we’ve rated each trip to indicate the level of cultural immersion and physical activity, with “1” being the lowest and “3” being the highest. 

PACING

• This trip is moderately-paced
• You will visit 6 destinations in 4 countries in 17 nights, with one 2-night stay and five 3-night stays
• There are four flights between destinations; flight lengths range from 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours
• There are two 2-hour hotel transfers during your journey; others are 45 minutes or less
• The longest transfer day involves about 7 hours of traveling with transfers and flights

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Please note that this is an active tour and is not wheelchair-friendly
• Travelers will use many kinds of transportation, including boats, planes, motorcoaches, mini-buses of various sizes, and 10-passenger open-sided African safari vehicles
• There is easy-to-moderate walking on this African safari tour. Surfaces encountered will include rutted dirt roads, paths, paving stones, and tile. Rough roads mean bumpy rides, so this tour is not appropriate for passengers with neck or back troubles. If you have any questions about whether this safari is right for you, give us a call. We’ll be happy to advise you based on your specific situation.

TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION

• Travelers will use many kinds of transportation, including boats, planes, motorcoaches, mini-buses of various sizes, and 10-passenger open-sided African safari vehicles
• The most strenuous walking will be in the Victoria Falls National Park and between terminal buildings at Johannesburg Airport. Transiting in Johannesburg is a requirement on three occasions, including the return journey to the U.S. This airport can be tiring, especially with security lines, check-ins, and the prevalence of marble floors, and you will need to transit from the Domestic to the International Building on your return to the U.S. Other airports are quite small and manageable.

CLIMATE

This tour covers a large area, so travelers can expect to encounter a range of temperatures, especially on safari. South Africa is warmest in January and February, Zimbabwe in October and November, and Namibia and Botswana in December and January. Different areas on the tour have rainy periods at varying times, and every season brings with it a bonus, be it the lush foliage or active game and African wildlife on safari. Since the weather is unpredictable, please check weather sites online for 10-day forecasts closer to your departure date to plan your packing accordingly.