CroisiEurope: All aboard for a once-in-a-lifetime African adventure

Watching big cats, elephants and hippo in their own environment coupled with a cruise on one of Africa’s biggest lakes is the stuff of dreams – now thanks to CroisiEurope, it’s a reality

With CroisiEurope you can experience the world-famous sights of Africa and more. Stay in some of the most sumptuous lodges in Africa as well as on board the African Dream, CroisiEurope’s intimate eight cabin vessel, which cruises the mysterious Lake Kariba – the largest man-made lake in Africa. It’s not uncommon to have herds of elephant walk right past the ship.

Choose between CroisiEurope’s nine or 12-day Africa tours that cover South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. These programmes defy definition, there really is nothing else like them on the market right now.

They start in Johannesburg with a visit to the world-famous Apartheid Museum – the first museum to centre on 20th century African history – followed by a tour of the city. The city showcases two sides of South Africa – a land of extreme poverty and wealth.

The next day, guests will board a flight to Kasane, Namibia, and transfer to the beautiful Cascades Lodge by private boat. Here they will be welcomed by our crew as they settle into their accommodation, located on an island created by a tributary of the Zambezi River. Enjoy a dinner and a good night’s sleep in the heart of wild Africa.

The next day will see guests enjoy a full day of safari in Chobe National Park – home to more than a quarter of Africa’s entire elephant population. Lunch will on board a floating restaurant in the middle of the river – offering 360 degree views of the stunning scenery.

After visiting the marshes of Sedudu Island in Bostwana, guests will journey to Impalila Island where they will visit villages and hear about traditional ways of life that have continued for centuries. There will be free time to enjoy the lodge’s private swimming pools or head out again and explore more of the wilderness.

From here guests will transfer to Lake Kariba on small private planes. This is far off the usual tourist trail and offers something totally unique for CroisiEurope’s guests.

Lake Kariba was formed by building the vast Kariba Dam in 1955, which powers 70 per cent of Zimbabwe’s electricity – its scale is extraordinary. In the evening, guests board the African Dream to start the cruise portion of their adventure.

The next four days will be spent exploring Lake Kariba and all of the incredible sites – including submerged trees that can be glimpsed far below – drowned after the valley was flooded to create the lake. Passengers will board an even smaller private boat to discover the unique wildlife around the Gache Gache River before sailing through the Sanyati Gorge.

The next day brings one of the highlights of a tour packed with incredible moments – a safari through Matusadona National Park. The vast 540 square mile protected area is home to everything from elephant and hippo to crocodile and thousands of species of bird, including the African Sea Eagle.

No trip to an African national park would be complete without searching out one of the continent’s big cats, either. You’ll also learn more about Operation Noah – a huge initiative to save the animals when the lake was created and move them to their new home in Matusadona.

The final two days of this incredible journey are spent exploring the Kariba Dam before flying out to the mighty Victoria Falls – the widest waterfall in the world – on board a private plane. Lunch will be on the Zambezi River, upstream from the falls. Here guests will be able to experience ‘the smoke that thunders’ for themselves – a sight they will never forget. There is also an opportunity for guests to take a helicopter ride over the falls, too.

This is, by any measure, a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. The opportunity to see lions, elephants and rhino in their own environment is a bucket list holiday. To do so coupled with a unique cruise on one of Africa’s biggest lakes, is the stuff of dreams. CroisiEurope’s luxury getaway is available in both low season (March, November and December) and high (April through to October) – meaning it is available virtually year-round.

For those who want to see more of Africa, CroisiEurope’s 12-day programme includes the chance to visit Cape Town and Robben Island, the notorious prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 27 years. An experience which is all the more poignant given this year’s centenary celebrations for Nelson Mandela’s birth. It’s also an opportunity to see yet another side of this incredibly diverse and fascinating continent. What are you waiting for?

For more information call 0208 3281 281 or visit croisieurope.co.uk