RV African Dream

CroisiEurope's 2017-built/2018-launched African Dream cruise ship marked the company's expansion into the South African river cruising market. This houseboat-type cruiser operates voyages on the Chobe and Zambezi rivers, based on homeporting/round-trip operations from Kasane, Botswana.

RV African Dream (RV=River Vessel) is listed as a "5-anchor" vessel because it meets CroisiEurope's top-tier luxury and comfort classification. It functions as the river and safari-cruise equivalent of a 5-star rating on land.

African Dream's houseboat fleetmates are two newbuilds: Zimbabwean Dream (2020/sistership) and Brasilian Dream (2027).

Another well-known African houseboat cruise ship on the Chobe River is the Zambezi Queen, long-term chartered by AmaWaterways.

What is a houseboat cruise ship?

A houseboat cruise ship is a floating vessel that combines the living accommodations of a home with the mobility and navigation capabilities of a riverboat. Houseboat cruisers are designed primarily for leisure cruising on calm inland waterways, including rivers, canals, and lakes.

Unlike larger, higher-capacity river cruise ships, houseboats are typically smaller, slower, and designed for intimate travel on sheltered waterways. They generally feature a flat-bottomed hull and a spacious superstructure, usually arranged over two decks, housing guest staterooms, public facilities, and onboard venues.

Houseboat cruisers are motorized, self-propelled vessels capable of navigating between different anchorages under their own power. Modern cruising houseboats offer a range of comfortable amenities, including air conditioning throughout, spacious accommodations, and open-air areas such as sun decks.

Decks and Cabins

The premium houseboat African Dream accommodates a maximum of 18 passengers and 16 crew members. She has three decks (one with cabins) and a total of eight staterooms. Six of these are French Balcony cabins (with floor-to-ceiling sliding windows that open to a railing), and two are forward-facing Balcony Suites with step-out verandas (3.5 m² / 40 ft²). All staterooms are the same size (17 m² / 185 ft²), located on the Main Deck, and feature wall-to-wall windows.

Shipboard facilities

The African Dream has a midship staircase connecting all decks. All indoor areas are air-conditioned.

Main Deck (Deck 1) serves as the Boarding Deck and features the starboard midship entrance area and the forward-located Navigation Bridge (Wheelhouse). All passenger cabins are also located on this deck.

Upper Deck (Deck 2), also known as the Lobby Deck, houses the Reception Desk and Cruise Director's Office. It also features the midship Dining Room Restaurant with an Aft Terrace (outdoor seating for alfresco dining) and the forward Bar Lounge. The Galley (kitchen with storage for food and drinks) is adjacent to the restaurant.

The midship Sundeck (Deck 3), dubbed "Chobe Space", is a spacious Observation Terrace with shaded seating, large umbrellas, and premium garden furniture.

In addition to French guests, CroisiEurope's African cruises attract international travelers. All crew members are bilingual, and onboard announcements, as well as itinerary and tour information, are provided in English. All shore excursions are led by English-speaking local guides.

Chobe and Zambezi river cruise itinerary

CroisiEurope offers an 8-night / 9-day African cruise tour that visits Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and South Africa. Each itinerary begins with an overnight hotel stay in Johannesburg (South Africa), followed by a 3-night cruise on the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers and a 4-night lodge stay (in CroisiEurope-owned accommodations). The inclusive shore excursion program features visits to Victoria Falls, a wine estate tour, and a jeep safari in Botswana's Chobe National Park, home to approximately 130,000 elephants (about one-quarter of Africa's total elephant population).

• The Chobe River cruise is themed "Southern Africa: travel to the ends of the earth".
• The standard itinerary lasts 9 days. The extended version, which includes a stay at Cape of Good Hope (South Africa), is 11 nights / 12 days.
• Prices range from EUR 4000-5000 (per person for the 9-day cruise tour) to EUR 6000-6600 (per person for the 12-day tour).
• Below is a map showing the African Dream's river cruise itinerary.

Below is the list of cruise itinerary ports of call and land tours:

• Day 1: JOHANNESBURG – Meet and greet at the hotel around noon, followed by coach transfer to Soweto. Lunch is served before a visit to Freedom Park. The day ends with dinner and an overnight stay at a 4-star hotel.
• Day 2: JOHANNESBURG – KASANE – CRUISING – Flight from Johannesburg to Kasane. Transfer to the African Dream, followed by a welcome cocktail, lunch, and cruising along the Kasai Channel. The ship moors at a private CroisiEurope location on the Chobe River. Dinner and overnight onboard.
• Day 3: CRUISING – Morning jeep safari in Chobe National Park, followed by lunch onboard and afternoon cruising to the Zambezi River (Zambia-Namibia border). An afternoon motorboat "water safari" is offered for wildlife viewing. Dinner and overnight onboard.
• Day 4: CRUISING to Kabulabula – This cruise through Chobe National Park offers views of wildlife such as zebras, Cape buffalos, antelopes, and numerous bird species. Dinner and overnight onboard.
• Day 5: CHOBE RIVER – SEDUDU ISLAND – LODGE – After morning disembarkation, a motorboat water safari is followed by lunch at a "floating restaurant" on the Chobe River, showcasing local cuisine. Transfer to CroisiEurope's lodge includes stops for wildlife viewing on Sedudu Island (hippos, water buffalos, crocodiles). Guests check into the lodge. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
• Day 6: IMPALILA ISLAND – Morning excursion to a local school. Return to the lodge for lunch and enjoy a free afternoon (lodge has a swimming pool). After dinner, a local storyteller shares regional legends. Overnight at the lodge.
• Day 7: IMPALILA ISLAND – Morning visit to an authentic Namibian village. Return to the lodge for lunch and free time in the afternoon. Dinner is served under the stars, followed by an overnight stay at the lodge.
• Day 8: VICTORIA FALLS – Coach travel to Victoria Falls. Includes a lunch cruise and an afternoon walking tour of the waterfalls in Zimbabwe. Dinner is a traditional "Boma" experience with music and dance performances. Overnight at a 4-star hotel.
• Day 9: VICTORIA FALLS – Breakfast and hotel check-out. Optional morning helicopter tour over Victoria Falls.
• Note: Port calls and excursion times may vary due to weather. Wildlife sightings in Chobe National Park are not guaranteed. The Victoria Falls helicopter tour is also weather-dependent.

Note: Visit CruiseMapper's full list of river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All cruise lines and their fleets are listed there.