AROUND THE WORLD · SAFARI

15 River Safaris Worth Flying For

37 tours  ·  from $18 a head

This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 river safaris worth crossing a border for, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.

Jet Boat Safari on the Sigatoka River - Lunch, music, and a generous welcome
River Cruises, Safari, Tour Reviews

Jet Boat Safari on the Sigatoka River

1.Jet Boat Safari on the Sigatoka River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,135 reviews · from $140Our pick

Travel from Sigatoka by air-conditioned minibus to the Sigatoka River, then ride upriver through jungle and village scenery with captains such as Laps, Ace, or Freddy. Visit a local village for kava, lunch, singing, dancing, and a close look at everyday Fijian life before the optional 360-degree spins.

“Andrew runs a great operation, and this tour definitely ranks amongst the top 5 of all tours out of 40+ countries….a must do!”

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Alanya: Taurus Mountains Jeep Safari & Lunch at Dimcay River - The water battle begins early
Alanya River Cruises, Lunch Experiences, River Cruises, Safari, Tour Reviews, Turkey River Cruises

Alanya: Taurus Mountains Jeep Safari & Lunch at Dimcay River

2.Alanya: Taurus Mountains Jeep Safari & Lunch at Dimcay River

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 581 reviews · 7 hours · from $29

Spend seven lively hours riding open jeeps through the Taurus Mountains, stopping for views, village life, tea, gözleme, and a mosque visit before lunch beside the Dim Cayi River. English and Turkish guides lead the day, with hotel pickup across Alanya. Water fights are part of the fun.

“The trip was such a lovely and exhilarating experience and the views of Alanya were breath taking. Lunch was provided at the Dimcay River, which was very delicious. Our tour guide had a pleasant and welcoming vibe 10/10 - highly recommended”

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Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip - Du Toitskloof Pass and the first mountain views
1-Day Tours, Guided, River Cruises, Safari, Tour Reviews

Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip

3.Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 526 reviews · from $155

Leave Cape Town at 8:30 a.m. with a professional guide such as Mike, Werner, or Jamie, cross Du Toitskloof Pass, stop for wine or coffee, then join a 2 to 3 hour safari at Aquila Private Game Reserve. Lunch and champagne are included in the reserve fee, not the tour price.

“It was my very first safari ever and it was absolutely amazing. Mike went above and beyond! He managed everything extremely well and thanks to him I did not have to que a single time. Also his knowledge about the area is huge. You can Read more”

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From Alanya: Jeep Safari Tour with Lunch at Dim River - Leaving Alanya for the Taurus Mountains
Alanya River Cruises, Lunch Experiences, River Cruises, Safari, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey River Cruises

From Alanya: Jeep Safari Tour with Lunch at Dim River

4.From Alanya: Jeep Safari Tour with Lunch at Dim River

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 375 reviews · 6.5 hours · from $24

Ride from Alanya into the Taurus Mountains with English or German-speaking guides such as Mustafa and Zeyad. Expect mountain views, a Turkish village, Dim Cave, swimming, buffet lunch by Dim River, and joyful water fights between jeeps. Bring swimwear and prepare to get soaked.

“This excursion was an absolute blast! From start to finish, it was fun, adventurous, and full of laughter. One of the highlights was the epic water fight — we had so much fun and felt like kids again! Everyone was smiling, soaked, and completely in the moment. It truly added a playful, unforgettable touch to the day. What made the experience even better was the incredible staff. Mustafa, Hassan, Ziad, and Emil were all fantastic — kind, fun, and incredibly entertaining. They kept the energy high, made everyone feel welcome, and made sure we were having the best time possible. It was worth every penny spent. I’d do it all…”

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Bentota River Safari with Mangrove and Wildlife Encounter - Leaving from Bentota Bridge and reaching the mangroves
River Cruises, Safari, Tour Reviews, Wildlife

Bentota River Safari with Mangrove and Wildlife Encounter

5.Bentota River Safari with Mangrove and Wildlife Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 182 reviews · 2 hours · from $20Best value

Take a two-hour private boat safari from Bentota Bridge through mangroves and the Bentota Moya Kata delta. English-speaking guides such as Harinda, Sumal, and Nihal point out crocodiles, water monitors, monkeys, bats, and birds, with coconut water and pineapple sometimes served along the way.

“We’ve took a river safari with guide Harinda today via Bentota Travel Mari and it was ab so lu te ly amazing! Harinda was very experienced guide, providing us with Bentota river and mangrove forest geographical subtleties, information about every animal that we’ve encountered, as well as excelent boat captain, allowing us to take extremely close up view and photo/video shots of every animal that we have encountered. We have probably seen every possible animal there is, during the river safari. And when we’ve reached the end of the safari, before heading back, Harinda made us king coconut coctail and treated us with mouth watering pineapple, that he himself grown…”

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Alanya Jeep Safari with Dim River Lunch and Dim Cave - Rural Alanya, fruit gardens, and brief local stops
Alanya River Cruises, Lunch Experiences, River Cruises, Safari, Tour Reviews, Turkey River Cruises, Underground River and Cave Trips, Underground River and Cave Trips in Turkey

Alanya Jeep Safari with Dim River Lunch and Dim Cave

6.Alanya Jeep Safari with Dim River Lunch and Dim Cave

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 155 reviews · from $31

Ride open-sided 4WD jeeps into Alanya’s Taurus Mountains, with hotel pickup, village and fruit-garden stops, a buffet lunch beside Dim River, swimming, and an optional Dim Cave visit. Expect loud music, rough roads, and playful water fights between jeeps. Guide Ifran has earned praise for his cheerful service.

“It was a nice day. Love the jeepride. God driver. Love the stop with pancakes ! Big minus that we didn’t go to the cave , very disapointing 😒. To see and experience the Dove cave was one if the things that made us book this trip. So we where not happy about this. Good lunch but the price for drinks was way too expensive.”

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Alanya Jeep Safari: Dim Cave, River & Nature Adventure - Pickup, jeeps, and the practical start
Alanya River Cruises, River Cruises, Safari, Tour Reviews, Turkey River Cruises, Underground River and Cave Trips, Underground River and Cave Trips in Turkey

Alanya Jeep Safari: Dim Cave, River & Nature Adventure

7.Alanya Jeep Safari: Dim Cave, River & Nature Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 151 reviews · 5.5 - 7.5 hours · from $22

Ride a Land Rover jeep through Alanya’s countryside with guides such as Mustafa and Ziyad, stopping at waterfalls, a Turkish village, Dim Cave, and Dim River. Expect lunch, mountain views, water fights, and optional swimming, with cave entry and drinks extra.

“Lovely tour guides, such a fun day out worth the money, would definitely recommend”

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Jeep Safari to Taurus Mountains with Lunch at Dimcay River - Water fights, swimming, and the family question
Alanya River Cruises, Lunch Experiences, River Cruises, Safari, Tour Reviews, Turkey River Cruises

Jeep Safari to Taurus Mountains with Lunch at Dimcay River

8.Jeep Safari to Taurus Mountains with Lunch at Dimcay River

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 136 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $30

Ride an open Jeep through the Taurus Mountains, trade water-fire with other vehicles, stop at Dimcay River, and eat lunch by the water. The 6 to 7-hour trip includes hotel pickup, a driver-guide, entrance fees, and lunch. Bring swimwear, shoes that can get wet, and cash for drinks.

“Amazing so much fun and the guides were fantastic recommend it a must for anyone young or old”

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2h Bentota River Safari: Crocodiles, Monkeys, Mangrove & more - Setting off from the Bentota River
2-Hour Experiences, River Cruises, Safari, Tour Reviews

2h Bentota River Safari: Crocodiles, Monkeys, Mangrove & more

9.2h Bentota River Safari: Crocodiles, Monkeys, Mangrove & more

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 128 reviews · from $32

Take a private two-hour boat safari along Sri Lanka’s Bentota River with an experienced guide such as Coca or Koka. Watch for crocodiles, monkeys, water monitors, snakes, chameleons, bats, and birds among the mangroves. Hotel pickup, life jackets, and a king coconut are included.

“Excellent 2 hours on the river with lots of wildlife spotted. Crocodiles, monkeys, leaf snakes, water monitors and much more. Coca our guide had amazing ability to spot and knew all about the animals and birds. Well worth setting time aside to experience this great little trip.”

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Langkawi: Kilim River Mangrove Safari Kayaking Tour - What the tidal route means for you
Malaysia River Cruises, River Cruises, River Kayaking and Canoeing, Safari, Tour Reviews, Tours

Langkawi: Kilim River Mangrove Safari Kayaking Tour

10.Langkawi: Kilim River Mangrove Safari Kayaking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 117 reviews · 270 minutes - 5 hours · from $71

Kayak through Kilim Karst Geoforest Park with an English or Malay-speaking guide such as Fauzan, Zack, Sham, Wan, or Yan. Expect tidal waterways, Bat Cave, eagles, mudskippers, monitor lizards, and an optional seabass lunch at a floating restaurant.

“Mr. Yan was an amazing guide and made this experience so calm and peaceful. We loved all the different activities and he was knowledgeable about the wildlife and was happy to share it! Would 100% recommend this tour.”

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St. Augustine: St. Johns River Airboat Safari with a Guide - Cruising through Trout Creek and Six Mile Creek
Guided, River Cruises, Safari, the USA River Cruises, Tour Reviews

St. Augustine: St. Johns River Airboat Safari with a Guide

11.St. Augustine: St. Johns River Airboat Safari with a Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 110 reviews · 1h 30m · from $52

Meet your guide at Trout Creek Marina for a 90-minute airboat ride through the St. Johns River backwaters. Guides such as Justin and Tyler point out alligators, turtles, birds, and wetland plants while headsets carry the commentary and music clearly over the engine.

“Very relaxing and enjoyable trip through nature, our guide was informative and fun”

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Chobe National Park: Day Trip, Safari drive & River Cruise - The early pickup and Zambia-Botswana border
1-Day Tours, National Parks, River Cruises, Safari, Tour Reviews, Zambezi River Cruises

Chobe National Park: Day Trip, Safari drive & River Cruise

12.Chobe National Park: Day Trip, Safari drive & River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 100 reviews · 10 hours · from $190

Cross from Zambia into Botswana for a 10-hour Chobe safari with an early game drive, buffet lunch, and a 3.5-hour Chobe River cruise. Guides such as Nature, Max, Tana, and Wesley have helped guests find lions, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and superb birdlife.

“Lovely journey to Botswana through Zambia and Botswana to Chobe. The park was lovely and very green this time of year. We saw a great variety of birds and animals especially very close to a mother and baby elephant. Also two Male lions. The cruise on the Chobe river we saw hippos crocodiles buffalo and birds as well as various antelope. Unfortunately being the rainy season it rained and reduced our views. Guides were excellent and it was a very enjoyable day .”

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Split: Canoe Safari on the Cetina River - The first calm stretches of the 11-kilometer route
Croatia River Cruises, River Cruises, River Kayaking and Canoeing, River Kayaking in Croatia, Safari, Split River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Split: Canoe Safari on the Cetina River

13.Canoe Safari on the Cetina River

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 95 reviews · 3 - 6 hours · from $53

Leave Split for a 45-minute ride to the Cetina River, then paddle 11 km through calm stretches and gentle grade II rapids. Guides such as Ivan and Dan coach beginners closely. Equipment, safety gear, insurance, and a river swim are included.

“INCREDIBLE! Ivan was an amazing guide. We were lucky enough to have him on our own. He explained every rapid and what to do. My girlfriend was nervous as she hadn’t kayaked before but he made sure she felt comfortable and was always close by. We took some lunch with us in a waterproof bag so were able to sit and have lunch on the river which was amazing. We also stopped for some swimming stops too. We left all our valuables in the van so they were safe. Ivan filmed us going down some of the rapids and took pictures which was a great extra. Would highly recommend. We…”

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Split/Omiš: Cetina River Water Bike Safari - How the water bikes work
Croatia River Cruises, Cycling Tours, Omis River Rafting, River Cruises, Safari, Tour Reviews

Split/Omiš: Cetina River Water Bike Safari

14.Split/Omiš: Cetina River Water Bike Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 91 reviews · from $45

Ride a stable water bike 4 km down the Cetina River and back with Ivan and Dino guiding from the shore and motorboat. Expect canyon views, a mid-route break, optional swims, photos, drinks, and a tow if your legs tire. The $45 tour suits active beginners and families with older children.

“We had a fantastic time on the river bikes. Ivan was amazing, friendly, chatted about the area and also towed me back when I was too tired!!! We would definitely recommend this. A great activity. You need to cycle a fairly long way so be prepared for that!! But great fun and as we were the only ones on our activity (slightly before high season) we could take our time. You will have a great time so please book and enjoy!! Thanks Ivan.”

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Canoe safari / rafting on river Zrmanja - Guides, organization, and the feel of the day
Croatia River Cruises, River Cruises, River Kayaking and Canoeing, River Kayaking in Croatia, River Rafting, River Rafting in Croatia, Safari, Tour Reviews

Canoe safari / rafting on river Zrmanja

15.Canoe safari / rafting on river Zrmanja

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 81 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $78

Meet at 10:00 in Kaštel Žegarski for a four-hour paddle through Zrmanja Canyon, then finish at Bungalow Zrmanja in Bilišane. Equipment is included, and soft drinks, coffee, and tea are provided. Expect a moderate physical outing, helpful guides, and a possible waterfall run.

“amazing river kayaking experience. everything was perfectly organized, we were very satisfied. the route is really not difficult.”

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