River Cruise Safety in Asia and Africa

Asia’s and Africa’s rivers are some of the most rewarding in the world. Each asks for a little more preparation than Europe.

Mekong: Vietnam and Cambodia

Mekong cruises usually link the Mekong Delta in Vietnam with Phnom Penh and sometimes Siem Reap in Cambodia. Ships are small, excursions go by sampan and coach, and the main safety considerations are heat, tropical health and city traffic. In big Southeast Asian cities, bag snatching by thieves on passing motorbikes is a known risk: carry bags on the side away from the road. Check the advisories and entry rules for both countries, and the CDC Travelers’ Health pages for vaccines and mosquito-borne diseases. For routes and seasons, see Southeast Asia River Cruises.

Africa: the Chobe and the Zambezi

Africa’s river cruises are short safari voyages on small houseboats, most famously on the Chobe River between Botswana and Namibia. Wildlife is the point — and the safety rule: stay seated and quiet in the tender boats, keep hands inside, and follow the guide’s instructions near elephants, hippos and crocodiles. Northern Botswana is a malaria area, so see a travel clinic, and plan the road and border logistics from Kasane or Victoria Falls with your operator. Chobe Riverboat Cruises covers the boats and the season.