These rivers are probably nothing like the rivers down the road from your home. The phenomenal, mega-rivers of Africa continue to rack in visitors to their waters for the wealth of wildlife, strong currents and incredible scenery. In other words, these bodies of water stand out from the rest of the continent. From white-water rafting, to looking for hippos, to enjoying a scenic tour in a boat, here are six river journeys to try in Africa.

The Niger River

Stretching all the way from Gambia to Nigeria, the Niger River is 2,600 miles long. The river is so long that it’ll take weeks by boat to travel the whole distance and in some areas, the route turns into an unusual boomerang shape. The river will take you through the Sahara Desert before arriving to the historic city of Timbuktu, some of the best locations to go sightseeing on the river. If you plan to make the journey, make sure you don’t tackle the river during the dry season when portions of the river dry out, making it much harder to travel through. The journey will be well worth the time as you’ll earn bragging rights about being among the few to ever complete the journey.

The Nile River

Looking like a set of an action flick, the Nile River is one of the most famous rivers in the world, and deservedly so. Most people acknowledge the river as the longest river in the world at 5,258 mile long, but there’s more to the route than just its crazy length. The river is so long that you can cruise through various parts of the continent (be sure to check with the country’s legality of crossing) including Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It’s advised to explore Egypt’s portion of the Nile River to be close to hotels, restaurants and shops. Also, the country is known for having multiple luxury cruises on the river so you’ll want to take advantage of that.

The Congo River

You’ve heard of tales of the Congo River, most likely from classic stories like Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness where men were driven to the brink of insanity on these very same waters. Today, the river remains one of the least-governed and the second longest river of all of Africa at 2,715 miles long. The river flows through rainforests and the waters are known to have very strong currents. This river is the perfect journey for daredevils and seasoned adventurists who can brave the challenge of being isolated on the water for weeks. Take this as a warning, as you’ll be out of your comfort zone with harsh weather, challenging bureaucracy and mosquitoes, but once you’ve tackled the river, you’ll be untouchable.

The Zambezi River

The Zambezi River is equally impressive at 1,599 miles long and is arguably the best river to go wildlife viewing. The Zambezi flows through multiple national parks where lions, elephants, zebras and giraffes roam. The most recognizable destination on the Zambezi is the world-famous Victoria Falls that rivals Niagara Falls for its majestic waterfalls of enormous magnitude. There are many luxury safari camps stationed near the river, making it desirable to grab a comfy nightcap before embarking on a river adventure on a cruise offered by the lodge or campsite. Hippos and Nile crocodiles are known to peek their heads above the water for spectators in boats to see. There’s also whitewater rafting tours available in several portions of the river.

Orange River

For the longest river in South Africa, you’ll want to visit Orange River that stretches for 1,367 miles through stunning landscapes of mountains and small towns before emptying westward into the Atlantic Ocean. The best part of the river is arguably Namaqualand, where you’ll want to cruise during its peak flower season (July to October) where millions of orange, yellow, blue, purple and white flowers are in bloom. Guests can also stay in small towns by the river where there are countless of wineries to sip vino and live the high life.

Limpopo River

The 1,087 mile long Limpopo River receives water drained into it by the Zambezi River, then continuing onto the eastern portion of South Africa before it washes out into the Indian Ocean. Like the Zambezi, this river is excellent for safari viewing by water as you’ll find tons of crocodiles, hippos, elephants, cheetahs, lions, warthogs and much more. In fact, the river borders Kruger National Park, a popular protected reserve where you can go on jeep rides and stay at game lodges in-between your river adventures.

More from AFKTravel:

15 Photos Of The Nile River That We Absolutely Love

Tips For River Cruising In Africa

15 Reasons Travelers Love The Orange River

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