20 Days Luxury Africa Cruise - Walvis Bay to Tema

Pre Cruise Benefits
Private Executive Transfers
International flights - Economy class
or Business Class upgrade
Airport transfers
Hotel
Charter/Group flights

Home to a beautiful lagoon, washed pale pink by a colony of resident flamingos, Walvis Bay is a colourful African call, where you can meet some of the continent’s most flamboyant wildlife. A small Namibian city on the Atlantic coast of southern Africa, the city takes its name from Whale Bay - which gives a clue as to the wonderful wildlife watching opportunities available here. The deep-water blossoms with rich levels of plankton, drawing curious marine mammals in large numbers to feast. As Namibia’s only deep-water harbour, Walvis Bay is an important fishing centre for the country, and its sunny shores and natural wonders make it a popular spot for holidaymakers. Walvis Bay is a bird lover's paradise, and hundreds of thousands of birds assemble here, to make the most of the tidal lagoon. Boat tours can take you out amongst the preening crowds, or you can admire the flamingos, herons and carefully treading wading bird species from afar. Meet the pelicans at nearby Pelican Point – a sandy spit, which calms the waves heading for the waterfront. With whales and dolphins frolicking offshore too, there’s a wide variety of wildlife to see here. On the cusp of the sun-scorched Namib Desert beyond, Dune 7 rises up to form the highest sand dune in the country, with sands piling up 380 metres. Perfect for a picnic, or a pulse-raising desert sport, like sand skiing or sandboarding. Climb to the top for views from its heights, or you can take a flight tour to see further afield and spot some of the extraordinary land animals who roam the landscapes. See the natural drama of Sandwich Harbour, where the golden sand dunes plummet directly into the ocean’s waves.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Perched between the edge of the expansive Namib Desert and the cold waters of the Benguela Current lies the coastal city of Moçâmedes. Formerly known as Namibe, the south western Angolan city recently changed its back to its original Portuguese name, after being known as Namibe, between 1985 and 2016. Both names are used equally. Like much of Angola, Namibe has Portuguese roots. The city was founded in the mid-19th century by 160 settlers coming from the motherland as well as refugees fleeting the unrest in Brazil. The impact of Portugal has left its legacy on the city. Roman Catholic and colonial architecture in the historic centre of Moçâmedes range from Saint Ferdinand Fort and the churches of Saint Adrian and Saint Peter. Due to Namibe’s proximity to the desert, it is unsurprising that the city briefly changed its name. Vast deserts and semi-desert regions cover much of the territory, joining the Skeleton Coast of Namibia. Desert vegetation is rife and includes the Welwitschia mirabilis, a rare plant found only in the Namibe Provence of South Angola and Namibia’s part of the Namib Desert. The plant, known colloquially as the “long-haired thing” is considered a living fossil, with experts believing that some specimens may be up to 5,000 years old, making Namibe’s examples the oldest living things on Earth. Namibe’s secrets are not just found in the desert however, the nearby (often dry) Arch Lagoon, or Lost Lagoon, is home to many bird species including water birds, raptors and weavers.

Ilha dos Tigres is the largest island in Angola, with an area of 38 square miles, and lies off the southwestern coast. It wasn’t always an island – before 1962 it was connected to the mainland, with a well-established fishing village named Tigres with about 1500 residents, including 300 Portuguese. However, the ocean broke through the isthmus during a heavy storm, destroying the water line to Tigres and creating an island overnight. Without pumped water, Tigres was eventually abandoned in 1974 and today remains a desolate ghost town. Although is disrepair, Many building remain standing, including the Roman Catholic Church. The broad main street was actually built to be used as an airstrip in 1957 for light aircraft. Several plans for development have been proposed, including a prison and a fish factory, but nothing has eventuated. The waters surrounding the island are very rich in fish stocks and birdlife, with more than 25 species of birds.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

A study in contrasting economies, Luanda is a boisterous coastal city of haves and have-nots. As capital of Africa’s second-largest oil-producing country, it has been deemed the world’s most expensive city, and since independence in 2002, everyone seems to be gunning for a piece of the post-civil war economy. Its renaissance offers a range of experiences, from cushy hotels to a restaurant-lined oceanfront promenade to locals hawking handmade goods at crowded public markets.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Tucked between Nigeria and Togo in Benin is the busy trading port of Cotonou. Named a “market town” for its coastal placement and lucrative palm oil and textile trades, Cotonou is a sprawling amorphous city, swaddled between the Atlantic coast and Lake Nakoué. Because of its especial geographical situation, Cotonou is bursting with life — visitors disembarking here will find a colourful port, alive with economic activity and very much the capital (although not in name, the official capital is Porto-Novo to the east) of the trading industry.

If polished beach resorts with identikit sun loungers and beach menus are not quite your idea of experiential travel, then you have come to the right place. Because Lomé is authenticity at it very best. Tourists are few and far between, village life carries on much as it has for centuries and adventure, excitement and discovery are guaranteed. The capital of Togo, Lomé enjoys a heady status as the former “jewel of West Africa” (although both Ghana and the Ivory Coast claim ownership of the title). With over 40 tribes calling the tiny city home, whether it is the jewel of West Africa or not, it is certainly the most diverse melting pot of cultures to be found on the west coast. This patchwork of population is best experienced in the capital, where the dizzying sight of vendors strolling with huge bags balanced on their heads and motorbikes beeping and slaloming between the traffic is a tangible lesson in modern day history! A trip around the daily market will have you discovering not only a treasure trove of different tribal traditions but will also have you bargaining for anything from thirst quenching fresh fruit and beautifully made fabrics to livestock and voodoo spirit dolls. Voodoo ceremonies are still widely seen all over Togo, and visitors that are lucky enough to witness one will definitely take home a souvenir worth remembering. These are not just for tourists but an ancient, deep religious practice that merges African and Christian beliefs and is said to rid you of the devil within.

Ghana's fourth-largest city plays serene beaches against a bustling commercial centre. People from around the world visit the shore, both for its beauty and to enjoy the fresh seafood served right on the sands. Frantic city life awaits a short distance inland, where an economy fuelled by Ghana’s oil industry is most apparent in the maze of vendors at Market Circle. Takoradi is also the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Elmina and Cape Coast Castle.

From a modest fishing port to the biggest in Ghana, Tema’s industrial activity has all but tarnished the charming, postcard scenery of the region. The neighbouring white-sanded beaches remain immaculate, still serving as a testimony of the rich variety of birds that can be found in the area.In the way Mother Nature intended it, gannets, boobies and kingfishers amongst other species fish in and around the cerulean waters of the coast. A light breeze tickles the inflamed, iron-filled soil of the mainland on which the railway linking Tema to Accra lures hundreds of visitors each day. On board one of the carriages to Accra, distinctively noticeable by their painted coats of red, yellow and green that echo Ghana’s national flag, a peek out of the window will offer scenic views of the harbour and coast, as well as the fields that separate Tema from the capital.

Post Cruise Benefits
Airport transfers
International flights - Economy class
or Business Class upgrade
Private Executive Transfers

Itineraries are subject to change.