Coastal Cities & Cultures of West Africa - A Voyage from Ghana to Cape Town

Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival in Accra we will transfer to the MS Hebridean Sky in Tema and moor overnight.

We have a choice of options for our day in Ghana. You may wish to visit the capital city of Accra with time at the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography which features artefacts showcasing the heritage of Ghana throughout history. Continue to the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park before enjoying lunch at a beachside resort. We return to the MS Hebridean Sky via the Artists Alliance Gallery which has a wide range of artworks including woodcarvings, paintings and sculptures by renowned Ghanaian artists. Alternatively, drive to the Shai Hills Game Reserve and embark on a trek through the reserve’s savannah plains to view antelopes, bushbucks, kobs, baboons, monkeys and many bird species including the Senegal parrot, swallow-tailed bee-eater, Vieillot’s barbet, piapiac and red-shouldered cuckooshrike. Lunch will follow offering views over the evergreen valley and plains of the surrounding Akwapim mountain range before we continue to the Aburi Botanical Gardens. Established in 1890 as a convalescent for the British Colonial officers governing the then Gold Coast (now Ghana). Over the years, the garden has cultured a variety of tropical plants which attract many birds and butterflies. After a walk through the gardens we return to the ship.

Spend a relaxing two days at sea as we cross the Gulf of Guinea during which our lecture programme will commence in the lounge.

We will experience the benefits of exploring by small ship today, being able to spend a full day on each of the islands of Sao Tome and Principe which are well off the usual tourist route. Fortunately the islands have yet to succumb to mass tourism and we can enjoy their beautiful beaches, tropical rainforests and colonial architecture in relative peace. Colonised by the Portuguese in the 15th century, the islands were originally a holding centre for slaves en-route to the Americas. However, in the 1800s coffee and cacao plantations grew and by 1908 they became known as the Chocolate Islands being the world’s leading producer of cacao. Today, production has slowed but the islands still produce high quality coffee and cacao. We will anchor off Sao Tome and land ashore using the ship’s Zodiacs. On a full day tour we will visit one of the plantation houses or ‘rocas’. In the interior of the island we will discover waterfalls and hope to see some of the many orchid species in the botanical gardens along with the endemic birdlife. Meanwhile in Sao Tome city we will see the National Museum and cathedral and will visit the bustling markets. Principe is the smaller of the two islands at 136 square kilometres and with a population of just 7000 residents. In 2012 the waters around the island were classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and from our anchorage off Bom Bom Island we will use ship’s Zodiacs to land. For those who wish to explore the island we will take a scenic drive including time in one of the world’s smallest capital cities of San Antonio and also visit one of the island’s cacao plantations at Terreiro Velho. Alternatively you can enjoy the opportunity to relax on the beach and swim in the clear waters.

From our berth in Port D’Owendo there will be a guided city tour of Libreville this morning during which we will see the Presidential Palace, St Michel Cathedral and the city museum. Following the tour, you can choose to return to the MS Hebridean Sky for lunch and a relaxing afternoon on board or alternatively continue to the Pongara National Park. The park is sandwiched between the Komo Estuary and the Atlantic Ocean and the pristine beaches here are a nesting ground for leatherback turtles whilst the animal population includes elephants, red river hog, buffalo, mangabeys and a variety of birds. After lunch we will join 4x4 vehicles for a safari on the lookout for wildlife before returning to the MS Hebridean Sky later this afternoon.

Spend the day at sea as we sail along the coast of Africa.

Arriving over breakfast in the Republic of the Congo we will drive inland from our berth at Pointe-Noire towards Diosso. Here we delve into Congolese history at the Ma Loango Regional Museum which houses ten collections including art, documents and clothing alongside traditional tools and musical instruments. The museum is located next to the famous Gorges de Diosso, a beautiful natural phenomenon which flanks the green coast of Congo-Brazzaville and offers fantastic views. Our return journey to the MS Hebridean Sky will be a scenic drive along the coast. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon at sea as we continue our journey south to Angola.

In the 19th century, the Angolan capital city of Luanda was one of the most successful cities in the Portuguese Empire with the port being a major trading centre for ivory, cotton, coffee and cocoa as well as being a key port in the slave trade. With access to vast natural resources including oil and diamonds, the city has recovered from the damages of the Civil War which ran from 1975 to 2002. During our time here there will be a city tour which will include the 16th century San Miguel Fort, the National Museum of Anthropology, Remedios Church, parliament buildings and the unique obelisk of the Agostino Neto Mausoleum dedicated to Angola’s first president who fought for independence. There will also be the option to leave the city to visit the Kissama National Park, a 12,000 square kilometre park opened as a game reserve in 1938 and later became a national park in 1957. Today, it is at the forefront of Angola’s wildlife regeneration and home to a rich array of flora and fauna including antelopes, elephants, giraffes, wildebeest and a variety of bird species.

This morning we arrive at the port city of Lobito. The town was created in 1903 as the sea terminal to the Benguela railway which was developed to link with the mineral rich regions in Angola and over the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Built by a British concession, the railway became a major source of trade, linking with the port and providing the quickest routes to transport minerals to Europe. Today we will travel in some of the original Victorian carriages as we take the train line between Lobito and Benguela. The city of Benguela was founded in 1617 around the Sao Filipe Fortress and was one of the bases for Portuguese expansion in Africa. We will explore the town on a sightseeing tour viewing the Portuguese colonial buildings including the Igreja de Populo and the pretty gardens surrounding the town hall.

The city of Mocamedes was founded in the mid-19th century by the Portuguese but cut off from the rest of the country until the construction of the Namibe Railway in 1905 and today it is one of Angola’s busiest ports. We will venture inland to the Arco Lagoon, a wonderful freshwater oasis located in the Namibe Desert bordered by distinctive rock formations and we will also see the nearby rare Welwitschia plants, considered to be some of the oldest on earth at up to 1000 years old. Explore the old city on a short sightseeing tour passing the church of Santo Adriao and the military fortress before we return to the MS Hebridean Sky for lunch and an afternoon cruising.

Continue at sea today, enjoy some lectures in the lounge and spend some time relaxing on deck.

Arrive today in Namibia where we will be based in the coastal town of Walvis Bay for a day and a half. During our time here we will have the option to visit Swakopmund, Namibia’s seaside resort on the west coast, and a place of singular charm. It resembles a small Bavarian village nestling between the desert and the sea and enjoys a restful and relaxing atmosphere. The source of Swakopmund’s continental vibe is the graceful Art Nouveau buildings many of which, including the Lutheran Church and old railway station, are national monuments. We will also have the opportunity to drive past the imposing sand dunes to the Welwitschia Plains in the Namib-Naukluft Park and we hope to see the prehistoric Welwitschia mirablis plants, unique to this region, as we drive through the lunar landscape. Those feeling active may wish to join a tour using 4x4 vehicles to Sandwich Harbour, a tidal lagoon located in the Namib-Naukluft Park surrounded by huge sand dunes which run into the ocean. Here you can experience the isolation and scenery which the Skeleton Coast is famous for.

Sandwiched between the Namib Desert and the South Atlantic, Luderitz is an isolated settlement and one of the few towns and sheltered harbours on the Namibian coast. First landed by Portuguese mariners in the 15th century, it was not until 1883 when the land was bought by a wealthy merchant, Adolf Luderitz, that the town developed as part of the German colonisation of the region. A morning walking tour will include the Luderitz Museum and the colonial buildings including the Goerke Haus and Felsenkirche. Nearby, we can visit the ghost town of Kolmanskop where the first diamonds were found in Namibia in 1908. Sparking a ‘diamond rush’ the town grew in the ensuing years, peaking in the 1920s, until the discovery of richer deposits further south. By the 1960s the population had left and the town is now at the mercy of the weather and encroaching sand dunes.

We continue our journey along the Atlantic coast today with a day at sea as we sail towards Cape Town.

Sail this morning into the beautiful city of Cape Town where there will be a choice of excursions today. Maybe join a full day tour exploring Cape Town’s stunning Cape Peninsula. We will travel through the vibrant coastal suburbs before continuing along Chapman’s Peak to the famous Cape Point Nature Reserve at the very tip of the peninsula. The road then twists its way to Simon’s Town, home to the Boulders Beach penguin colony. Alternatively, you can choose to take the local ferry to Robben Island. The island has been used for centuries as a military base and leper colony but is most famous as a prison for political prisoners during the apartheid regime. Our guided tour will include the island’s quarry, the army and navy bunkers as well as the prison cells, including Nelson Mandela’s. There will also be an opportunity to visit one of the region’s excellent vineyards where, after learning about the production techniques, we can enjoy a tasting.

Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.

Arrive today.

Itineraries are subject to change.