Unspoilt Wilds of Southwest Africa

As Angola emerges from years of colonial rule and a long Civil War, its capital Luanda is fast becoming a forward-looking city with a rich heritage. Delve into its colonial past at the Old City’s Portuguese-style buildings and the 16th-century Fortress of São Miguel. Museums across the city offer a glimpse of local culture through their exhibits on traditional art, hunting equipment, and masks. At Ilha do Cabo, chic seaside steak restaurants and bars showcase a modern side of the city.

Days at sea are the perfect chance to relax, unwind and do whatever takes your fancy. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, trying to spot a whale from the deck, reading a chapter or two, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to the green days spent exploring on land.

The Republic of Congo’s second city offers up a slice of French Africa with two distinct quarters – European and African. Explore lively La Cité on foot, sampling traditional cuisine and stopping in at the vibrant Grand Marché for a glimpse of local life. Relax at a waterfront restaurant at Côté Sauvage – a laid-back city beach. Just outside the city, the Diosso Gorge offers tropical rainforest and sweeping views of red canyons.

Upgrade - Pointe Noire, African Circle Museum and Makola Salt Glacier with lunch box

Optional

09 h 00 m

See the highlights of bustling Pointe Noire and visit the interesting museum, transformed with the partnership of UNESCO
Learn about the old Compagnie des Potasses du Congo mining site and discover how flooding transformed the area
Take photos as you explore the salt glacier

Natural wonders of Congo: Mayombe Forest and Ndinga Ndinga waterfall

Optional

10 h 00 m

Walk in one of the biggest rainforests in the world
Discover Ndinga Ndinga and Kimbakala waterfalls
An opportunity to spend a day in the lush Congolese vegetation and maybe also swim in the waterfall pools

Diosso Gorges and Hike

Optional

04 h 30 m

See one of the most impressive Congolese sites
Enjoy dramatic, sweeping views from cliffs up to 50 metres high
Hike and experience the beauty of an unspoilt tropical rainforest

Discovery of Pointe Noire and African Circle Museum

Included

03 h 30 m

View the highlights of this bustling port city: Notre Dame Cathedral, colorful markets, the railway station dating back from the French colonization and Pointe-Noire beach
Visit the African Circle Museum and its exhibition of local masks, statues and objects from rituals. Don't miss the contemporary Congolese paintings!
In this very interesting museum, learn also about the construction of the Congo-Ocean railway and the development of the oil sector displayed on historical pictures

Lakes and Tchinda fishing village

Optional

10 h 00 m

Cruise on Lake Loufoualeba and discover the papyrus marshes and submerged forested islets home to many birds
Visit Tchinda village, on the edge of Lake Cayo and discover how this community survives away from modern infrastructures
Exchanging with the locals, you will learn how they make cassava and "maboke", their traditional dishes and how they prepare the fishing traps for their daily activities

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

Port-Gentil is located in Gabon, on the west coast of Africa. It is known for its beautiful beaches and rich culture. Visitors can enjoy various activities in Port-Gentil, including swimming, sunbathing, and exploring the city’s many museums and art galleries. Port-Gentil is an excellent place for those interested in African culture and history.

Today you arrive at a tropical idyll with lush rainforests, beaches and waterfalls. São Tomé island is the largest in a collection of far-flung volcanic isles that straddle the equator in the Gulf of Guinea. São Tomé Peak rises to 2,024 m, and on its slopes you may also spot some of the island’s bird species such as the ibis and grosbeak. The capital city of São Tomé has 15th-century Portuguese architecture and a long colonial history.

Birds and Nature of Sao Tome

Optional

08 h 10 m

See the pristine and lush countryside of Sao Tome
Spot endemic birds at the Botanical Gardens
Admire the beautiful São Nicolau Waterfall

Upgraded - Sao Tome Culture & History with lunch and Chocolate Tasting

Optional

07 h 30 m

After the town visit, enjoy your upgraded tour with fresh seafood and local specialities.
Learn how chocolate is produced, from planting and maintaining the cocoa to enjoying the finished product
Taste some of the world’s best chocolate

Sao Tome Culture and History

Included

04 h 00 m

Watch the vibrant music and dance of a traditional Tchiloli performance
Visit the Cathedral of Nossa Senhora de Graça, the capital’s main Catholic church
Enjoy a panoramic and walking tour, taking in the city's colonial buildings and architecture

This laid-back, compact capital has less than 3,000 inhabitants and is the smallest city in the world (according to the Guinness Book of Records). Time seems to move more slowly in this dream-like place with its pastel-coloured buildings and salty sea air. Pay a visit to the Nossa Senhora da Conceição church with the beautiful stone carving of St Anthony, the city’s namesake saint, inside.

Principe Cultural Tour

Optional

03 h 50 m

Discover Porto Real cooperation’s fascinating work with local materials
Explore the charming town of Santo Antonio and the place where the Theory of Relativity was proven in Sundy Roça
See where Claudio Corallo grows his cocoa to make his famous chocolate, well-known around the world

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

Benin’s vibrant port city is defined by its colonial legacy and voodoo (the state religion). As a former French colony, Cotonou retains a certain European flair in its cuisine and architecture. For an insight into local culture, there’s no better place than the sprawling Dantokpa market, filled with local crafts and an entire section devoted to sacred voodoo items. Along the lakeshore, visit Ganvie, a lake village with bamboo houses and the world’s only town on stilts, where residents get around in canoes.

Ganvie floating village and Egungun Masks Performance

Included

04 h 30 m

Enjoy a a wooden boat ride to reach the atmospheric village
Watch the Tofinou ethnic group row their dugout canoes
Immerse yourself in the traditions of this special place

Upgraded Tour - Ganvie floating village, Egungun Masks Performance and Ouidah

Optional

08 h 30 m

After visiting Ganvie, the Venice of West Africa, proceed towards Ouidah to explore the city’s Afro-Brazilian architecture
Experience the Sacred Forest with its ancient trees full of hanging bats
See how fishermen traditionally pull out their nets and maybe have a chance to participate in this daily activity

Voodoo traditions, colonial history and beautiful beaches: Togo’s capital city offers plenty of history, culture, and outdoor fun. Learn about the country’s heritage at the National Museum, housing artefacts like pottery, masks, and Togolese art. Akodessewa Fetish Market, selling animal skins and voodoo talismans, offers a fascinating insight into the region’s traditional customs. Trace the country’s colonial past at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, built by the Germans, and the Independence Monument, a symbol of the country’s freedom gained in 1960.

Upgrade - Rural African Village life and Lome highlights

Optional

08 h 00 m

Visit a rural Togolese village and learn about their daily life and see women processing palm nuts into oil
Learn about their traditions and attend a ewe dance and twin ceremony as Ewe and Fon people believe that twins are sacred
After lunch in Lome, time to stroll at the artisanal market and visit the fetish market

Cultural wonders of Lome

Included

04 h 30 m

Visit the fetish market and understand how, despite being mostly Christian, part of the population remains faithful to the religious ancestry of voodoo
Discover the locals daily life at Grand Marché. Although it might seem chaotic, you will be surprised at the orderliness and the hectic pace of this beautiful market
View the legacy of Germany at the Sacred Heart Cathedral and discover the local handicrafts at the Artisan's village

Upgrade - Togoville, the Voodoo world and Lome Highlights

Optional

07 h 00 m

Togoville is historically known as the center of Voodoo in Togo. Many Voodoo practitioners were taken as slaves from here to Haiti. Explore the village as you discover its special history
Witness the frenetic rhythm of an authentic voodoo ceremony
After lunch back in Lome, time to stroll at the artisanal market and visit the fetish market

Sail into the coastal city of Tema, a short drive from Ghana’s buzzing capital, Accra. Once named ‘Africa’s Capital of Cool’ by the New York Times, Accra has become one of West Africa’s top destination cities. Marvel at the towering statues in the city’s Black Star Square, wander through Kwame Nkrumah National Park, the resting place of Ghana’s first prime minister and president, or shop for locally made arts and crafts in the Centre for National Culture.

Accra City Tour (for guests staying onboard for the next cruise)

Optional

05 h 15 m

See some of the main highlights in Accra like the National Museum, Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, Black star gate and Independence square
Understand the cultural richness of Ghana strolling through the ethnography collections
Time for shopping at the National cultural center, Ghana’s largest outdoor arts and crafts market

Shai Hills Reserve (for guests staying onboard for the next cruise)

Optional

08 h 00 m

Discover one of Ghana's stunning nature parks
Try to spot olive baboons, antelopes, green and spot nosed monkeys in the savannah grassland and woodland
Enjoy an extensive hike with your wildlife guide before a well-deserved lunch on the way back to Tema

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Unspoilt Wilds of Southwest Africa

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