Africa is a continent of contrasts with so much to offer the cruise traveller. With outstanding national parks, beautiful coastlines, diverse cultures and that endless wealth of wildlife.
The islands of Madagascar, Zanzibar, Reunion and the paradise of Mauritius, situated in the southwest Indian Ocean, make for fascinating cruise holiday destinations.
Madagascar has a very rich environment for wildlife and is a nature watcher’s delight. The only natural home of the lemur and host to a diverse range of animals and plants including the impressive baobab tree, the island makes for a fascinating and exotic destination.
The spice island of Zanzibar, known for its harvests of pepper, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon, provides wonderful beaches and the World Heritage Site of Stone Town in Zanzibar City, with its ‘melting pot’ architectural style, great bazaars and the Sultan’s Palace. The island of Reunion displays its volcanic origin with an abundance of natural attractions including wildly mountainous countryside and still active volcano calderas.
Mauritius is everyone’s idea of a dream destination for an idyllic cruise holiday. It boasts soft white sand beaches and blue lagoons, coconut palms and coral reefs, fantastic cuisine and friendly locals. The scenic nature reserve of Black River Gorges National Park, best enjoyed for its hiking trails and the beautiful Tamarin Falls, will transport you far from daily life.
Cape Town, situated close Africa’s southern tip, the Cape of Good Hope, is known as the Garden City of South Africa with good reason. The many parks and botanic gardens within the lively city make for a very open and green aspect. A trip to the top of the 3000ft Table Mountain by cable car is a must where, on a clear day, the views across the city and coastline are spectacular. View our Cape Town cruise port webcam.
The nature reserves and beaches are also remarkable. You can watch the penguins paddle at the ocean edge from the boardwalks at Boulder Beach or enjoy the sand and surf yourself. Outside the city, wine trails will take you through the lush vineyards and picturesque Cape Dutch villages for a chance to sample the local vintage.
Further east in KwaZulu-Natal, Durban provides miles and miles of beautiful beaches and is a cruise holidaymaker’s paradise with plenty of scope to surf, dive or sail. On land are terrific golf courses, great markets and stunning walking trails. A visit to a Zulu village will bring insight into tribal life with traditions going back centuries.
A cruise to Southern Africa could provide a perfect opportunity to take an unforgettable safari - either as a day excursion or as a holiday at the beginning or end of your cruise. Imagine experiencing the ‘big five’ – lions, leopards, elephants, rhino and buffalo – in their own savannah habitat, as well as chance encounters with hippo, hyenas and gazelles. Excursions to game reserves are available from a number of cruise ports.
The old colonial towns on the Namibian coast give another view of this incredible continent. Desert sand dunes line the coast at Walvis Bay, the site of further natural riches including pelicans and flamingos.
View our live Southern Africa cruise webcams to see which ships are in port
Take a virtual tour of Southern Africa using our Google Earth cruise and see the ports often visited.
If you do not have Google Earth on your computer go to our Google Earth info pages for a step by step guide |
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