South Africa & Namibia by Sea - Cruise from Richards Bay to Walvis Bay

Fly by scheduled indirect flight to Durban.

Arrive this afternoon and transfer to the MS Hebridean Sky in Richards Bay. Moor overnight.

Set up as a makeshift harbour, during the Anglo Zulu War in 1879, Richards Bay has flourished into one of the main ports of South Africa. After a free morning to relax after our long journey there will be a choice of excursions this afternoon. Maybe drive to the Narrows of the St Lucia Estuary which forms part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site. Upon arrival in St Lucia Town we join a boat ride on the lake which is dotted with marshy, sandbank-islands that are home to thousands of birds. Over 526 different bird species can be found in the St Lucia Wetlands Reserve. The echo of the fish eagle’s haunting cry can be heard while you view the basking and nesting sites of the Nile crocodile and the hundreds of hippos that make their homes in the estuary; the greatest occurrence of both crocodile and hippo in Southern Africa. Alternatively, visit Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, the oldest game reserve in all of Africa. Set in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal, the park extends itself over 96,000 hectares, has an immense variety of flora and fauna and is hugely popular not only for its “Big Five” but for the vast birdlife with more than 300 species existing within the reserve. As the home of Operation Rhino in the 1950s and 1960s, the Park became world renowned for its white rhino conservation. In addition to rhino, the reserve has a spectacular variety of bird and animal life, including elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, blue wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, cheetah, mountain reedbuck, kudu and warthog.

Durban is the capital of Kwazulu-Natal and a blend of diverse cultures from Asia, Africa and Europe making it one of the most cosmopolitan towns in South Africa. Choose to head inland to the Midlands and the area famed as the capture site of Nelson Mandela on the 5th August 1962. Our guide will provide us with the history of his arrest before we have time to explore the museum and monument erected to commemorate this event. Afterwards we will continue to the Howick Falls, a picturesque 100 metre waterfall known to the Zulu people as KwaNogqaza, Place of the Tall One. Alternatively, drive through the city to the coastal town of Umhlanga where there will be the opportunity to explore the town or maybe take a walk along the promenade to the iconic lighthouse.

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea.

Spend the day in the “friendly city” of Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth. On a city tour you will see the 52 metre high Campanile, built in 1923 in memory of the first British settlers who arrived in 1820, St Mary’s Cathedral, the Library, the Post Office, City Hall and the Donkin Memorial, a stone pyramid erected in memory of Sir Rufane Donkin’s wife Elizabeth after whom Port Elizabeth was named. Alternatively enjoy a full day at the Pumba Private Game Reserve which covers 6,000 hectares and is the first of the Eastern Cape game reserves to introduce a white lion breeding programme. We also find over 300 different species of birds, giraffe, zebra, hippo, cheetah, warthog, hyena and wild dogs.

Arrive this morning in Mossel Bay, situated on the Garden Route and an excellent base to explore the region. Enjoy a day driving along the coast road and the Wilderness Lakes to Knysna, a hub of craft shops, boutiques, flea markets and cafes. After some time to explore and take lunch, we board a local boat for a cruise on the Knysna Lagoon. Keeping an eye out for marine and bird life, we sail to the Knysna Heads, the great sandstone cliffs which tower over the entrance to the lagoon where the Indian Ocean meets the rivers that flow from the Outeniqua Mountains. Alternatively, for those who prefer to see some of the interior there will be an option to head inland via the Outeniqua Mountains to the beautiful, desert like Karoo before continuing to Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo. The Klein Karoo is an oasis-like setting in a fertile valley cupped by the Swartberg and Outeniqua mountain ranges, and originated as a settlement along the Grobbelaars River which meanders southwards from the Swartberg, providing fertile soil and water for irrigation. Enjoy a visit to an ostrich farm where we learn about this important industry before returning to the MS Hebridean Sky.

Spend a relaxing day at sea as we continue our journey around the southern coast of South Africa.

Our last two days in South Africa will be spent in and around Cape Town. During our time here you will be able to choose from a range of excursions including 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 as we return to the ship. We also visit Robben Island which 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 includes the island’s quarry, the army and navy bunkers as well as the prison cells, including Nelson Mandela’s. There will also be the opportunity to spend time at the winelands of Constantia, the oldest wine making region in the southern hemisphere, and the beautiful Botanical Gardens at Kirstenbosch. Spread over 528 hectares against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain the gardens support both natural forest and cultivated gardens.

Leaving South Africa we have a day at sea cruising along the western coast of Africa towards Namibia. Our lecture programme will continue in the lounge or maybe spend time on deck.

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 German colonization of the region. Arriving over lunch, we will take an afternoon walking tour to include the Luderitz Museum and the colonial buildings including the Goerke Haus and Felsenkirche. Nearby, 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.

Continuing north we spend the morning at sea before arriving at the main coastal town of Walvis Bay. During our afternoon you may choose 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 Lutherian Church and old railway station, are national monuments. Alternatively, 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 these plants live for 500 years yet only produce two leaves in their lifetime. We continue into the lunar landscape of eroded valleys before returning to the ship. Moor overnight.

Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Johannesburg. On arrival we transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay and meet for dinner this evening.

Check out this morning and after a city tour and lunch we transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.

Arrive this morning.

Itineraries are subject to change.