West Africa Cruise - Cape Town to Accra

People have been exchanging customs and ideas in Western Africa as long as there have been people. Now, it’s your turn. From the G Expedition, you’ll get the chance to explore one of Africa’s most vibrant (and curiously underexplored) regions from a hotel that goes wherever you do. A solid combination of activity and leisure, you’ll have ample time to spot rare birds and endemic wildlife with skilled naturalists, mingle in local markets and learn about the region from our experienced expedition staff, including naturalists, historians, anthropologists, and ornithologists. While at sea we’ll also enjoy South African wine tastings from our very own sommelier and enjoy daily lectures from experts. Africa by sea? We didn’t believe it was possible either.

Day 1 Cape Town
Welcome to Cape Town, the most cosmopolitan city on the continent and one of the most stunning urban areas on Earth! Arrival day, so there are no planned activities. Arrival transfer is included.

Day 2 Cape Town/Lüderitz
Take a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain, lunch at the Seaforth Restaurant before visiting Boulders Beach.

Day 3 Cape Town/Lüderitz
Days at sea will be filled with fascinating and entertaining educational programs presented by the expert expedition team. Join new friends in the ship’s popular pub. Relax on the ship’s deck or scan the horizon with binoculars in search of seabirds and marine life.

Day 4 Lüderitz/Walvis Bay
Visit the small Namibian town of Lüderitz and the ghost town of Kolmanskop.

Day 5 Walvis Bay/Lobito
Morning at sea may provide an opportunity to see fur seals and Cape Gannets. Upon arrival in Walvis Bay, explore the landscapes of the Namib Desert en route to a tour of the town of Swakopmund and possibly a chance to learn more about the wildlife of the estuary ecosystem.

Day 6 Walvis Bay/Lobito
Spend two days at sea immersed in educational lecture series, or simply kick back to a documentary film. For those looking for entertainment into the evening, listen to live music in the Polar Pub.

Day 7 Walvis Bay/Lobito
Spend two days at sea immersed in educational lecture series, or simply kick back to a documentary film. For those looking for entertainment into the evening, listen to live music in the Polar Pub.

Day 8 Lobito/Pointe-Noire
Visit to the quaint towns of Sao Felipe de Benguela in Angola.

Day 9 Lobito/Pointe-Noire
Spend the day at sea.

Day 10 Pointe-Noire/São Tomé
Visit the Congo’s Pointe Noire, the cliffs of Diosso Gorge, the museum, and the city’s very lively market.

Day 11 Pointe-Noire/São Tomé
Spend the day at sea.

Day 12 São Tomé
This Portuguese colonial island nation is a tropical paradise of beaches, waterfalls, forests and friendly people. Visit the capital, São Tomé—once an important slave-trade post—and explore a nearby plantation. On a birding excursion, try to catch a glimpse of the islands’ endemic inhabitants.

Day 13 São Tomé/Gulf of Guinea
Explore Príncipe via Zodiac boat.

Day 14 Gulf of Guinea/Cotonou
Sit back and listen to the lecture series. Scan the horizon with binoculars, or join in on a possible wine tasting event.

Day 15 Cotonou/Lomé
Visit Cotonou and head to the town of Ouidah, home to voodoo and an important embarkation point for the slave trade.

Day 16 Lomé/Accra
Outside of Lomé, visit an Ewe village and interact with the locals to learn about their way of life and traditions. A visit to Lomé town includes a trip to the Centre Artisanal de Kpalime, a market famous for Batik.

Day 17 Accra
Travel from the port at Tema to the busy capital of Accra. Enroute, visit a casket-maker’s shop, a local school, the national museum, and the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum. Wildlife enthusiasts may choose to visit the Shai Game Reserve instead to view an abundance of wildlife. After the reserve, witness local bead-making and give it a try. Disembark and transfer to the hotel for the final night.

Day 18 Accra
After breakfast, depart for the airport and flights homeward. Departure transfer is included.