Wonderous Africa - Namibia to Madagascar

Day 1 Walvis Bay, Namibia / Embark

Arrive in Namibia’s Walvis Bay and transfer to Corinthian II. Possessing one of the finest harbors in Southwest Africa, Walvis Bay is a convenient base from which to explore some of Namibia’s most interesting sites. Overnight aboard docked in port.

Day 2 Walvis Bay / Namib Desert Park / Walvis Bay Lagoon

Today explore the Namib Desert Park, with its incredibly beautiful sand dunes, home to some of the oldest desert landscapes in the world. Learn about the natural life of the desert and enjoy a spectacular private dinner in the dunes. Explore the wetlands around Walvis Bay, which comprise perhaps the most important bird sanctuary in Southern Africa. Over 150,000 birds are found here, including large numbers of flamingos, chestnut-banded plovers, curlew sandpipers, and others.

Day 3 Lüderitz / Kolmanskop

The first recorded European visitor was the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama who sought shelter here in 1487. Later (19th century) Lüderitz became a thriving German colony, and today, the Bavarian architecture is unmistakable. Drive through the desert to the ghost diamond town of Kolmanskop, whose buildings give an insight to the area’s diamond boom years.

Day 4 At Sea

Days 5-6 Cape Town, South Africa / Nature Reserve / Botanical Gardens

Spend two days in Cape Town with Corinthian II conveniently docked near the center of the city. The striking combination of coastal and mountain geography of the famed Cape Peninsula, on which the city is built, makes Cape Town one of the world’s most attractive cities. Travel through rolling hills to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and the lovely Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. Also visit the outstanding Gold of Africa Museum, and explore South Africa’s celebrated wine lands including charming Stellenbosch, with its historic buildings and oak-lined streets.

Day 7 Mossel Bay / Garden Route / Botlierskop Private Game Reserve

Arrive in Mossel Bay, at the western part of the renowned Garden Route, one of South Africa’s most spectacular areas. Drive to the Botlierskop Private Game Reserve, a private 3,000-hectare wilderness with over 30 different species of animals, including lion, elephant, rhino, giraffe, and mountain zebra. Numerous birds also inhabit the reserve.

Day 8 Port Elizabeth / Kariega Game Reserve

Arrive in Port Elizabeth. Founded in 1820 by British settlers, it became a prosperous port and trading center. Drive to Kariega Game Reserve, a private game reserve set high above stunning Kariega River Valley. It is a sanctuary to abundant game and wildlife such as lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, hippo, hyena, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, waterbuck, and antelope; and myriad bird species, including nesting Martial, Crowned, and Fish Eagle. In Port Elizabeth, visit the Ubuntu Education Fund, a private initiative that helps children.

Day 9 Port Elizabeth / Addo Elephant National Park

Drive to Addo Elephant National Park, established in 1931 to protect the last surviving Cape elephants. The park consists of thick and dry brush, and in addition to elephants, it is home to other animals including eland, kudu, Cape buffalo, and red hartebeest. Choose from two full-day excursions in the park: the normally-scheduled game drive or an early morning game drive, which will give the opportunity to see greater numbers of wildlife.

Day 10 At Sea

Day 11 Richards Bay / Hluhluwe-Umfolozi National Park

From the port city of Richards Bay, drive to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi National Park, the oldest national park in South Africa, and certainly one of the country’s most outstanding game reserves. A pristine wilderness, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi is known for its rich wildlife, including black and white rhinos, lion, cheetah, leopard, giraffe, hippo, and others. Choose from two excursions in the Park: the normally scheduled game drive or an early-morning game drive, which will give you the opportunity to see greater numbers of wildlife. Enjoy an open-air barbecue lunch at the park.

Day 12 Maputo, Mozambique

Arrive in Maputo, Mozambique’s attractive capital. Built on the shores of a spacious bay, and with its architecture reminiscent of Mediterranean ports, Maputo is one of Africa’s most appealing cities. Inhabited by the local Ronga people since ancient times, Maputo was known until 1976 as Lourenço Marquest, the name of the Portuguese navigator who “discovered” the area in 1545. In the morning, explore the city, with its wide leafy avenues, graceful buildings dating from the Portuguese colonial period, and bustling markets. Also visit the National Art Museum.

Day 13 Maputo

Spend the day docked in Maputo, Mozambique’s attractive capital, as some passengers may choose to disembark for a shorter passage. Overnight at port in Maputo.

Day 14 Maputo

Enjoy a morning at leisure in the lovely city of Maputo. Over lunch aboard, sail into the Bay of Maputo and along the coast of Mozambique.

Day 15 Inhambane

Inhambane, accessed through a deep waterway, was an important trading post for Arab merchants and sailors as early as the 11th century. The Portuguese arrived in the early 16th century, and in the 18th century they were joined by Indian traders. The mixture of African, Arab, European, and Indian influences are still present today. Explore this charming town whose friendly inhabitants impressed the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama when he arrived in the 15th century, calling it “the land of the good people.”

Day 16 Bazaruto Archipelago

Spend the day exploring the spectacular Bazaruto Archipelago, a tropical paradise of five main islands that are protected as a national park under the auspices of WWF (World Wildlife Fund). These pristine islands feature tranquil beaches, translucent turquoise waterways, a varied population of birds, and a rich marine life. Dolphins and over 2,000 types of fish are found in the placid waters. Visit the two most impressive islands in the group, Benguerra and Bazaruto.

Day 17 At Sea

Day 18 Morondava / Kirindy Reserve / Avenue of the Balboas, Madagascar

The center of the old Sakalava kingdom, the pleasant town of Morondava is built by a river. Lovely beaches line the coast. Drive to the Kirindy Reserve, which was initially founded as a project in sustainable logging. The reserve’s abundant wildlife includes the giant jumping
rat, numerous chameleons, six species of lemur, the narrow-striped mongoose, the fossa (Madagascar’s largest predator), and many species of birds. On the return to the ship, stop at the Avenue of the Baobabs, which line both sides of the road.

Day 19 At Sea

Enjoy a day aboard the Corinthian II

Day 20 Mahajanga / Ankarafantsika National Park

Arrive in Mahajanga, located on Madagascar’s northeast coast. Mahajanga flourished in the 18th century, benefiting from trading activities with East Africa, India, and Arabia. Drive to the Ankarafantsika National Park, where we explore the dry, deciduous forest of Ampijoroa with abundant wildlife. We may see mongoose lemurs, western wooly lemurs, the rare golden-brown mouse lemurs, and Coquerel’s sifakas. About 130 species of birds inhabit the park, including the rare Madagascar fish eagles, whitebreasted mesites, and Van Dam’s vangas.

Day 21 Anjajavy

Arrive in Anjajavy, a small village surrounded by a dry deciduous forest that is a protected area. Anjajavy is one of Madagascar’s most attractive areas and wildlife viewing is superb. Many of the species are endemic. Several species of lemurs inhabit the forest as well as Madagascar crested
ibises, vasa parrots, crested couas, grey-headed lovebirds, and other birds. The forest contains numerous species of deciduous trees, including the characteristic baobab. Pristine beaches line the coast, and we will have the opportunity to enjoy them as well.

Day 22 Nosy Tanikely / Nosy Kombo

In the morning call at the tiny island of Nosy Tanikely, a marine reserve that harbors a large variety of marine life – coral, anemones, starfish, and an abundance of colorful fish. Swim and snorkel in this marine wonderland, and over lunch aboard, sail to nearby Nosy Komba, known for its black lemurs.

Day 23 Antsiranana (Dieog Suarez) / Montagne D'Ambre National Park

Arrive in Antsiranana, built around its superb harbor, which is encircled by green hills. Spend the day exploring the Montagne D’Ambre (Amber Mountain) National Park, a superb rain forest featuring a rich variety of animals and plants. Huge ferns grow on trees and unique Pandanus, as
well as the endemic cycad, are also found here. In addition to several species of lemurs, the park is also home to ring-tailed mongoose, chameleons, colorful butterflies, and numerous birds, including the Madagascar flycatcher and the endemic Amber Mountain Rock-thrush.

Day 24 At Sea

Enjoy a day at sea aboard the Corinthian II.

Day 25 Masoala National Park

Spend the day exploring Masoala National Park, which houses much of Madagascar’s unique fauna and flora. Occupying a huge peninsula between the Indian Ocean and the D’Antongil Bay, Masaola is Madagascar’s largest virgin rain forest. Beautiful golden-sand beaches line the shores
of the peninsula. Of the ten lemur species found in the park, this is the only habitat of the red ruffed lemur. Numerous species of birds, reptiles, and invertebrates, many of which
are endemic, are also resident. Masoala is equally famous for its exuberant vegetation, which includes a variety of orchids, palm, primary, rain, and coastal forests.

Day 26 Nosy Mangabe

Rising impressively from the sea, the small thickly wooded island of Nosy Mangabe is a nature reserve housing an abundance of wildlife, including the elusive aye-aye. In addition, the island is home to white-fronted brown lemurs, black-and-white ruffed lemurs, mouse lemurs,
leaf-tailed geckos, several species of chameleons, and frogs. This afternoon, Corinthian II cruises through the D’Antongil Bay.

Day 27 Tomasina / Disembark / Antananarivo / Fly Home

Arrive in the morning in Toamasina, a vibrant port town on Madagascar’s east coast. Disembark and transfer to Tamatave airport for a group flight to Antananarivo to connect to return flights to the U.S.