Ship: Corinthian II
Itinerary: Cape of Good Hope to Gibraltar: Exploring the Cultural & Natural Diversity of Africa - 2010
* Great Discounts! [click here] * click to enlarge
Capetown, South Africa
cabins & deck plans | additional itineraries | cancellation policy | Testimonials
| Day 1 : | CAPE TOWN, South Africa |
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| Day 2 : | CAPE TOWN | CAPE PENINSULA NATIONAL PARK | EMBARK |
| Day 3 : | AT SEA |
| Day 4 : | LUDERITZ, Namibia |
| Days 5-6 : | WALVIS BAY |
| Days 7-8 : | AT SEA |
| Day 9 : | LOBITO | BENGUELA | LOBITO, Angola |
| Day 10 : | LUANDA | KISSAMA NATIONAL PARK | LUANDA |
| Day 11 : | POINTE-NOIRE | JANE GOODALL CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY | POINTE-NOIRE, Republic of Congo |
| Day 12 : | MAYUMBA, Gabon |
| Days 13-15 : | PORT-GENTIL, Gabon |
| Day 16 : | SÃO TOMÉ, São Tomé and Príncipe |
| Day 17 : | PRÍNCIPE |
| Day 18 : | AT SEA |
| Day 19 : | COTONOU | PORTO-NOVO | COTONOU, Benin |
| Itinerary continues - click for full itinerary | |
| Day 34 : | SEVILLE, Spain | DISEMBARK | USA |
| Click for full itinerary |
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | |||||||
| Cat E | Cat D | Cat C | Cat B | Cat A | Cat AA | Cat VS | Cat PHS | ||
| 34 | Mar 18, 2010 | $29,995 | $31,995 | $33,995 | $35,995 | $37,995 | $39,995 | $46,995 | $48,995 |
| Destinations : Africa, Angola, Gabon, Ghana, Gibraltar, Morocco, Namibia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa |
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| Savings | Dates | |
|---|---|---|
| $7000 | Mar 18, 10 |
Contact us for less expensive triple occupancy rates on any program!
Single travelers can opt to pay a single supplement for a private cabin or opt for a willing to share triple space at LESS than double occupancy rates!!
Following in the wake of the early explorers and along the route of prosperous merchant ships of the 18th and 19th centuries, Corinthian II will ply a remarkable course that encompasses the grand scope of Africa, as we traverse the length of its Atlantic coast. It is an astonishingly rare itinerary, calling at ports and exploring destinations largely unknown to travelers. Embarking in Cape Town, the bustling port city that was founded near the landmark Cape of Good Hope, we will explore practically every country along Africa’s west coast: South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Republic of Congo, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Morocco, before the ship arrives at the Rock of Gibraltar, another of the world’s great landmarks of the sea, ending the voyage in historic Seville. It is an unprecedented opportunity to observe the differences in ancient cultures and tribal customs, landscape and animal life, from the towering dunes of Namibia, to the remarkable wildlife of Gabon’s rain forests; from the markets of Ghana and Senegal, to the medinas of Morocco. Our voyage presents a richly kaleidoscopic, lushly complex experience of a continent that defies description. Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience.
Day 1 : CAPE TOWN, South Africa
Arrive in Cape Town in the evening. Transfer to the distinguished Mount Nelson Hotel.
Day 2 : CAPE TOWN | CAPE PENINSULA NATIONAL PARK | EMBARK
The striking combination of coastal and mountain geography that forms the Cape Peninsula is truly superlative. Travel through rolling hills to explore Cape Peninsula National Park, the Cape of Good Hope, and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. In the afternoon, board Corinthian II and sail.
Day 3 : AT SEA
Day 4 : LUDERITZ, Namibia
Call at the Namibian city of Luderitz, one of the most charming and interesting towns in all of Africa, sandwiched incongruently between the waters of the Atlantic and the forbidding, shifting sands of the Namib Desert. Also enjoy an excursion to nearby Kolmanskop. While Luderitz has survived its wild, diamond-mining past, Kolmanskop, a ghost town and favorite of photographers, was not quite as lucky.
Days 5-6 : WALVIS BAY
In the morning, arrive in Walvis Bay for a two-day stay. With its sheltered lagoons, deep waters, towering sand dunes and bird-covered beaches, Namibia’s Walvis Bay and its environs are a popular destination for naturalists, birders, fishermen, and adventurers. Explore the Namib Desert Park, home to the oldest and perhaps the most striking desert landscape in the world, with its dramatic sand dunes and surprisingly rich wildlife. The first day will culminate with a memorable private dinner in the dunes. Also explore the Walvis Bay Lagoon, one of the most important bird sanctuaries in Africa, with an estimated population of 170,000 resident birds.
Days 7-8 : AT SEA
Day 9 : LOBITO | BENGUELA | LOBITO, Angola
Arrive in Angola’s port town of Lobito for an excursion to Benguela, a thriving city founded by the Portuguese in 1617. Sited between the sea and the lush Cavaco River valley, Benguela has preserved much of its colonial architecture. Explore the city, including the church of Nossa Senhora do Pópulo, built in 1748, the Palácio das Bolas, and the Palácio do Governo.
Day 10 : LUANDA | KISSAMA NATIONAL PARK | LUANDA
From Luanda, the capital of Angola, drive for the day to Kissama National Park, established in 1938 as a nature reserve. Consisting mostly of coastal savannah, Kissama is home to elephants, the indigenous palanca antelopes, rhino zebras and other animals. Alternatively, explore Luanda, founded in 1575 on a sweeping bay, and tour the São Miguel Fort, guarding the entrance to the bay; the Anthropology Museum, housed in an old colonial building; and the church of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios, dating to 1655.
Day 11 : POINTE-NOIRE | JANE GOODALL CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY | POINTE-NOIRE, Republic of Congo
Arrive in progressive Pointe-Noire, the main port of the Republic of Congo, founded by the French, in what was previously a small fishing village. Drive to the Tchimpounga Sanctuary, an 18,000 acre protected area, founded by the Jane Goodall Institute to protect and rehabilitate chimpanzees. Meet the scientists working at the sanctuary, tour the facilities, and view the chimpanzees.
Day 12 : MAYUMBA, Gabon
Corinthian II will anchor off Mayumba, a small town situated on a peninsula straddling a gorgeous lagoon and the sea. The area has been declared a national park to protect the nesting grounds of leatherback turtles, the largest nesting concentration in the world for this species. Explore the lagoon and the rivers that feed into it by motorized pirogue, and swim and relax in Mayumba’s fantastic beach.
Days 13-15 : PORT-GENTIL, Gabon
Spend two days in Port-Gentil, home to some of the richest wildlife in all of Africa. Enjoy a choice of overnight air excursions: fly deep into Gabon’s rainforest to explore either Loango National Park, with its remarkable concentration of elephants and apes, or the river-island city of Lambarené, where you’ll visit the Albert Schweitzer Hospital with its director and explore the region’s lakes and lush countryside.
Day 16 : SÃO TOMÉ, São Tomé and Príncipe
Arrive in São Tomé, the prized island of the Portuguese, who possessed it from the 15th century until 1975. That year, São Tomé and the nearby island of Príncipe gained independence and formed the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. Call at the island’s capital and main port, also called São Tomé, a picturesque and friendly town featuring colonial architecture. Also explore the island’s lush interior, known for its rich biodiversity, and visit an active coffee plantation, where you’ll observe a lifestyle largely unchanged since the colonial era and where you’ll also sample some of the world’s best chocolate.
Day 17 : PRÍNCIPE
Explore Príncipe, much of which is covered by ancient forests. Enjoy a range of options for the day: tour the island’s atmospheric capital, Santo Antonio; walk through the abandoned plantation of Porto Real; witness Sao Joachim villagers making palm oil; relax on white-sand beaches after a hike through pristine rainforest; or drive to the old Portuguese roça of Sundi, where during a solar eclipse in 1919, Sir Arthur Eddington gathered evidence that enabled him to prove Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
Day 18 : AT SEA
Day 19 : COTONOU | PORTO-NOVO | COTONOU, Benin
The small country of Benin, home to an ancient sophisticated culture, is emerging as a popular travel destination. From the port of Cotonou, drive to the nearby capital Porto-Novo, set on green hills surrounding a large lagoon. Formerly the center of an indigenous prosperous kingdom, it later became the capital of the French colony of Dahomey. Explore this pleasant city, including visits to the Ethnography Museum, the restored palace of King Toffa and the Handicraft Center. After lunch, board local motorboats for a ride across Lake Nokoué to the picturesque fishing village of Ganvié, built on stilts.
Day 20 : LOME | AGBODRAFO | LAKE TOGO | LOME, Togo
For centuries Togo was part of several empires including those of Mali, Asante, Benin, and others. Arrive in Lome, Togo’s friendly capital and one of West Africa’s most exciting cities. Explore the city including the Handicraft Markets, with traditional goods from all over West Africa, noted especially for sculpture and batiks. We then drive to Agbodrafo, formally known as Porto Seguro, set on the shores of Lake Togo, from where we will explore the lake’s traditional villages by local pirogues.
Day 21 : TAKORADI and the GOLD COAST, Ghana
The stretch of coastline near Takoradi is one of West Africa’s most scenic, often referred to as the “Castle Coast” for the string of forts and castles that line its shores. On a full-day excursion, tour the Cape Coast Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its Museum. At Elmina, see the colorful fishing harbor and historic St. George’s Castle, the oldest extant colonial building in sub-Saharan Africa (built before the discovery of the New World) on a rocky promontory facing the sea. You will also have the opportunity to visit nearby Kakum National Park, one of the most extensive rainforest habitats in Ghana, featuring a series of canopy walkways that reveal the rainforest’s ecosystems.
Day 22 : AT SEA
Day 23 : GREENVILLE | SAPO NATIONAL PARK | GREENVILLE, Liberia
From Greenville, explore Sapo National Park, which protects a great portion of West Africa’s last remaining primary rainforest. Rich in biodiversity, the park is home to forest elephants, chimpanzees, pygmy hippos, antelopes, over 500 species of birds, and a large variety of flora, with many endemic species.
Day 23 : MONROVIA
Inhabited at least since the 12th century, the Republic of Liberia was founded in 1847 by African Americans. Elected as president in 2005, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a former World Bank economist, is Africa’s first female head of state. Tour Monrovia, named after President James Monroe, built on a hilly peninsula between a river and the sea, including the National Museum, displaying marks, for which Liberia is famed, and other objects, and the Waterside Market, where colorful textiles and other artifacts are sold. Also, meet with government officials and learn about the country’s recent history and development plans.
Day 24 : FREETOWN, Sierra Leone
With its lush forests, nature reserves and white-sand beaches, Sierra Leone is one of West Africa’s most attractive destinations. Tour Freetown, the country’s capital, including the Sierra Leone Museum, St. George’s Cathedral (1828), and the city’s colorful markets. Also visit the picturesque Regent Village, with its early 19th-century Krio-style houses tucked into the lush hills above the city.
Day 25 : AT SEA
Day 26 : DAKAR, Senegal
Senegal’s beautiful capital city, with its strong French influence, is also a center of African arts and culture. Experience both at the Museum of African Art, one of the continent’s best, and the artisan market. A short ferry ride brings you to Gorée, a UNESCO protected island, with narrow alleyways and characteristic pastel mansions.
Day 27 : AT SEA
Day 28 : DAKHLA, Western Sahara, Morocco
The former capital of the Spanish colony of Rio de Oro, Dakhla is the southernmost town of Western Sahara, located on a long peninsula jutting into the Atlantic. Whitewashed houses characterize this easygoing and friendly town. Enjoy a tour of the city and a drive north through the scenic peninsula, which is flanked on one side by the Atlantic and by a tranquil bay on the other.
Day 29 : LAAYOUNE
From the port of El Marsa, drive inland across Saharan dunes to reach Laayoune, the main city in Morocco’s Western Sahara and an area that was held by Spain until 1975. On a tour of this decidedly unique settlement, explore the Spanish-Saharan architecture of the Souk ez Saj, the city’s old district; the Museum of Traditional Arts; and the Artisans Center, with its workshops for jewelry, metal, wood and other crafts. After visiting a nearby oasis, where keepers will put on an elaborate Saharan tea show, end the day with a thrilling drive in the dunes through late afternoon light, ideal for photographers.
Day 30 : AT SEA
Day 31 : SAFI | MARRAKECH | SAFI
From Safi, drive to fabled Marrakech, one of Morocco’s Imperial Capitals, founded in the 11th century and set among gardens and palm groves. Our exploration includes the 12th-century Koutoubia Minaret; the Bahia Palace; the Ben Youssef Medressa; the Jewish Quarter; and Djemma el-Fna, the city’s central square at the heart of the Medina. There will also be the opportunity to walk through Marrakech’s colorful souks.
Day 32 : CASABLANCA | RABAT | CASABLANCA
From Casablanca, drive to Rabat, Morocco’s elegant capital. Tour its Medina, home to colorful souks; the Chellah Citadel, which contains the royal tombs; and the Kasbah des Oudaias, the evocative quarter of the old Almohad, Merenid and Andalusian towns. Alternatively, spend the day in Casablanca and explore this cosmopolitan city, including its imposing Hassan II Mosque.
Day 33 : GIBRALTAR
Like the Cape of Good Hope, Gibraltar is one of the world’s great sea landmarks that have guided mariners for centuries. Visit this remnant of the British Empire before sailing for glorious Seville, located some 55 miles up the Guadalquivir River.
Day 34 : SEVILLE, Spain | DISEMBARK | USA
Disembark in Seville and transfer to the airport for return flights to the U.S.
Ship Description: Corinthian II
click to enlarge
Corinthian II Ship
The distinguished 114-guest Corinthian II offers a classic yacht-like atmosphere and fine accommodations. Corinthian II is ice-strengthened for voyages into Antarctic waters, and is equipped with a fleet of Zodiac inflatable craft for forays ashore. Originally built in 1992 and refurbished in 2005, Corinthian II accommodates all guests in 57 outside suites, each affording sea views and elegantly appointed with a sitting area, TV, mini-refrigerator, safe, and other amenities as well as a marble bathroom. Several suites include private balconies accessed via sliding glass doors. Spacious and finely decorated public areas include a library stocked with books related to the itinerary and other volumes, and four computer terminals for e-mail access; an elegant lounge; and The Club, a space for convivial relaxation, with picture windows for panoramic views. The restaurant, serving fine cuisine prepared by European chefs, accommodates all guests at a single unassigned seating. The ship also includes a gym, beauty salon, a sun deck with Jacuzzi, and an outdoor café and bar, where meals may be served al fresco. Corinthian II is served by 70 experienced European officers and crew. There is also an elevator offering access to all decks.
Cabin Categories & Descriptions
All accommodations aboard Corinthian II are suites. They face outside, affording sea views, and several have balconies with sliding doors. All suites include a bedroom with twin or queen-size beds, sitting area, ample closet space, mini-refrigerator, TV, marble-appointed bathroom with shower, and other amenities.
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Cat E Deluxe suites on Magellan Deck with portholes and sitting area. 225 sq. ft. Suites 250 - 252 |
Cat D Deluxe suites on Columbus Deck with window and sitting area. 225 sq. ft. Suites 329-332 |
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Cat C Deluxe suites on Magellan Deck with portholes and sitting area. 235 sq. ft. Suites 254 - 262 |
Cat B Deluxe suites on Columbus Deck with window and sitting area. 235 sq. ft. Suites 333 - 348 |
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Cat A Deluxe suites on Marco Polo Deck with window and sitting area. 235 sq. ft. Suites 416 - 428 |
Cat AA Deluxe suites on Marco Polo Deck with forward and side windows and sitting area. 265 sq. ft. Suites 414 - 415 |
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Cat VS Deluxe Veranda Suites on Erickson Deck with private balcony and sitting area. 300 sq. ft. (including balcony) Suites 505 - 512 |
Cat PHS Deluxe Penthouse Suites on Explorer Deck with private balcony and sitting area. 400 sq. ft. (including balcony) Suites 601 - 604 |
