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,
Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe, Cameroon,
Benin, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Senegal,
Mauritania, and Morocco, before the ship
arrives at the Rock of Gibraltar, another of
the world’s great sea landmarks, 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: Departure
Fly from home city to Cape Town, South
Africa.
Day 2: Cape Town,
South Africa
Arrive in Cape Town in the evening. Transfer
to the distinguished Mt. Nelson Hotel.
Day 3: Cape
Town/Cape Peninsula National Park/Embark
Explore the Cape of Good Hope Nature
Reserve, and discover Cape Point’s
spectacular cliffs, among the highest in the
world. Also delight in the celebrated
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
before embarkation in the afternoon.
Day 4: At Sea
Cruise along the coast of South Africa and
Namibia.
Day 5: 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 6 & 7: Walvis
Bay
Arrive the morning of April 5 in Walvis Bay,
a naturalists’ paradise. Explore the Namib
Desert Park, ending with a memorable dinner
by the sand dunes. The following day, visit
the Walvis Bay Lagoon, an outstanding bird
sanctuary.
Days 8 & 9: At Sea
Cruise toward Luanda, Angola, while enjoying
the lecture series and relaxing on board the
ship.
Day 10: Luanda,
Angola
Luanda, Angola’s capital, exemplifies
Angola’s breathtaking terrain of mountains
rising dramatically from the sea. It is home
to museums documenting the region’s history
and culture.
Day 11: At Sea
Cruise toward Port-Gentil, Gabon, and
continue with the ship’s lecture series.
 Days 12-14: Port-Gentil,
Gabon
Spend three days in Gabon, home to some of
the richest wildlife in all of Africa. In
Port-Gentil, visit the Church of Saint
Louis, town market, and a local artisan’s
workshop. Take a boat ride to Cap Lopez’s
white-sand beaches, and spend time relaxing
or exploring the nearby mangroves. Enjoy a
choice of overnight air excursions on either
April 11 or 12 into one of Gabon’s pristine
national parks, including the option to tour
Loango National Park, with its concentration
of elephants and apes.
Day 15: São Tomé
and Príncipe
A tour of the beautiful island of São Tomé
includes the main town’s cathedral, the
National Museum, the Fortress of San
Sebastian, and a hike through the rain
forest. Visit a coffee plantation where life
has remained unchanged for centuries.
Day 16: Príncipe
Ancient forests cover much of Príncipe.
Enjoy a range of options for the day: tour
the capital, Santo Antonio; walk through the
abandoned plantation of Porto Real; witness
Sao Joachim villagers making palm oil; drive
to Terreiro Velho, a chocolate plantation
with stunning surroundings; or relax on
white-sand beaches after a hike through
pristine rain forest.
Day 17: At Sea
Cruise in the Gulf of Guinea.
Day 18: 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 19: Tema/Accra/Tema,
Ghana
Accra, Ghana’s sprawling capital, vibrates
with energy and an air of excitement and
industry. While in the city, visit the
excellent crafts market, which showcases the
best of local artisans throughout the
region, as well as the National Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnography. Also enjoy a
series of traditional cultural and musical
performances at Accra’s Labadi Beach.
Day 20: Tako Radi
and the Gold Coast
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.
Days 21 & 22: At
Sea
Cruise along the Gold, Ivory, and Grain
Coasts, and attend lectures and enjoy
relaxing on board.
Day 23: Freetown,
Sierra Leone
Explore Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital,
including the newly refurbished Sierra Leone
Museum, St. George’s Cathedral, and colorful
markets. Also visit Regent Village with its
19th-century Krio-style houses.
Day 24: At Sea
Our lecture series continues as the ship
cruises toward Dakar, Senegal.
 Day 25: Dakar,
Senegal
Experience African arts and culture at
Dakar’s IFAN Museum (Institut Fondamental
d’Afrique Noir) or visit the artisan market.
Take a ferry to UNESCO landmark Gorée, the
notorious “Slave Island.”
Day 26: Nouakchott,
Mauritania
Built predominantly in traditional Berber
style, Nouakchott is the capital of the only
nation governed by a nomadic people. Its
colorful markets are awash in engraved
silver, carpets and other Berber
handicrafts. A tour includes a visit to the
National Museum, with its fine collection of
artifacts, as well as a late-afternoon
stroll along Fisherman’s Beach, while boats
return with the day’s catch.
Day 27: At Sea
Cruise towards Dakhla
Day 28: Dakhla,
Western Sahara
The southernmost town of the Western Sahara
area, Dakhla is located on a long peninsula
jutting into the Atlantic. Capital of the
old Spanish colony Rio de Oro, and known
until 1975 as Villa Cisneros, Dakhla is now
mostly populated by Moroccans and tribesmen
who previously lived in the desert.
Whitewashed houses and low-rise buildings
characterize this easygoing and friendly
town, just north of the Tropic of Cancer.
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
Relax on board as the ship cruises Morocco's
coast.
Days 31 & 32:
Agadir, Morocco/Marrakech/Casablanca
Disembark in Morocco’s Agadir and drive
through the impressive scenery of the High
Atlas Mountains for an overnight excursion
to fabled Marrakech. One of Morocco’s
Imperial Capitals, Marrakech was founded in
the 11th century and is set among beautiful
gardens and palm groves. During our two-day
stay, see the city’s principal monuments,
including the 12th-century Koutoubia
Minaret, the Bahia Palace and the Ben
Youssef Medersa. Also explore the city’s
labyrinthine souks and experience historic
Djemma el-Fna square at dusk, as it comes
alive with a fascinating population of snake
charmers, storytellers, food-stall vendors
and the like. Spend the night of April 30 at
the famed Hotel La Mamounia and reboard the
ship in Casablanca on the afternoon of May
1.
 Day 33:
Casablanca/Rabat
From Casablanca, drive to elegant Rabat,
Morocco’s capital. Tour its Medina, home to
colorful souks, the evocative Kasbah des
Oudaias, and the Chellah Citadel.
Alternatively, spend the day in Casablanca
to explore this cosmopolitan city.
Day 34: Gibraltar
Like the Cape of Good Hope, Gibraltar is one
of the world’s great sea landmarks and has
guided mariners for centuries. Explore this
remnant of the British Empire, before
sailing through the strait to Seville.
Day 35: Seville,
Spain/Home
Disembark and transfer to the airport for
return flights to your home city.
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