AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN

Ancient Lands, New Horizons

It’s no exaggeration to say that a visit to Africa and the Indian Ocean can be life-changing. Bucket-list experiences abound, from classic safaris under vast skies to tropical islands of unimaginable beauty. Star-bright nights are soundtracked by ancient drums and lions’ roars; skylines formed from pyramids, pagodas, and palms. Every detail electrifies the senses: the soft thud of a monk’s feet echoing around a soaring temple, the plash of an oar sweeping through the waters of one of the world’s longest rivers. The tingle of spice on your tongue, the salt on your skin, the scent of woodsmoke in your hair.

It all speaks of a time far before ours, of lost civilizations and untamed lands, of ancestors and gods. But while traditional ways of life are carefully and artfully preserved, there is also a drive forwards, a thoroughly modern pulse that thrums through cities such as Cape Town, Mumbai, and Egypt, and even on the tiny islands of the Seychelles and Maldives. See it in the ocean conservation initiatives, the innovative restaurants putting hyper-local dishes on the world stage, and the artists and designers whose heritage materials and techniques are garnering global attention.

Our cruises in Africa and the Indian Ocean are the best way to open up this region, allowing you to cover distances that would be formidable on land in one trip. In Africa, we take you to the mind-bending, logic-defying monuments of Egypt, the cosmopolitan cities and game-filled reserves of South Africa, the tropical beaches of Zanzibar and Madagascar, and the otherworldly landscapes of Namibia, where red-sand dunes meet the bone-white Atlantic shore. Our cruises in the Indian Ocean bring the chance to swim with whale sharks and dine at world’s first undersea restaurant in the Maldives, search out the rare coco de mer fruit and giant tortoises of the Seychelles, explore the spice-scented streets and Buddhist temples of Sri Lanka, and soak up the Bollywood glitz and UNESCO treasures of Mumbai.

Sea days, of which there are many as we cross oceans, bring relaxation and reflection. We also have some very special cruises in Africa: our Wellness Retreat voyages from Lisbon to Cape Town feature expert practitioners, special menus, themed excursions, and fitness sessions. It’s an opportunity to transform your physical voyage into a journey within.