WEST AFRICAN ODYSSEY: Exploring from South Africa to Morocco 37 DAYS/35 NIGHTS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER West Africa s many facets combine to make a whole even greater than the sum of its myriad parts. There is incredible diversity here, along with a richness of culture, both traditional and modern, that is nothing short of inspiring. There is much wildlife, and a great sweep of geography, from the maritime climate of South Africa; the deserts of Namibia; the tropics and savannas of much of the coast (with some volcanic landscapes added to the mix); and finally the desert of Western Sahara and the vibrant city of Marrakech, Morocco. National Geographic Explorer will embark on an epic voyage to West Africa exploring seventeen countries. And we plan to make it extraordinary. There will be abundant opportunities to see and learn about all that makes these destinations important, to discover their nature and their history, and to have warm interactions with people who live and work here. We ll see how they are working to develop their countries, and meet with some of those who are helping in that effort. You ll have a dazzling array of sights and experiences. Take local boats on Lake Nokoué to the charming stilt village of Ganvié. Meet with a chief in his native village. Visit Gorée Island, a World Heritage Site that was a hub for the slave trade. Paddle in pirogues (dug-out canoes) up the Lobé River to visit a tiny encampment of Bagyeli pygmy people, and see and do much more. You ll also have the chance to explore several national parks and wildlife centers. A key feature of our journey will be frequent chances to enjoy the region s vibrant music, which offers a splendid window into the cultures we ll be exploring. Some of Africa s most renowned musicians will be performing just for us. This will be a journey that defines the term voyage of discovery, and we hope you ll join us. MARCH 18 - DEPART/FLY OVERNIGHT TO CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA MARCH 19 - CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA Arrive in beautiful Cape Town, celebrated for its great seaside location and vistas. Check in to the Table Bay Hotel, on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, with the rest of the day free to explore. This evening, we gather for a welcome dinner. (D) MARCH 20 - CAPE TOWN/EMBARK SHIP For a spectacular view of the Cape, take a cable car to the top of the city s landmark, flat-topped Table Mountain (weather permitting). Then visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, known for its remarkable collection of Cape flora. Embark National Geographic Explorer and sail northward to begin our voyage. MARCH 21- AT SEA MARCH 22 - LÜDERITZ, NAMIBIA You ll see the mining ghost town of Kolmanskop, which prospered during the diamond mining boom of the early 20th century. The buildings are now being overtaken in haunting fashion by the sands of the Namib Desert. You'll also explore the historic town of Lüderitz, seeing its German colonial architecture including Goerke Haus (the home of a diamond
merchant) and the lovely Felsenkirche church. MARCH 23 & 24 - WALVIS BAY & SWAKOPMUND You can choose several of the many possibilities in this desert outpost. Among the excursions that await us: seeing the unique plants and landscapes of the Namib Desert (including the renowned Welwitschia); seeing the desert s great dunescapes and the creatures that live there; a cruise on Walvis Bay for its dolphins and outstanding birdlife; and a visit to the town of Swakopmund, with its German architecture, and a neighboring township to see how its residents live. We ll all gather for a festive bush dinner out in the desert. MARCH 25 & 26 - AT SEA MARCH 27 - LOBITO & BENGUELA, ANGOLA The picturesque neighboring towns of Lobito and Benguela have intriguing histories, pastelcolored Art Deco colonial buildings and lovely setting. We ll explore both places and also take a special charter, with vintage cars, on the recently reopened Benguela Railway. MARCH 28 AT SEA MARCH 29 - POINTE NOIRE, CONGO Seldom-visited Ponte Noire is our base for visiting the attractive surrounding countryside, including the Diosso Gorge, where erosion has created a series of red rock cliffs and ridges. Near the gorge is the small but fascinating Ma- Loango Regional Museum, the residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Loango for hundreds of years, all the way into the 20th century. We ll also visit a superb handicraft market and other sites in the town of Pointe Noire. MARCH 30 - AT SEA MARCH 31 - LIBREVILLE, GABON We ll explore cosmopolitan Libreville, seeing among other sites the remarkable carved pillars of the church of St. Michel de Nkembo. We ll have lunch in a fine seaside hotel, with invited guests and a rousing folkloric performance. You may choose to walk in the Mondah Forest for a chance to stretch your legs and see its trees and shrubs. Alternatively, you may take a local boat across the estuary to Pointe Denis for the chance to swim, birdwatch and see the small nearby turtle museum. APRIL 1 - SÃO TOMÉ, SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE São Tomé is the capital of the archipelago nation of São Tomé and Príncipe once an important entrepot for the slave trade, but today a friendly place with a relaxed lifestyle, whose Portuguese colonial history is apparent. We ll have a choice of excursions: to explore the capital city; to see plantations that were once the mainstays of the economy but are now in disrepair; to venture along the island s scenic east coast; or to go on a birdwatching excursion in search of some of the endemic species for which São Tomé is known. APRIL 2 - PRÍNCIPE The small island of Príncipe is the definition of a tropical paradise a green locale with spectacular beaches and forests that harbor a number of bird species unique to here. We ll anchor just offshore, then spend the day swimming, snorkeling, kayaking (if conditions permit), birdwatching and visiting the tiny, sleepy capital, Santo Antonio (considered by some the world s smallest city).
APRIL 3 - KRIBI, CAMEROON Near the pleasant town of Kribi, the Lobé River offers the chance for us to be rowed in pirogues (dugout canoes) up the river, lined with indigenous trees and shrubs. We ll visit a small village of the Bagyeli pygmy people, learn how they live, and hear some of their traditional music. We ll visit a primary school and, if it s open, the local market. APRIL 4 - LIMBÉ Limbé, with a backdrop of volcanic hills and palm and banana plantations, offers us a number of interesting choices. You may drive along the lower slopes of imposing Mt. Cameroon to visit a tea plantation and learn how tea is harvested and processed, and also visit a banana estate and packaging plant to see how this major crop is prepared for export. Or walk through the Botanic Gardens also an excellent birding locale to see a variety of West African and exotic trees and shrubs. In Limbé, you ll visit the marvelous Limbé Wildlife Centre, a research facility that houses and rehabilitates large numbers of gorillas, chimpanzees and other primates. The truly fit have the option of a steep ascent and descent of Mt. Cameroon s lower portion, walking first through farmland and then through the rain forest. APRIL 5 - AT SEA APRIL 6 - COTONOU, BENIN We drive to the interesting town of Ouidah, a center for the animist voodoo religion that is widely practiced in the region, and also a place which had a long history in the slave trade. We visit the tranquil Sacred Forest to see statues representing some of the deities, and continue to the Portuguese fort, now a fine museum devoted to slavery and the attendant links between Benin and the Americas. We follow the route along which slaves were driven, from the town down to the ocean. In the afternoon, we take motorized pirogues across Lake Nokoué to the village of Ganvié, built on stilts in the middle of the lake. The busy residents make their living by fishing in the lake, and we ll see the fish traps and the workings of the village, where practically all transport is by boat. At the lake s edge is a colorful market, where residents of Ganvié buy produce and other essentials and sell fish to mainlanders. APRIL 7 - LOMÉ, TOGO The region to the north and west of Lomé (and across the border into Ghana) is home to the Ewe people, whose traditions include a profound veneration for their ancestors and also weaving the renowned kente cloth. We ll visit an Ewe village, meeting the chief and local residents, and have a chance to stroll around and get a good sense of what life is like there. We ll visit a nearby school. We ll also explore Lomé, seeing the friendly artisans market and a spirited performance of traditional puppetry. APRIL 8 - ACCRA, GHANA Bustling Accra, Ghana s capital is always lively and full of interest. We ll visit the fine National Museum, with an outstanding collection of artifacts and crafts, and the mausoleum of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana s first president. Some Ghanaians choose to be buried in colorful caskets that reflect their occupations or passions, and we ll visit a workshop where brightly painted caskets may include giant fish, beer bottles, cars and more. We ll plan to visit an exceptional gallery with traditional and contemporary art. Alternatively, you may wish to visit the Shai Hills Reserve in search of baboons, kob and birdlife, and the Aburi Hills Botanic Garden. Back aboard ship this evening, we plan to welcome a Ghanaian notable for dinner and conversation. APRIL 9 - CAPE COAST, GHANA A variety of absorbing experiences awaits us today. We dock at the Ghanaian town of Takoradi and visit Cape Coast Castle, a World Heritage Site, from where tens or perhaps hundreds of thousands of slaves were dispatched through the Door of No Return. The images of the dungeons and at fine quarters occupied by the overseers are haunting. The beach below the castle is a beehive of activity, as fishing boats come and go and fishermen work at repairing their nets. We ll also see the impressive exterior of Elmina Castle. The adventurous among us can visit Kakum National Park, whose canopy walkway, suspended high over the rain forest, is not for the faint of heart. Local guides will show us the plants and birdlife of the forest. We ve planned several other surprises for this day. APRIL 10 & 11 - AT SEA
APRIL 12 - MONROVIA, LIBERIA Liberia has made remarkable strides in rebuilding during the short time since its civil war ended in 2005, and an upbeat, optimistic spirit pervades the country. We ll meet with local officials to hear about the important work that is taking place and explore Monrovia, seeing the fine objects in the National Museum; a school; Liberia s oldest church (built in 1839); and the great views from the top of Ducor Hill. Or if you wish, you can be paddled along a small river outside town to enjoy the landscapes and local communities. APRIL 13 - FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE Sierra Leone is also rebuilding rapidly since the end of its civil war, and this friendly country possesses an exuberant spirit. We ll tour Freetown, seeing the National Museum, the Big Market, the massive cotton tree that is Freetown s symbol and a number of other stops. In the afternoon, we ll visit the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Or you may choose to explore the beautiful peninsula on which Freetown lies, which has picture-postcard beaches, good swimming and snorkeling and interesting communities. APRIL 14 - AT SEA APRIL 15 - BANJUL, THE GAMBIA The country of Gambia straddles the Gambia River, and we dock at the capital of Banjul, where the river flows into the Atlantic. Among our activities today: exploring the important Abuko Nature Center, known for its birdlife and monkeys; taking a boat among the mangroves of the Tanbi Wetlands to look for water birds; touring the National Museum; and seeing a lively local market and a place where batik and tiedyed clothing is made. We also hope to arrange a visit to the ship by an American official to talk about current issues in the region. APRIL 16 - DAKAR Dakar is one of Africa s most vital cities. Spend the morning exploring Gorée Island, a World Heritage Site that was a key hub for the slave trade. Gorée s notorious House of Slaves offers a glimpse of the conditions that slaves lived in before they were sent overseas. In the afternoon, tour Dakar, seeing the Theodore Monod (IFAN) Museum, with excellent collections of the art of the region, and go to the village of Soumbédioune to watch fishing boats return with their catch. You may instead choose to see some of Dakar s markets and shops, renowned for their handicrafts, masks and fabrics. Alternatively, visit a local birdwatching wetland hotspot. Visit a local club for great Senegalese music. APRIL 17 & 18 - AT SEA APRIL 19 - DAKHLA, WESTERN SAHARA At tranquil Dakhla, the Sahara meets the sea. Venture into the desert in four-wheel-drive vehicles through beautiful desertscapes to the White Dune. Swim in the lagoon, look for flamingoes, and enjoy a gala local lunch in tents set up specially for the occasion. APRIL 20 - TENERIFE, CANARY ISLANDS The beautiful, mountainous island of Tenerife is part of Spain. You'll have the choice of exploring the mountains of Anaga and the Mercedes Forest, or else walking through a colonial town, seeing its historic sites. Alternatively, you can visit one of the island's well-known beaches. The ship will remain here until the late evening, so you can explore Santa Cruz de Tenerife on your own if you wish. APRIL 21 - AT SEA APRIL 22 DISEMBARK IN AGADIR/ MARRAKECH, MOROCCO/OVERNIGHT HOTEL Disembark in the whitewashed Moroccan seaside city of Agadir, and drive to Marrakech for a spectacular end to our journey. Visit the extraordinary Djemaa el Fna square a human carnival with magicians, snake charmers, acrobats, water sellers, and food stalls. Enjoy a gala farewell dinner and stay at the fine Sofitel. APRIL 23 MARRAKECH/HOME Depart Marrakech on homeward-bound flights. (B) EXTEND YOUR ADVENTURE. Ask about an extended pre-voyage stay in Cape Town, or at the Mala Mala game reserve, or a post-voyage extension in Marrakech.
WEST AFRICAN ODYSSEY Exploring from South Africa to Morocco Aboard the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer 2013 Departure: March 18 2013 Cost Per Person Double Occupancy Category 1 $29,990 Category 2 $31,990 Category 3 $33.290 Category 4 $35,990 Category 5 $41,400 Category 6 $47,950 Category 7..$54,950 Sole Occupancy Category 2 $39,960 Category 3 $41,460 Advance Payment:..$3,000 Sample Airfares: New York/Cape Town, Marrakech/New York. Economy..from $1,500 Business...from $11,300 Subject to change. Cost Includes: Ship accommodations & two hotel nights; meals indicated; excursions; services of Lindblad Expeditions expedition staff and expert guides; use of kayaks; all port charges and service taxes. Not Included: Air transportation; visa/immigration fees, personal items such as alcoholic beverages, emails, laundry, etc.; discretionary tips to ship s crew.