Have you ever considered boarding a ship to Africa? Conventional plans for an African adventure would ordinarily include air travel. Regardless of whether one is flying intercontinental or intracontinental rarely do tourists consider the high seas.
Traveling long distances on water is not for everyone. It might be too tedious for some or too adventurous for others. For those looking to try something new or perhaps those who wouldn’t know where to begin, the following are options for your ocean travel to and around Africa.
The two main ports for arrival and departure of international cruise liners appear to be along the coast of South Africa and at the port of Mombasa, Kenya. From there cruises can be boarded to different ports along the coast of Africa.
1. CRYSTAL CRUISES
Crystal Cruises offers travel between South America and Africa. With The Indian Ocean Explorer the cruise liner ‘Crystal Serenity’ travels its path from Cape Town, South Africa to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with stops in Uruguay and Argentina. From The Shadow of Table Mountain is the travel back from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro via the same path.
2. CUNARD CRUISES
Cunard Cruises travel between Australia and Africa. Their ‘Queen Mary 2’ travels from Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide to Cape Town, South Africa. The ship makes various stops at ports along Australia and Africa at Walvis Bay, Namibia; Tunis, Tunisia; Tangiers, Morocco; Port Victoria, Seychelles; Mindello, Cape Verde; Mauritius; Jamestown, Saint Helena; Reunion, Reunion; Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth in South Africa.
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Table Mountai, South Africa
3. OCEANIA CRUISES
Oceania Cruises offers travel primarily between Asian and Africa. ‘The Insignia’ travels from Hong Kong to Cape Town, and from Cape Town to Singapore. ‘The Nautica’ travels from Cape Town to Singapore, and from Dubai, UAE to Cape Town. ‘The Marina’ travels from Lisbon, Portugal to Cape Town.
4. SILVERSEA CRUISES
Silversea Cruises offers more options for travel from U.S.A, Europe and Asia to Africa ‘The Silver Whisper’ travels from Singapore, Singapore to Mombasa, Kenya; Mombasa, Kenya to Cape Town, South Africa; Cape Town, South Africa to Lauderdale, Florida. ‘The Silver Cloud’ travels from Malaga, Spain to Tema, Ghana; Tema, Ghana to Cape Town, South Africa; Cape Town, South Africa to Mombasa, Kenya (return); Cape Town, South Africa to Accra, Ghana; Accra, Ghana to Barcelona, Spain; Dubai, UAE to Mombasa, Kenya. Both cruise liners make scenic stops in places such as Morocco, Namibia, the Maldives and Casablanca.
5. FREE SAILING
This last mode of sailing to Africa is free but devoid of any luxury. For the truly adventurous traveler looking to sail to the continent, opportunity awaits on board private yachts looking for crewmembers to help with cooking, cleaning and sailing duties. It might take some searching to find work opportunities on cruise liners and private yachts but the prize would be your free ride to Africa.
{photos courtesy of ports.co.za, travelnewsdigest}
