West Africa

Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel and have the remainder of the day at leisure.

Embark on a tour of the city this morning, focusing in Jamestown and Usshertown, the old quarters of the city. See the Jamestown Lighthouse, originally built by the British in 1871; Fort James, also built by the British in 1673; the colorful fishing harbor; the UNESCO-restored Brazil House Museum; Fort Ussher, Accra’s oldest fortification, built by the Dutch in 1642; and the Center for National Culture, Ghana’s largest craft market.

In nearby Aburi, wander the expansive Aburi Botanical Gardens. Set in the verdant Akwapim Hills, the lush gardens are planted with indigenous and exotic trees and plants. After lunch, visit Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm, which has been in operation since 1879, and learn about the important role of cocoa in the country’s economy. From there, continue to the port town of Tema to board our ship.

Located at the center of the “Castle Coast,” Takoradi is our gateway to the coastal fortifications built by colonial powers beginning with the Portuguese in the 15th century. It was through these fortifications that millions of Africans were forced onto slave ships bound for the Americas. Learn about this dark time in West Africa’s history during a visit to Cape Coast Castle.

Today we explore Kakum National Park, an extensive rain forest that supports a marvelous diversity of wildlife, including endangered mammals such as forest elephants, bongo antelopes, and primates like the endangered Diana monkey, as well colobus monkeys, 266 species of birds, some 600 varieties of butterfly. 

This morning's tour of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire's commercial and financial capital, includes the immense Hôtel Ivoire; the Italian-designed St. Paul’s Cathedral, one of Africa's most elaborate churches; and the National Museum of Abidjan, showcasing statues, masks, jewelry, tools, carved doors, tom-toms, and musical instruments from every region of the country. In the afternoon, travel to the nearby town of Grand-Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire's first capital.

Our lecture program continues as we cruise up the coast, taking in panoramic views of the sea from the ship’s many decks and lounges.

The Republic of Liberia was founded in 1847 by emancipated African Americans. Tour Monrovia, the nation’s capital, named after United States President James Monroe, including the National Museum, featuring exhibits of Liberia’s famed tribal masks, sacred to the Dan people, as well as other cultural artifacts of the region. We also spend time at the bustling Waterside Market, where marvelously colorful textiles and other handicrafts are offered for sale by local merchants.

Spend another day at sea, listening to lectures and enjoying the ship’s many amenities.

With its lush forests, nature reserves and white sand beaches, Sierra Leone is one of West Africa’s most attractive destinations. Tour Freetown, the nation’s capital, including the Sierra Leone Museum with its wonderful collection of masks and drums and browse the city’s colorful markets. After lunch, travel to Regent village, where we visit a collection of early 19th-century Krio-style houses. Afterward, head to the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a 100-acre tract of rainforest that provides protection to over 100 endangered western chimpanzees.

Our lecture program continues as we cruise toward Guinea-Bissau.

Spend two days exploring the Bijagós Archipelago, a cluster of 88 pristine and seldom visited islands, of which only 23 are inhabited. Their impressive biodiversity and abundant flora and fauna have been recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. While our exact itinerary will be governed by tides, which in some places can be up to 20 feet, we expect to visit several of the most important islands, including Orango, home to a rare species of salt-water-dwelling hippos, and Canhabaque, a breeding ground for marine turtles. We also meet with some of the Bijagós people and learn about the traditions of this matriarchy where women choose their husbands and where communities are led by female priests.

Founded by the British early in the 19th century, Banjul is The Gambia’s capital and commercial center. Travel to Abuko Nature Reserve, one of the country’s last surviving examples of tropical riverine forests, home to some 300 species of birds, as well as red colobus, vervet and patas monkeys. Afterwards, visit the Makasutu Culture Forest, a private nature habitat of beautiful woodlands and waterways.

Once a small settlement on the Cap Vert peninsula, Africa’s westernmost point, Dakar has grown into a great metropolis. This morning, tour the main sites of the city—Place de L’Independence, the Presidential Palace, the Great Mosque—before exploring the IFAN Museum of African Arts, one of the continent's best collections. In the afternoon, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gorée Island, a center of the West African Slave Trade, where our tour includes the Historical Museum, the Slave House, St. Charles de Borromee Church, and the Castle Fortress, with views across the channel to Dakar.

After breakfast, disembark and transfer to the airport for flights homeward.