90-NT Grand Africa Voyage

Arriving in Mallorca's capital, Palma, you'll find a vibrant city of boutiques, cafés and markets in medieval lanes, all under the watchful gaze of its immense and photogenic gothic sandstone cathedral. Beyond Palma, the island's gorgeous coast shelters beautiful coves, calm harbours and the lavish villas of the rich and famous.

Situated just across the narrow Strait of Gibraltar from Europe, Tangier has long comprised a hybrid culture that is nearly as European as it is African. Standing atop Cap Spartel, one can gaze down on the place where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. The “Hollywood” district where the foreign embassies have traditionally been located reflects the European influence.

Bustling Mindelo is a picturesque port-city consisting of a mixture of cobbled streets and brightly coloured colonial buildings, with the majestic Mount Verde overseeing all. Home to nearly the entirety of the island's population the city is hailed as the cultural hub of Cape Verde. You might even be lucky enough to experience one of the City's celebrated and numerous vibrant carnivals.

Santiago is the largest of the Cape Verde islands, and nearly half the nation’s population lives on the island. Originally volcanic, Santiago is unusually fertile, and agriculture is an important part of the islands’ economy. The Cape Verde Islands only won their independence from Portugal in 1974, following a violent revolution.

The skyscrapers that shape the skyline of Abidjan tell only part of the story of this boom-and-bust West African capital. Africa’s modern showplace has also suffered internal strife that decimated its aspirational economy.

Takoradi is a very important and busy West African seaport on Ghana’s Cape Coast, a main transport depot for container ships and oil tankers. Two of the main tourist sites near Takoradi are the village of Nzulemo and the old Portuguese slave depots called “castles.”

Bom Bom Island is an islet located near the Nort coat of the Island of Principe, a place is exceptional and rare beauty that takes guests on a captivating journey to the origins of Equatorial Africa.

If you are a “pollywog,” who has never crossed the line at sea, you will be expected to undergo a mock trial by King Neptune and his court for the entertainment of the “shellbacks” who have already done so. Mild but hilarious indignities will be conjured, and in the end a good time will be had by most, if not all.

Luanda looks to be booming. Development and construction is fueled by extractive industries such as petroleum and diamonds. However over half the city’s residents live in poverty. It has for several years dominated the chart of the most expensive cities in the world for expatriates, outstripping such notorious places as Hong Kong and London.

Lobito is located on the Atlantic Coast north of the Catumbela Estuary.

Not only is Cape Town one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but it is also surrounded by magnificent beaches, rugged mountains and bucolic vineyards. On a fine day savour an awe inspiring cable car ride up Table Mountain. Perhaps make the poignant tour of Robben Island or take a cultural trip to Stellenbosch and its surrounding wine lands.

With its blend of African, Portuguese, and Arab cultures, this port offers visitors a wealth of sights, sounds and experiences to explore.

This small, narrow coral island a couple of miles off the mainland in the Mozambique Channel looks unimpressive from a distance. But for centuries it was one of the most important trading ports on Africa’s Swahili Coast. The Indian Ocean dhow flocked here to trade in gold, ivory, spices and slaves.

Zanzibar is a heaven for water sports activities such as swimming, snorkeling, diving with lots of luminous fish or just grazing over nearby coral gardens and pods of dolphins frolic offshore.

Zanzibar is a heaven for water sports activities such as swimming, snorkeling, diving with lots of luminous fish or just grazing over nearby coral gardens and pods of dolphins frolic offshore.

Zanzibar is a heaven for water sports activities such as swimming, snorkeling, diving with lots of luminous fish or just grazing over nearby coral gardens and pods of dolphins frolic offshore.

“Dar” is a large city with over four million people, but manages a laid-back atmosphere in keeping with its Indian Ocean setting. It is the business hub of Tanzania.

A quaint and pretty town, it is home to a third of the Seychelles' population. Authentic produce can be found in abundance in the open-air bazaars such as Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market which sells locally-grown teas and spices, as well as beautiful coral trinkets and jewellery.

A quaint and pretty town, it is home to a third of the Seychelles' population. Authentic produce can be found in abundance in the open-air bazaars such as Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market which sells locally-grown teas and spices, as well as beautiful coral trinkets and jewellery.

This idyllic island in the archipelago of the Seychelles was once thought to be the mythic Eden, largely because of the Valle de Mai forest of huge and ancient Coco de Mer palms, whose immense fronds can roof an entire house.

Immerse yourself in Madasgascar's largest and most popular destination, Nosy Be. This "Big Island" off the northwest coast is famous for its natural splendor and Ylang Ylang trees that make up a major part of the local economy. Spend the day hanging out with lemurs and chameleons at the Lokobe Reserve. Indulge in local cuisine like the diverse and delectable variations of Laoka.

Mayotte is an overseas department and region of France, consisting of one vaguely seahorse-shaped island (Grand-Terre) a smaller one (Petite-Terre) and a few satellite islets in the Indian Ocean among the Comoros Islands archipelago off Africa’s eastern coast.

Durban is an attractive city, whose long beach front and glass buildings look out onto the Indian Ocean. Inland, spectacular landscapes and Africa’s unique wildlife are waiting to captivate you. Durban resides on the edge of the KwaZulu-Natal province, and it could be the springboard for an adventure inland to experience the stunning scenery and rich local customs. One excursion could whisk you into the evocatively named Valley of a Thousand Hills, with its rippled ridges and green slopes in the heart of Zulu country. There you can pay a visit to a cultural village for traditional demonstrations of beadwork, spear making, drumming and dancing. Durban can be thought of as South Africa’s Riviera, basking as it does in a pleasant subtropical climate. Its enticing beachfront, known as the ‘Golden Mile,’ actually offers over three and a half miles of sandy shore where surfers and swimmers flock to waters warmed by the Mozambique Current.

Vast, vibrant Port Elizabeth stretches along Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. Discover the city's rich architectural heritage in Market Square, enjoy the beautiful local beaches, or look for the 'Big Five' (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros) at Shamwari Game Reserve.

Vast, vibrant Port Elizabeth stretches along Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. Discover the city's rich architectural heritage in Market Square, enjoy the beautiful local beaches, or look for the 'Big Five' (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros) at Shamwari Game Reserve.

When you step on the dock in Mossel Bay you’ll be following in the footsteps of 15th century Europeans; this is where they first made landfall on South African soil. The Bay of Attraction, as it is often called, Mossel Bay offers almost 40 miles of wide, sandy beaches and at least 300 days of sunshine.

Not only is Cape Town one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but it is also surrounded by magnificent beaches, rugged mountains and bucolic vineyards. On a fine day savour an awe inspiring cable car ride up Table Mountain. Perhaps make the poignant tour of Robben Island or take a cultural trip to Stellenbosch and its surrounding wine lands.

Not only is Cape Town one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but it is also surrounded by magnificent beaches, rugged mountains and bucolic vineyards. On a fine day savour an awe inspiring cable car ride up Table Mountain. Perhaps make the poignant tour of Robben Island or take a cultural trip to Stellenbosch and its surrounding wine lands.

In 1883, a German businessman, Adolf Luderitz, purchased a parcel of land enclosing a small bay for purposes of speculation. The so-called Skeleton Coast had limited potential in many ways, being largely made up of the shifting sands of the Namib Desert.

The 'Diamond of Africa' is a country of stark beauty and contrasting landscapes. It is home to the world’s oldest desert, the world’s highest sand dunes, and a diversity of people that have created an intriguing blend of cultures and traditions. Found between the sand dunes of the Namib Desert and the Atlantic Ocean, the large natural lagoon of Walvis Bays is home to prolific birdlife.

The 'Diamond of Africa' is a country of stark beauty and contrasting landscapes. It is home to the world’s oldest desert, the world’s highest sand dunes, and a diversity of people that have created an intriguing blend of cultures and traditions. Found between the sand dunes of the Namib Desert and the Atlantic Ocean, the large natural lagoon of Walvis Bays is home to prolific birdlife.

If you are a “pollywog,” who has never crossed the line at sea, you will be expected to undergo a mock trial by King Neptune and his court for the entertainment of the “shellbacks” who have already done so. Mild but hilarious indignities will be conjured, and in the end a good time will be had by most, if not all.

Cotonou is a busy port that serves both Benin and neighboring Togo. Although Porto-Novo is officially Benin’s capital, Cotonou is the economic heart of the nation, which stretches northward inland from the Bight of Benin. T

Like much of West Africa, Togo is a result of European colonial disruption of long-standing African kingdoms. Togo’s long, thin territory reflects its history as a trade franchise for Germany, which controlled the coastline and plundered the interior.

Situated on an island where the Atlantic Ocean and Gambia River converge, Banjul is the country's capital city that's bustling with commerce centered around the region's natural resources.

One of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan African cities, the Senegalese capital bears many visual reminders of its past as a French colonial outpost. Despite the Parisian-style boulevards and buildings, however, there is a distinctly African feel to the city. The common language is French, although many citizens may also speak as many as five or six ethnic languages, since the whole coast of West Africa has been steeped in a heritage of mutual trade for centuries. Among the many sights and sounds greeting visitors, none is more evocative and sobering than a visit to Goree Island and its House of Slaves. This fortress, just offshore of the city waterfront, displays many reminders of the brutal trade in human beings, including an unimposing doorway, set just above the waterline in the seaside wall, identified simply as the “Door of No Return.”

Las Palmas is a large Spanish city, which just happens to be on the island of Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. That fact adds the exotic, slightly African and international flavour to the place. It played an important part in the early exploration and exploitation of Africa and the New World, some of which is recounted in the Casa de Colon Museum. Columbus may have slept there, but it was never his house. It was actually the mansion of early governors. Other museums of note are the Museo Canaria with a number of Cro Magnon skulls, and the fascinating Elder Museum of Science and Technology.

Lanzarote is a treat for all the senses. From artistic wonders to natural beauties, the Lanzarote brims with culture, adventure and glorious sunshine. Enjoy a number of the most beautiful destinations…Fancy tucking into some mezze at a waterfront café? Or sunbathing on Lanzarote’s best beaches? The sky’s the limit on a Lanzarote cruise holiday.

Welcome to cosmopolitan Casa, a name synonymous with North African mystique. Explore its busy bazaar in search of leather, ceramic and wooden souvenirs then wind down the scenic Corniche promenade which arcs along the coast. It leads to the stunning Hassan II Mosque, rising in smooth marble from a rocky outcrop crowned by a majestic 210-metre minaret.

Welcome to cosmopolitan Casa, a name synonymous with North African mystique. Explore its busy bazaar in search of leather, ceramic and wooden souvenirs then wind down the scenic Corniche promenade which arcs along the coast. It leads to the stunning Hassan II Mosque, rising in smooth marble from a rocky outcrop crowned by a majestic 210-metre minaret.

Melilla is one of Spain’s two enclaves on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco, a remnant of the colonial past. As a pocket of Europe on the African continent, its border is rather heavily watched.

Delve into the Picasso Museum or Miró Foundation. Explore the genius of Gaudí too, as you survey the city from Parc Güell, witness the extraordinary Casa Mila and Casa Batlló, and marvel at his unfinished masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia. After all that sight-seeing a shady spot in one of Barcelona's numerous cafés provides the perfect vantage point for watching the colourful street performers on Las Ramblas.