Hanseatic Inspiration, INT Wild South Africa ex Cape Town to Walvis Bay – 07 Mar 2021

15 Night cruise departing from Cape Town to Walvis Bay onboard Hanseatic Inspiration.

Where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean, this varied route presents the wonders of creation. Experience every facet of Africa’s biodiversity.

Highlights of this cruise:

Cape Town/South Africa
A safari of contrasts awaits you when the HANSEATIC inspiration transforms South Africa into a very special explorer’s terrain. Cape Town, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, is your starting point. Enjoy the evening atmosphere of Long Street with its Victorian buildings.

Mossel Bay
The pioneering spirit of seafarer Bartolomeu Dias surrounds you in Mossel Bay. In 1488, he is said to have become the first European to sail around the Cape of Good Hope. A replica of his caravel can be found in the museum here.

East London
Take an independent shore visit and explore this idyllic city by the sea. The stunning beaches provide a taste of things to come on the Sunshine Coast and in East London. From here, your days will focus on the fascinating fauna – lions, rhinos, leopards, elephants and buffalo. The legendary “Big Five” are not actually the largest animals in Africa, but were once considered the most defensive by big-game hunters. Today, South Africa’s focus is on protecting its species – a respectful distance is maintained at all times on game drives. Your first animal sightings await as you cross the vast Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve*. Explore the South African bushland in open-top safari jeeps. The numerous rivers that spring from the Drakensberg mountain range are a lifeline for mammals and birds. Take a kayak tour on the Nahoon River* and explore shores that attract cormorants, kingfishers and herons. There is no way of knowing which species you will see – but this is what makes each game drive so exciting.

Richards Bay
Enjoy the same thrill when you set out from Richards Bay with the gamekeepers on a night safari to watch sea turtles*. Will you be lucky enough to catch them laying their eggs on the beach? If you have not yet managed to spot all of the “Big Five”, another opportunity presents itself on a two-day overland excursion to Phinda Private Game Reserve*. African experiences don’t get any better than this: animals in the wild, a comfortable lodge in the “Zulu-Zen” design and glorious red sunrises and sunsets. Here you have a good chance of seeing elephants, giraffes, cheetahs and antelopes. Alternatively, look for endangered black and white rhinos in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Nature Reserve*; you might also see some lions and zebras.

Durban
Durban is a unique melting pot of Indian, European and African cultures. From here, a game drive through Tala Game Reserve* will take you through the bush, and with a little luck past hippos, ostriches and various species of water birds and birds of prey. Spectacular landscapes await on a three-day overland excursion: pure nature in the kingdom of Lesotho*. Head up into the southerly Drakensberg mountains, a barren place of winding switchbacks, dramatic passes and vast panoramas before rejoining the ship in Port Elizabeth.

Port Elizabeth
From the coastal city, you have plenty of opportunities to delve deep into the heart of Africa. Perhaps you’ll discover some unforgettable scenes: giraffes and zebras cooling themselves at the water holes, or a group of warthogs searching the ground for food. Kariega Private Game Reserve* is home to more than 25 wild species and over 200 species of bird. In the midst of nature, spend a night at the Pumba Private Game Reserve* and marvel as you watch the wildlife wake before the sun has even risen. Addo Elephant National Park* is focused entirely on these colossal creatures. The population had nearly died out when the park was founded in 1931; today, it is home to around 400 elephants. The township tour – South Africa with a difference* gives you the chance to meet the residents and learn about the 1923 Natives Urban Areas Act.

Luderitz/Namibia
Colourful Luderitz greets you on the edge of the Namib desert with numerous buildings from the German colonial era. The cruise may come to an end when you reach Walvis Bay, but your vibrant memories of Africa will never fade.