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Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana

June 2, 2025 – June 2, 2025

The twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi was Ghana’s first deepwater seaport and has prospered greatly. Still, the ambiance is rather laid-back, especially in the inviting beach areas. Monkey Hill, a tropical reserve for primates, lies in heart of city. Nearby Fort Orange was built by the Dutch in the 17th century and now serves as a lighthouse.

Explore a monkey-filled forest, bustling markets, cultural landmarks and historic sites during this scenic tour of Sekondi and Takoradi, combined as one since 1946. Learn about Ghana’s main exports as you cross the harbor to Takoradi’s Western Gate. You’ll marvel at the unique virgin forest inhabited by scores of monkeys and birds at Monkey Hill, situated in the heart of Takoradi. Drive through the European-style town of Sekondi, passing aged colonial buildings, the stately High Court and tree-shaded residential areas. During a stop at the bustling Albert Bosomtwi-Sam Fishing Harbor, watch nets being repaired and women buying and preparing the fish. You’ll view Fort Orange’s impressive lighthouse and the Takoradi Market Circle, Western Ghana’s commercial and economic hub. Stop for a spirited cultural show with refreshments at a local hotel and reflect on the distinct personalities of Western Ghana’s thriving twin cities.

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Lome, Togo

June 1, 2025 – June 1, 2025

Wedged between a lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, Togo’s convivial, beach-rich capital of Lomé has emerged from its colonial past as pure African. For a glimpse of its history and unique Togolese art, visit the National Museum. The spired Lomé Cathedral is also noteworthy.

Behold the distinctive African traditions of Togo by visiting a market for voodoo practitioners, touring a rural school and watching a folkloric dance with a village monarch. Enjoy a brief drive through Lomé, an engaging capital city of wide boulevards lined with colonial buildings. You’ll find that, although the country’s religion is predominately Christian, many of the people remain faithful to the religious ancestry of voodoo, which you’ll see at an open-air market frequented by traditional healers seeking ingredients for rituals or the creation of magic charms and potions. Following this compelling and rather unusual visit, travel into the countryside to a Togolese village school, where you’ll learn how rural children cope with Togo’s educational challenges. You’ll find the nearby ceremonial grounds and meet the village’s distinguished royal court, who will introduce you to the local monarch.

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Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe

May 30, 2025 – May 30, 2025

Off the beaten path, São Tomé and Principe is a tropical paradise that offers lush rainforests, birdwatching, secluded waterfalls and pristine, isolated beaches. Enjoy spectacular views on a hike to the peak of Pico de São Tomé, go in search of the 109 species of orchid that decorate the landscape, or marvel at the impressive Boca do Inferno blowhole.

Glory in the culture and history of São Tomé and view its marquee attractions, including the National Museum, Presidential Palace and lively city market. Drive through charming São Tomé, a capital city founded in 1485 by the Portuguese and noted for its colonial architecture and brightly colored buildings. You’ll uncover the island’s rich past at the National Museum, which houses myriad artifacts, many religious in nature, in a 16th-century Portuguese-built fortress that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Visit the nearby Pantufo fishing village, where you’ll revel in a traditional folkloric performance that lends even greater insight into the island’s culture. Returning to the city center, find the Presidential Palace, which features a rose-pink façade with neoclassical elements, and make your way through many popular squares to the bustling city market for a rewarding dive into local life.

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We crossed the equator May 30, 2025

Luanda, Angola

May 28, 2025 – May 28, 2025

Angola’s capital and most populous city, Luanda has enjoyed a massive boom in construction in the last decade following the end of the Angola Civil War. Learn about the history of Angola at the many superb museums, historical sites and monuments throughout the city. The Parque Nacional da Kissama, south of Luanda, is an expansive wildlife park with elephants, water buffalo, antelopes and nesting sea turtles.

See the new face of rapidly changing Luanda and its historical landmarks, many built by the Portuguese, who occupied the city during much of its colonial period. Tour Angola’s capital to see the city’s inspiring rebirth and learn how the country’s vast oil and diamond resources fueled much of the growth and affluence evident along crescent-shaped Marginal Bay. You’ll pause for photos at the renovated colonial Church of Our Lady of Remedies and perhaps at Iron Palace, a pre-fabricated structure possibly designed by Gustave Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame. Visit the National Anthropology Museum to understand Angola’s turbulent history and traditional culture. View Portuguese-built San Miguel Fort, altered in 1664 to a star shape, and the rocket-like Agostinho Neto Mausoleum tower, honoring Angola’s first president. Uptown, view the Presidential Palace and the Ingreja de Jesus Catholic Church. Downtown, you’ll see the old and new houses of parliament and other stunning examples of colonial architecture and soon appreciate how this fascinating city is reclaiming its nickname, the Paris of Africa.

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Walvis Bay, Namibia

May 24, 2025 – May 25, 2025

Although rimmed by the inhospitable Namib Desert, Walvis Bay boasts a huge natural lagoon that attracts hundreds of thousands of birds, including flamingos, pelicans and migratory species. The desert’s Dune 7 is the highest sand dune near town and offers a spectacular view. The wooden Rhenish Mission Church is also noteworthy.

Experience the treasures of the Namib Desert during this memorable off-road expedition that includes a stop at the renowned Walvis Bay Lagoon. Board your off-road vehicle for a drive to the Namib-Naukluft National Park, which encompasses the Naukluft Mountain Range and part of the Namib, one of the world’s oldest deserts and site of the world’s highest and most vividly colored sand dunes. As you explore the unique plant life and terrain of this arid region, you’ll discover Moon Landscape, a vastly eroded valley that is reminiscent of the lunar surface due to the wind’s effect on the rock formations and sand. You’ll proceed to the Welwitschia Valley, where thousands of bizarre welwitschia plants are scattered about. Pause for photos at Dune 7, the highest sand dune in the area, then make a brief stop at the Walvis Bay Lagoon and tidal flood plains, declared a Wetland of International Importance for its abundance of marine life, pelicans and a wealth of other avian species.

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Red Banded Jelly Fish

Cape Town (2025), South Africa

May 21, 2025 – May 22, 20225

Checked into 12 Apostles

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Durban, South Africa

May 18, 2025 – May 18, 2025

British colonial architecture prevails in Durban, yet natural beauty is what characterizes this charming city on the Indian Ocean. Its Golden Mile beach area attracts sunbathers, of course, but also shoppers and those who enjoy walking the promenade. The Juma Masjid deserves a visit, as it’s the largest mosque in the southern hemisphere.

Uncover past and present-day African tribal culture in the ancestral homeland of the Zulu during this enthralling journey to the Valley of a Thousand Hills. During your scenic drive, hear that nearly two centuries ago the Zulu King Shaka, known to historians as the Black Napoleon, subjugated the tribes that today comprise the Kingdom of the Zulu. Upon arrival at the PheZulu Safari Park, you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour focused on the customs and beliefs of the Zulu people, including a performance of energetic songs by costumed members of the renowned Gasa clan. Revel in dances of courtship and betrothal, war and birth, and the throwing of bones by a witch doctor, or sangoma, all set to the mesmerizing beat of the Zulu drum. You’ll walk through a recreated village, learning about African tribal culture and visit PheZulu’s riveting reptile park to view some of Africa’s most notorious snakes and crocodiles.

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Richards Bay, South Africa

May 16, 2025 – May 17, 2025

Take an excursion to one of the nearby game reserves or simply gaze over the surrounding waters, where you might get a glimpse of dolphins, whales and kite-surfers. The best view is from the lookout point at Alkantstrand Beach. Richards Bay is a busy port and the myriad of specialized ships will intrigue marine buffs.

Hluhluwe Game Reserve
Revel in South Africa’s sublime natural beauty and wildlife during this superb game drive at the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. Settle in for a picturesque drive north to the park’s Memorial Gate, where you’ll enjoy a brief stop to change over into your open-air, off-road safari vehicle. During your approximately two-hour game drive, marvel at the expansive views and photo opportunities of the pristine scenery surrounding you. Discover the park is well-known for its small population of rare white rhinos and a spectacular variety of bird and animal life, including elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, blue wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, cheetahs, mountain reedbuck, kudu and warthogs. As you journey through the park’s rolling landscapes, keep your camera on hand, as you may encounter many of these glorious creatures up close.

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The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa – Cape Town, South Africa

May 21, 2025 – May 22, 2025

12 Apostles Hotel & Spa

Maputo, Mozambique

May 15, 2025 – May 15, 2025

Intent on recapturing its former glamour, Maputo once again attracts the rich and famous, whom you may see while sipping a cocktail at the extravagant Hotel Polana. Maputo’s struggle for freedom from Portuguese colonialism is recounted in local museums.

Discover Maputo’s rich history on a compelling tour that features highlights of this bustling capital city. Pass the striking Beaux-Arts Central Railway Station on your way to the Maputo Central Market, where you can watch locals bartering for a variety of goods and food. You’ll continue to Independence Square, a city focal point and home to a statue of Samora Machel, the country’s first president, the gleaming white Roman-Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the neoclassical City Hall and the splendid colonial-style French-Mozambican Cultural Center, home to art exhibitions and musical performances. You’ll marvel at a house built entirely of iron, designed by Gustav Eiffel as a governor’s residence but ultimately uninhabitable due to the tropical climate. Discover the appealing Natural History Museum, which boasts attractive Manueline architecture and unique exhibits, and explore the 18th-century Maputo Fortress, one of the city’s most visited attractions, which provides insight into Mozambique’s colonization in its intriguing museum displaying armaments and art. You’ll applaud Maputo’s cultural treasures during this illuminating excursion.

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The Fort of Maputo

Alphabetic Links of Where We’ve Been