Africa Cruises
A cruise holiday encompassing the continent of Africa is truly an once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is unique in that the sights you will see and the experiences you will have are simply not available anywhere else in the world.
The continent of Africa is truly one of the wonders of the world. It is filled with great rivers, plains, valleys and other magnificent natural sights, and it is easily accessible from Europe, the Mediterranean and even the United States.
Many cruise lines lines visit the continent of Africa and these include the mass market lines such as Princess and P&O, as well as several of the luxury cruise providers such as Regent Seven Seas and Crystal. Options exist to do Africa cruises in less traditional ways as well, such as by river barge and freighter.
Africa is a place best visited on a combination cruise and land tour. This is because while some parts of the country are best visited by cruise ship, there is a great deal to see in the interior as well, and these places can only be reached while on a land tour; it is best to combine the best of both worlds. Enjoy a ten or 20 day cruise (which will usually include not just Africa exclusively, but also encompass some Mediterranean ports as well as a trip through the Suez Canal), followed by an escorted land tour of some of the interior areas of Africa. These will perhaps include a wildlife safari where you can get up close and personal with the wildlife that roams free on the plains. Your safari group will be accompanied by a professional wildlife photographer (a popular option these days) who will help participants to capture an endless array of wonderful shots for the holiday memory books.
A cruise around Africa presents a lot of opportunities to view other sights as well. During your visit to the Suez Canal, you can take land excursions that visit Cairo and the Red Sea coast of Egypt. Few people know that this area contains some of the best snorkelling and diving in the world, so be sure to bring along your snorkelling gear or “C” card if you are a diver.
The city of Cairo deserves special mention as being one of the most sought-after destinations in this region. Other points of interest in this part of the world include countries with multi-cultural influences which provide a traveller with a wonderful opportunity to experience this great diversity of cultures.
After yourocean going Africa cruise, you may want to consider a cruise down the River Nile. Most of these trips originate in Cairo, and can be booked for varying durations. These more “laid back” river cruises get you “up close and personal” with the sights to be found along this majestic river and often include stops at various settlements along the way.
A cruise encompassing the continent of Africa should never be a rushed affair. Rather, it should be looked upon as a once in a lifetime experience to be savoured and enjoyed. Be sure to leave plenty of time to add pre and/or post cruise land tours, including possibly a Nile River cruise, and an escorted tour into the interior of the African continent. Include a wildlife safari in your tour programme and make sure that your holiday is one that will live forever in your memory as one of the high points of your ‘travelling’ life.
See all the great destinations you can visit as part of an African cruise holiday
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