Set sail on this on this 9-day Extraordinary Southern Africa cruise from Maputo to Cape Town aboard SH Diana. Begin the cruise in Maputo, the former Portuguese colony in Mozambique, explore its culture, and enjoy pristine beaches. Discover South African shores, spot rare bird species like the cuckoo hawk and pygmy goose in the wetlands. Venture into game reserves to witness hippos, crocodiles, rhinos, cheetahs, and elephants. The cruise ends in Cape Town, where you'll savor incredible food, meet locals, and discover the architecture influenced by the vibrant cultural heritage of the region. Come aboard and join this cruise of South Africa, and feel inspired by this incredible country.
Highlights
Wander past Portuguese colonial and Soviet-style buildings in Maputo
Explore Mozambique’s uninhabited islands and try local specialities
Spot rare bird species along the Zululand Birding Route
Take a rickshaw ride along Durban’s wide seafront promenade
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
Mozambique’s capital city has an intriguing mix of Portuguese colonial and Soviet-style buildings on broad boulevards lined with jacaranda and palm trees. Architectural standouts include the early-20th-century domed railway station, painted in green and white, and the Smiling Lion, a distinctive post-modernist apartment block designed by Pancho Guedes. Exploring Maputo is also simply about wandering the historic district of Baixa and taking in the vibrant street scene of bustling pavement cafes, live music, and busy markets.
Kiosks dishing up local specialties. Umbrellas and loungers are available if you want to relax in the sun or join in an energetic game of beach volleyball or tennis. Hop on a traditional dhow boat for a tour along the shore, or head to the nearby island of Inhaca to visit its marine biology museum and lighthouse.
A busy port town with a deep natural harbor, Richards Bay is surrounded by extensive wetlands sheltering diverse birdlife. It’s part of the Zululand Birding Route, whose rare species include the cuckoo hawk and pygmy goose. You might also catch sight of hippos and crocodiles cooling off in the town’s large lagoon. Long stretches of sand include laid-back Alkantstrand Beach, where you can picnic in the shade, take a dip in the ocean, or watch surfers riding the waves.
South Africa’s third-biggest city, Durban is friendly and cosmopolitan, with long sandy beaches and rickshaw rides along a wide seafront promenade. Beyond the beach, you can meander among aromatic curry houses and spice stalls in the Indian District, then take a stroll through the peaceful Durban Botanic Gardens, renowned for its orchid and palm collections. A handful of small museums focus on local history, and nearby Umgeni River Bird Park is home to around 200 species in a lush former quarry.
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to the library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of your onboard lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from your onboard professional photographers.
Port Elizabeth is a coastal city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is known for its beautiful beaches and excellent water sports opportunities. The city also has several wildlife reserves and national parks, including Addo Elephant National Park, home to over 600 elephants.
Set on a hillside overlooking a vast bay, this laid-back seaside town was the first place where Europeans made landfall in South Africa in 1488. You can trace the area’s history at the excellent Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex, which contains maritime displays, 19th-century stone cottages, and a botanical garden. Afterward, stroll to nearby Santos Beach, a wide sandy stretch popular for swimming and water sports. Southern right whales calve in the bay’s calm waters between July and October.
Day 9: Cape Town | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Ending the epic transatlantic journey with one of the most spectacular city sceneries in Africa. Dominated by Table Mountain, Cape Town is a cosmopolitan city with plenty of nearby splendid vineyards, wonderful harbor fronts, and surprising restaurants where one can indulge in the delicious seafood
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Rates are subject to change without notice. Book early to get the best rate.
Oceanview D4
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Oceanview M4
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Balcony D5
Located on decks 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
Balcony M5
Located on decks 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
Balcony D6
Located on decks 6, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
Junior Suite
SH Diana’s Junior Suites features a Super King Size bed, separate living room area with homely flame-effect fireplace, private kitchen, luxurious en-suite bathroom and a 7 sq. m private balcony.
Suite
Our Suites features a superking bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom and a 12 sq.m. private balcony.
Premium Suite
SH Diana’s Premium Suites feature a Super King Size bed, separate living room with homely flame-effect fireplace, luxurious en-suite bathroom, spacious walk-in wardrobe and a 12 sq. m private balcony.
Initial deposit is 20% (30% for Suite bookings), and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
8 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners
8 Nights Accommodations
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Wifi
Self-service laundry
Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
Lecture programs by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
Onboard gratuities & port taxes
Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions.
Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included accommodation where applicable)
One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
24-hour room service
Excluded
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
We recommend every traveler to take out a travel cancellation insurance, travel interruption insurance and a travel health insurance policy with an assumption of the return transport costs of repatriation
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Clara Tort has been our Travel Advisor for Buenos Aires, then for Iguazu, then for Mendoza and Aconcagua Trekking, and then for Patagonia and Fitz Roy trekking. She has navigated with us through our travels, and now we are coming back for more- onto Machu Pichu and Peru.
Gus ORDONEZ
2 hours ago
Mary Curry made the experience wonderful for the second time. She is the reason we returned to Adventure Life to book our second cruise on WindStar. She is tireless, well informed, pleasant to work with and totally reliable. If you offer employees bonuses, give her one! there who answered to phone to help us book shore excursions were also very good and easy to work with - and we demand rather an lot of help.
Laura Flanagan
3 hours ago
The people assisting you have traveled with many of these companies or done the very same trip in the past. That kind of experience in invaluable when selecting a trip for yourself.
Sue Stephens
20 hours ago
Kaweskar tour Skorpios III
Fantastic trip. Great food, wonderful scenery. Very fortunate the tour was under-subscribed (32 of 90 possible bookings) so it was really comfortable. Half this number was comprised of a tour from USA. We shared a table with an older couple - Ian and Helen, but everyone was friendly and excursions were efficiently run. We benefited from a requested cabin upgrade which saw us in the best suite.
John
2 days ago
First of all we were told that we could tailor our trip to our interests which is fantastic. We needed several iterations to get our trip itinerary nailed down. Our contact at Adventure Life responded quickly and we settled on a trip in a matter of weeks.
