Africa is a continent of astonishing contrast. From beach-fringed Indian Ocean islands and majestic deserts, to vibrant cities and open spaces teeming with wildlife, it’s a place that surprises at every turn. Exploring by ship means you can experience remarkable scenic variety in a single journey – and you’ll only have to unpack once.
It’s said that once you get the dust of Africa on your shoes, you will always return – something I do at every opportunity. I will never forget cruising into Cape Town, the ocean sparkling under a sky so blue it felt almost painted on. And as the city and imposing Table Mountain drew closer, I remembered why travelling by ship is such a joy – you slowly ease into each destination. Here’s my selection of extraordinary African sailings.
Best for exploring southern Africa
Safari Cruise along the Zambezi River
CroisiEurope
Key stops: Kasane (Botswana), Chobe National Park (Namibia-Botswana), Impalila Island (Namibia), Lake Kariba (Namibia-Botswana-Zimbabwe), Matusadona National Park and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Departure port: Johannesburg
Duration: Eight nights
Ship: Zimbabwean Dream
Expect plenty of stop-and-stare moments on this land and river adventure to Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. After meeting in Johannesburg, take a flight to Kasane, Botswana, where you’ll spend the first three nights in the CroisiEurope Cascades Safari Lodge on a private island.
Botswana’s Chobe National Park, home to around 50,000 elephants, gets things off to a great start. Then comes a “wow” moment with a light aircraft flight over one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. Glimmering below, Lake Kariba sets the scene for what’s next: a three-night cruise aboard the intimate, 16-passenger MS Zimbabwe Dream.
Matusadona National Park is on the southern shore of Lake Kariba, and the wildlife-rich waterways offer plentiful game-viewing opportunities. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you’ll arrive at the mighty Victoria Falls, one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Cruising on the Zimbabwe Dream is not just about scenery, it’s a thoughtful, cultural journey with informative on-board talks. Expect epic landscapes and luxury throughout.
Insider tip
There’s nothing quite like a Kariba sunset. The water turns to liquid gold and silhouettes of wildlife are etched against the sky. The observation deck offers a front-row seat to this nightly spectacle (don’t forget your sundowners).
How to do it
An eight-night Safari Cruise along the Zambezi River (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe) departing on November 28, 2026 costs from £6,152pp. Includes a four-day cruise and four-day lodge stay, all meals and drinks, and hotels in Johannesburg and Victoria Falls.
Best for wildlife
South Africa and Madagascar
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
Key stops: Ponte Des Galets (Reunion), Antsiranana and Nosy Be (Madagascar), Gqeberha, Mossel Bay and Cape Town (South Africa)
Departure port: Port Louis
Duration: 11 nights
Ship: Norwegian Sun
An idyllic journey through the diverse landscapes, vibrant cultures and unique wildlife of the Indian Ocean and Southern Africa, this holiday begins in Port Louis, the bustling waterside capital of Mauritius, before moving on to Reunion. Wild and unspoilt, the island of Reunion is home to Piton de la Fournaise, one of the world’s most easily accessible active volcanoes – a sight I found oddly humbling.
Nothing prepares you for unspoilt Madagascar. In Nosy Be, the scent of ylang-ylang hangs in the air, and then there’s the Lokobe Reserve, with its rare birds and lemurs leaping through trees. After three days cruising the Indian Ocean, the ship arrives in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) in South Africa. There’s something poignant about ending in Big Five territory where leopards, lions, elephants, rhinos and buffalo roam.
Norwegian Sun carries just shy of 1,900 guests and has recently undergone a major refurbishment. The main restaurant offers freestyle dining, so you can eat when you want and with whom you want. There are also great speciality restaurants, although these cost extra.
Insider tip
Seeking a more luxurious experience? NCL’s More At Sea programme offers an unlimited open bar with premium drinks, speciality dining, Wi-Fi and $50 (£37) shore excursion credit at every port of call.
How to do it
An 11-night South Africa and Madagascar cruise departing on April 26, 2026 costs from £2,815pp for an ocean-view cabin. Excludes flights.
Best for lesser-known stops
Mahe to Cape Town
Silversea
Key stops: Port Louis (Mauritius), Pointe des Galets (Reunion), Richards Bay, Durban, Gqeberha, Langebaan and Cape Town (South Africa)
Departure port: Mahe, Seychelles
Duration: 14 nights
Ship: Silver Dawn
Starting in Port Louis, Mauritius, this voyage by Silversea travels through the Seychelles, Mauritius and Reunion to the scenic southern tip of Africa is a slow, sun-drenched exploration of some of the most captivating corners of the Indian Ocean. Silver Dawn feels like a beautifully run boutique hotel at sea, and several sea days allow time to use the spa, indulge in late room-service breakfasts and enjoy lazy afternoons by the pool.
Once the ship reaches the coast of South Africa, there are five stops en route to Cape Town. An overnight stay in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) opens the door to one of South Africa’s most thrilling attractions – its wildlife. The city offers easy access to several world-class nature reserves.
One of the loveliest surprises on route is seaside Langebaan, tucked away on South Africa’s picturesque West Coast. Not many cruise ships stop here, which makes it even more special.
Insider tip
This cruise makes a stop on South Africa’s west coast, at Langebaan. For a day to remember, visit the nearby village of Paternoster and sample the morning’s catch at a beach restaurant.
How to do it
A 14-night Mahe to Cape Town voyage on Silver Dawn departing March 28, 2027, costs from £9,500pp for a classic veranda suite. Includes flights, transfers and shore excursions.
Best for slow travel
Western Africa and Isles of Wonder
Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC)
Key stops: Walvis Bay (Namibia), Luanda (Angola), Sao Tome (Sao Tome and Principe), Cotonou (Benin), Sekondi-Takoradi (Ghana), Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Dakar (Senegal), Mindelo (Cape Verde), Santa Cruz de la Palma (Canary Islands), Funchal (Madeira), Cadiz (Spain) and Lisbon (Portugal).
Departure port: Cape Town
Duration: 24 nights
Ship: Seven Seas Mariner
This journey from Cape Town to Lisbon is a slow unravelling of Africa’s western coastline, with each port peeling back another layer of its story. One of the best parts of the journey is its hassle-free nature, and with excursions included at every stop, it’s easy to get under the skin of the region.
From Cape Town, the ship heads north to Walvis Bay, a wildlife haven and gateway to the Namib Desert. Then it’s on to the tropics, where the air gets heavier and the colours brighter, moving up the coast to Sao Tome, Benin, Ivory Coast and Senegal.
All 684 passengers on Seven Seas Mariner have a balcony suite and RSSC’s all-inclusive fare encompasses shore excursions, fine wines and spirits, gourmet dining, gratuities, Wi-Fi and even a valet laundry service.
Insider tip
Use the sample online menus to book the more intimate speciality restaurants (my favourite is Chartreuse) before boarding and stagger them across your itinerary. You can make changes once on board.
How to do it
A 24-night cruise from Cape Town to Lisbon departing on May 8, 2026 costs from £12,159pp in a deluxe veranda suite. Upgrade to the Ultimate All-Inclusive with airfare for an extra £765pp.
Best for island hopping
Africa and the Indian Ocean (Mahe to Mombasa)
Crystal
Key stops: Praslin and La Digue (Seychelles), Antsiranana, Nosy Be and Mahajanga (Madagascar), Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar (Tanzania) and Mombasa (Kenya)
Departure port: Mahe (Seychelles)
Duration: Nine nights
Ship: Crystal Symphony
This voyage through the far-flung islands of the Indian Ocean promises a heady mix of remote beauty, wildlife and culture. The trip kicks off in the Seychelles with a three-island visit that includes the colourful capital of Victoria on Mahe and picture-postcard Praslin and La Digue.
Symphony then sails on to Madagascar, home to the endemic lemur, and one of the most biodiverse places on earth. This is your only chance to see lemurs in their natural habitat, so don’t miss it. A visit to Tanzania includes the spice island of Zanzibar, with its fragrant markets and turquoise waters. Stone Town, full of history and charm, is famously the birthplace of Freddie Mercury.
Crystal Symphony has had a swish refurbishment, resulting in more space, fewer passengers and larger suites. Food is a highlight – the eight superb restaurants include Umi Uma by Nobu – and the nightly West End-worthy entertainment is unmissable.
Insider tip
Take advantage of the in-suite butler service by ordering breakfast to your private veranda, where you can soak in the view without changing out of your robe.
How to do it
A nine-night Africa and the Indian Ocean cruise departing on January 28, 2026, costs from £3,600pp for a double guest room with an ocean view. Includes drinks and gratuities.
Best for scenic journeys
Rivers and Rails of Africa
AmaWaterways
Key stops: Chobe (Botswana), Victoria Falls and Hwange (Zimbabwe) and Pretoria via Rovos Rail (South Africa)
Departure point: Cape Town
Duration: 12 nights
Cruise ship: Zambezi Queen
This unforgettable journey through Southern Africa begins with a three-night stay in waterside Cape Town, a natural beauty, and one of my favourite cities in the world. You’ll then take a short flight to Victoria Falls, with a transfer to the cruise on the Namibian side of the Chobe River. The Zambezi Queen has 14 stylish suites and ample deck space for quiet contemplation. With dramatic sunsets, wildlife silhouettes, birds in flight and elephants bathing nearby, the waterway is a photographer’s heaven.
After the cruise, there’s a transfer to Victoria Falls with a couple of nights at the iconic Victoria Falls Hotel. The final leg of the journey is three nights on Rovos Rail, whose luxurious wood-panelled trains combine old-world charm with spectacular scenery on a journey through the heart of Southern Africa.
Insider tip
Watch the spectacular sunsets from the bar at the front of the ship. Hippos regularly join in the show, making for a memorable end to the day.
How to do it
A 12-night Rivers and Rails of Africa trip costs from £16,616pp departing on April 2, 2027. It combines three nights in Cape Town with the four-night safari cruise, two hotel nights in Victoria Falls and three nights on Rovos Rail.
Best for exploring West Africa
West Africa from Ghana to Angola
Swan Hellenic
Key stops: Lomé (Togo), Cotonou (Benin), Santo António (Principe), São Tomé, Gabon, Pointe-Noire (Republic of Congo), Luanda (Angola)
Departure port: Tema for Accra (Ghana)
Duration: 13 nights
Ship: SH Diana
Truly the path less travelled, this is a cruise for the adventurous. Hugging the coastline, SH Diana heads south, stopping in Togo, Benin and São Tomé and Principe – not your usual tourist destinations. What sets this Swan Hellenic cruise apart is the chance to linger, with rare two-night stays in both Gabon and Pointe-Noire, the Republic of Congo’s fascinating second city, with strong French influences.
Swathed in dense rainforest, Gabon is home to forest elephants, buffalo, lowland gorillas and chimpanzees at South Loango National Park. The chance to see gorillas and chimpanzees in their natural habitat is one of the highlights of this cruise. One selected shore excursion per port is included, making it easier to explore.
SH Diana offers five-star accommodation for 194 passengers and a team of expert speakers helps bring each destination to life.
Insider tip
SH Diana has a small, front-facing observation deck called the Swan’s Nest and a stargazing deck for clear nights. Take advantage of the binoculars supplied in your cabin.
How to do it
A 13-night West Africa cruise from Ghana to Angola departing on September 29, 2026, costs from £9,999pp. Includes charter flights, transfers, one pre-night cruise accommodation, one shore excursion per port of call, Wi-Fi and tips.
Source: Telegraph
