Days 1–2 — Durban, South Africa/At Sea

Arrive in Durban, South Africa’s third-largest city and a major Indian Ocean port. Settle into your stateroom and set sail this evening. Enjoy a relaxing day at sea to get acquainted with the ship and your fellow travelers. Attend talks by your Smithsonian Journeys Experts, and sit down to leisurely meals as the ship makes its way along South Africa’s eastern coast. (1B,1L,2D)

Day 3 — Eastern Cape

From the port town of East London, travel inland for a morning safari in one of two malaria-free wildlife areas: Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve or Mpongo Private Game Reserve. Both are home to diverse landscapes that harbor elephants, buffalo, giraffes, numerous antelope and many bird species. Alternatively, tour the East London Museum to see cultural artifacts and prehistoric specimen—including the only known dodo egg in the world and fossilized footprints of a prehistoric child—and visit the Nahoon Point Nature Reserve. Or head into the countryside to the Khaya La Bantu open-air museum to learn about life in a traditional Xhosa village. (B,L,D)

Days 4–5 — Port Elizabeth

During two days in Port Elizabeth, (now officially called Gqeberha), enjoy your choice of wildlife experiences. In Addo Elephant Park, seek out rare reddish elephants descended from a herd that was nearly wiped out by trophy hunters, and examine unusual flightless dung beetles. Or go on safari in Pumba Private Game Reserve, home to the “big five”— lions, leopards, elephants, Cape buffalo, and rhinos—as well as some 300 species of bird. Learn about conservation efforts at Amakhala Private Game Reserve, where former ranch land is being returned to nature and now harbors a wealth of wildlife. Or set out on a game drive in the lush coastal forests and floodplains of Sibuya Private Game Reserve, and continue your wildlife watching on a river cruise. You’ll also have the opportunity for a walk alongside giraffes in the Bellevue Forest Reserve. (2B,2L,2D)

Day 6 — At Sea

Spend a leisurely day at sea as the ship rounds Africa’s southern coast toward Cape Town. You’ll pass Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of the continent, as well as the Cape of Good Hope, named by Portuguese explorers who saw it as an omen that reaching India was possible. During the voyage, cross from the warm currents of the Indian Ocean to the colder Atlantic waters, and keep an eye out for the marine life that comes to feed in these nutrient-rich seas. (B,L,D)

Days 7–8 — Cape Town

Arrive in the beautifully situated city of Cape Town, where you’ll anchor overnight, allowing you to take part in a variety of excursions. Explore the sites of the magnificent Cape Peninsula from the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve to Boulders Beach, known for its population of African penguins, to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. Travel to the Cape Winelands and enjoy free time to discover the Cape Dutch architecture of Stellenbosch before a wine tasting. Ride the ferry to Robben Island and visit the cell where Nelson Mandela spend 18 years as a political prisoner. Delve into South Africa’s history on a city tour including the Company Gardens and the Iziko Museum, and trace the life of Desmond Tutu at the Old Granary. Soar up to the top of Table Mountain in a cable car and take in the incredible view, or admire breathtaking coastal scenery along Chapman’s Peak Drive. (2B,2L,2D)

Day 9 — At Sea

Follow South Africa’s western coast north towards Namibia during a relaxing day at sea. Enjoy lectures by your experts, gather with fellow travelers for coffee and conversation, or opt for a massage in the ship’s spa. (B,L,D)

Day 10 — Lüderitz, Namibia

Arrive in the Namibian port town of Lüderitz, founded by a German merchant in the 1880s. On a walking tour, see the town’s German architecture and learn about the area’s natural and cultural history at the Lüderitz Museum. Alternatively, venture to the ghost town of Kolmanskop, a thriving center of the diamond rush in the 1920s, or ride a catamaran around Halifax Island, where African penguins come to breed amid the abandoned relics of the guano mining industry. Enjoy a final afternoon of sailing as the ship makes its way north to Walvis Bay. (B,L,D)

Day 11 — Return home

Disembark in Walvis Bay after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)