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Le Bougainville, 10 Night South Africa and Namibia by Sea: Around the Cape of Good Hope – with Smithsonian Journeys ex Durban, South Africa

Cruise Le Bougainville, 10 Night South Africa and Namibia by Sea: Around the Cape of Good Hope – with Smithsonian Journeys ex Durban, South Africa
Cruise Line Ponant
Ship Le Bougainville
Destination Africa - South & Central
Brief Description 10 Night Cruise sailing from Durban, South Africa onboard Le Bougainville
Type of Cruise Luxury
Departure Date 19 Mar 2026
Cruise Description In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys.

This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.

This voyage along the southern coast of South Africa can be thought of as an expedition in two parts. The first five days, from Durban to Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), are devoted to what might be called a 'safari by sea' as you explore the great game parks of the Eastern Cape, encountering elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and a host of other animals, including an amazing variety of bird species. The second part, focused on Cape Town and its surroundings, explores the natural beauty of the Cape Peninsula and the vineyards and whitewashed farmhouses of Stellenbosch, while also providing opportunities to delve into the city's role in the struggle against apartheid and the ongoing work of building a multi-racial society.

From Durban, begin with a day at sea, attending lectures and preparing for the experiences that lie ahead, before calling in East London. Here, your choice of excursions includes two private game reserves, both showcasing the wildlife of South Africa's Eastern Cape; a visit to an authentically reconstructed Xhosa village, for performances of traditional dance and displays of Xhosa handicrafts; or exploration of the fascinating East London Museum, which played a crucial role in discovering and identifying fossil footprints that are the earliest evidence of homo sapiens in Africa.

Your next stop is Port Elizabeth, now officially known as Gqeberha, where Le Bougainville remains docked for two full days, allowing for extensive exploration of the many varied game reserves in the surrounding countryside. Two of these focus on particular species—the Addo Elephant Park, home to 450 of these endangered animals, and the Bellevue Forest Reserve, which offers the unique experience of a 'walking safari' among giraffes. The other game reserves, all of which are actively involved in conservation efforts, provide possibilities for viewing the "big five"— lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard—in a variety of environments ranging from bushveld and grasslands to coastal forests. They are also home to an abundance of other wildlife, including zebra, hippo, cheetah, warthog, and hyena, as well as myriad bird species.

A day at sea provides an opportunity to relax and recharge before you reach cosmopolitan Cape Town, South Africa's oldest city, where, just as in Gqeberha, your ship will be in port for two days. Options for activities ashore include panoramic drives on the Cape Peninsula—one a full day excursion along the entire length of the Peninsula, with stops at the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden; and another focusing on the northern end of the Peninsula around Hout Bay, including the world-famous Chapman's Peak Drive. A tour of the city center includes Company Gardens, the South African Museum, Desmond Tutu's St. George's Cathedral, and the Truth to Power exhibit that chronicles the fight against apartheid. You may visit Robben Island, home to the prison that housed political opponents of apartheid including Nelson Mandela, designated a World Heritage Site in 1999. You may venture into the wine country east of Cape Town and explore the lovely town of Stellenbosch and enjoy a tasting at a local vineyard. Or you may choose an excursion to the boutiques and artisanal shops of Kalk Bay. Whatever combination of activities you choose, however, you are likely to find yourself at some point atop Cape Town's emblematic Table Mountain.

On the final day of the voyage, visit the Namibian town of Lüderitz. Founded as a German colony in 1833, Lüderitz became a true boom town in the early 20th century, when diamonds were discovered nearby. Tour the town and its unmistakably Bavarian legacy, or travel across the desert to the ghost town of Kolmanskop, whose ruins provide a glimpse of what life was like during the region's time at the center of a diamond rush. Your voyage ends the following day in Walvis Bay.
Sailing Dates
19 Mar 2026
Category Single Twin Triple Quad
DEL AU $18,650 AU $9,910 ‐ ‐
PR4 AU $20,710 AU $10,940 ‐ ‐
PR5 AU $21,740 AU $11,460 ‐ ‐
PR6 AU $22,990 AU $12,080 ‐ ‐
DS3 AU $32,110 AU $16,640 AU $8,910 ‐
DS4 AU $32,110 AU $16,640 AU $8,910 ‐
DS5 AU $32,110 AU $16,640 AU $8,910 ‐
DS6 AU $32,110 AU $16,640 AU $8,910 ‐
PS5 AU $43,510 AU $22,340 AU $11,760 ‐
PS6 AU $45,790 AU $23,480 AU $12,330 ‐
PV5 AU $48,070 AU $24,620 AU $12,900 ‐
PV6 AU $48,070 AU $24,620 AU $12,900 ‐
GD6 AU $52,850 AU $27,010 AU $14,090 ‐
Cruise Itinerary
Date Port Arrive Depart
19 Mar 2026 Durban, South Africa 6:00 PM
20 Mar 2026 At Sea    
21 Mar 2026 East London, South Africa 7:00 AM 6:30 PM
22 Mar 2026 Port Elizabeth South Africa 7:00 AM 11:00 PM
23 Mar 2026 Port Elizabeth South Africa 7:00 AM 6:30 PM
24 Mar 2026 At Sea    
25 Mar 2026 Cape Town, South Africa 6:30 AM 11:00 PM
26 Mar 2026 Cape Town, South Africa 7:00 AM 2:30 PM
27 Mar 2026 At Sea    
28 Mar 2026 Luderitz, Namibia 6:30 AM 11:30 AM
29 Mar 2026 Walvis Bay, Namibia 9:00 AM
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

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