Delightful Dakar

Take in the sights and sounds of Senegal's sunny capital

Your West African adventure begins in Dakar, a captivating and colourful city. The winding maze of the Medina, bustling Marché Tilène and the imposing Grand Mosque are all sights you'll want to see.

If you want to explore more before your expedition cruise, optional Pre-Programmes are available, with excursions to UNESCO site Gorée Island, and Bandia Animal Reserve on an open vehicle safari through the African savanna.

MS Spitsbergen will be waiting for you close to Dakar's ferry dock. Take time to settle into your cabin and meet your Expedition Team before we set sail – and don't forget to pick up your complimentary expedition jacket.

Relax at sea

Get set for island adventures

Your expedition cruise heads west to the Cape Verde Islands, around 360 nautical miles. That'll give you plenty of time to get to know your fellow adventurers and your Expedition Team - hand-picked for their expertise on our destinations.  It's also a great time to enjoy the comforts on board your expedition ship – from delicious restaurant dishes or a drink in the Explorer Bar to relaxing in the panoramic sauna and the hot tubs up on deck.

To learn more about what's ahead, join us for fascinating lectures in the Science Center, and get tips from our professional photographer as you watch for marine life and sea birds.

Santiago in Cape Verde

Vibrant Praia bursts with African and European influences

Santiago embodies the spirit of the Cape Verde archipelago. There’s a little of everything – historical sites, bustling markets, lush valleys and craggy mountains. African culture is everywhere. Music follows wherever you go, from the Presidential Palace in Praia’s main square to the sandy beaches, and out to Maria Pia lighthouse. You can explore the area’s history in the museums and buildings around the Plateau, displaying a literal treasure trove of artefacts recovered from the islands’ shipwrecks. And visit the first European city established in the tropics: UNESCO-protected Cidade Velha.

Fogo's active volcano

A fascinating landscape of lava, craters and calderas

Today's expedition day takes you to Fogo – an island dominated by a conical-shaped active volcano. Centuries of eruptions – the last in 2014 – have left an incredible landscape for us to explore.

You might stroll São Filipe’s cobbled streets, the historic centre of Meia Laranja and more. Or join our optional excursion to the incredibly beautiful lava fields of Chã das Caldeiras. It's a challenging hike but worth it for the views.

With no natural harbours, we'll only land if conditions allow us to launch our smaller expedition boats. If not, we’ll take in the spectacular volcanic scenery on a cruise around the island.

A mountain paradise

Discover this island wilderness on a nature drive

Too inhospitable for agriculture, Santo Antão's peaks, gorges and canyons remain untouched. This wilderness sanctuary is a paradise for hikers and nature lovers.

We’ll land in Porto Novo, the island’s main town, with lovely beaches and spectacular views across to São Vicente. You'll enjoy an included island drive, taking you on a nature tour through the island’s ribeiras – deep, narrow canyons with near vertical walls.

You can also join an optional nature walk to take in the local beauty spots up close. Walk along trails through mango and almond groves, punctuated by the delicious aroma of roasting coffee wafting through the villages.

Birds of Boa Vista

Surrounded by stunning biodiversity

You've now reached the easternmost island of Cape Verde. Ringed by reefs, Boa Vista is a haven for marine life, and its waters attract breeding humpback whales in winter, so keep your eyes peeled. It's also a vital layover for many migratory birds and an important nesting site for loggerhead turtles between June and October.

Much of the island itself is dry and sparsely populated. Visit the island’s capital, Sal Rei, where you'll find the church of Santa Isabel with its naïve paintings. The nature reserve of Ponta do Sol is within hiking distance and a great way to take in your surroundings.

A day of discovery at sea

Prepare to experience the Bissagos Islands

We leave Cape Verde as our expedition cruise continues to Guinea-Bissau. As we sail, your Expedition Team will brief you on what lies ahead. You'll hear presentations about the extraordinary biodiversity of this tropical region.

You’ll learn about the culture too, like the matriarchal society of the Bijagos people, and the historical impact of Portuguese exploration and the slave trade.

You can take part in our Citizen Science projects and contribute data to important research. Now might be a good chance to brush up your photography skills with our onboard photographer in readiness for the sights to come.

Bissagos' biodiversity

Stunning ecosystems and wildlife of this UNESCO wonder

Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1996, the remote Bissagos Islands are a wildlife watcher’s paradise. They support turtles, manatees, crocodiles and snakes, plus more than 500 types of bird.

Over the next four days, you'll explore Bissagos' maze of islands and channels. Renowned for their diverse ecosystems, we'll go into mangroves, rainforest, savannah woodlands and coastal lagoons. Our expedition boats will take us down the smaller channels, on shore landings with the Expedition Team, and perhaps out in sea kayaks.

You'll meet and discover more about the local Bijago people – a fiercely independent, matriarchal society organised in clans. Practising a subsistence lifestyle, they hold the natural world sacred, beliefs that have helped protect this area from exploitation.

Local conditions will determine when and where we can land and explore, but whatever we do you can be sure you’ll experience the rich diversity of the archipelago up close.

The Gambia's tiny capital

Explore the past and present history of tiny Banjul

Your West African expedition cruise reaches The Gambia and its tiny capital, Banjul. It may be bijou, but its location at the mouth of the River Gambia made it an important trading hub.

It also played a role in ending the slave trade, as its garrison was used by the British Navy to uphold Abolition Laws. Close by is the birthplace of Kunta Kinte, the protagonist of Alex Haley's famous book, Roots.

This city is easy to explore on foot. The National Museum houses Gambia’s best archaeological and ethnographical collections. Lively Albert Market is a great place to pick a souvenir, so treat yourself before we leave.

Return to Dakar

Explore more of Senegal's bustling port city

We return to Dakar where you'll have another chance to experience this vibrant city, known for its music and arts scene. Independence Square is a great place to start. As you explore, listen out for the many languages of Western Africa, such as Wolof, Pular and Serer. If you missed our Pre-Programme to Gorée Island, you can visit on an optional excursion. This UNESCO site offers an important insight into the slave trade and early European history in Western Africa. Already been? Then why not join our optional panoramic Dakar city tour.

Learn and discover at sea

Spot dolphins and whales as we cruise to the Canaries

As we travel up the west coast to Gran Canaria, you'll have time to relax and reflect on your African island experiences so far. Join the Expedition Team in the Science Center learning about biodiversity, volcanoes and more. Or enjoy the sea air from the on-deck hot tubs.

As warm West African waters mix with the cold Canary Current, nutrients are pushed to the surface attracting an array of marine life. You might spot bottlenose, spinner, striped and Atlantic spotted dolphins. Short-finned pilot whales, humpback and sei whales. Even elusive blue whales are seen in these waters.

Arrival in Las Palmas

Experience the surprising diversity of Gran Canaria

Your West Africa expedition cruise ends in Las Palmas. Aside from miles of sandy beaches and buzzing city life, Gran Canaria offers UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, subtropical valleys, pine forests mountains and dunes. Walkers and hikers can explore 620 miles of marked nature trails.

The island is home to several archaeological sites too. Learn about the Guanches, the original inhabitants of the archipelago, at Museo Canario in Las Palmas.

You can also join our optional Post-Programme for a half-day excursion to the Bandama Crater and Las Palmas city centre to cap off an amazing adventure.