Swan Hellenic is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore Africa’s entire Western coastline in a seamless journey ending in Lisbon.
*All details correct at time of publish (17 September 2025)
Each expedition has been meticulously curated and is available at unique prices, with significant savings for guests who book multiple cruises.
Africa’s remarkable beauty is finally getting the recognition it deserves, welcoming over 74 million tourists in 2024, according to the UN Tourism Barometer.
With a rise in demand for adventurous and sustainable holidays, Africa’s protected landscapes, pristine beaches, and home to coastal elephants and untouched wilderness, provide an affordable yet luxurious escape for travellers looking for an unforgettable experience.
Adventure awaits guests who get up close to nature and engage with renowned experts and experienced guides with lectures and presentations to lead them on extraordinary journeys of discovery, with Swan Hellenic.
Patrizia Iantorno, Chief Commercial Officer of Swan Hellenic, says: “We’re proud and delighted that our expert-designed African cultural expedition cruises have met with such an enthusiastic response. Combining in-depth encounters with pristine nature, extraordinary wildlife and unique cultures, they each offer exceptional experiences.”
Aboard the SH Diana, a purpose-built luxury ship featuring a state-of-the-art gym, panoramic sauna, club room, swimming pool and three dining venues overlooking the on-board tender boats that will ferry them ashore for African adventures.
Accommodating up to 192 guests in 96 staterooms and suites with large, private balconies, the SH Diana offers luxury both during each of these journeys and at every destination.
Departing from Cape Town on 25 March 2026, the 11-night Cruising in Namibia: the Skeleton Coast voyage takes guests north up Namibia’s historic coastline, before arriving in Angola’s vibrant capital, Luanda.
Guests will discover Walvis Bay’s wetlands, where flocks of flamingos gather and Cape fur seals, found nowhere else on the planet, laze along the shores.
Sail past Angola’s hauntingly beautiful Ilha Baia de los Tigres, named for the striped patterns in its golden sands.
Travellers can also opt for a wine tasting at Stellenbosch’s vineyards, South Africa’s premier wine-producing area, or choose to embark on a 4×4 desert expedition at the cruise’s destinations.
This 11-night cruise expedition along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast is priced from £7,975 pp, based on two sharing a state room.
This includes international charter flights, group return transfers, one night’s accommodation in a 4-5* hotel before the cruise departs, all meals onboard, lecture programmes, and one selected shore excursion per port of call.
Continuing North on its course to reach Lisbon, guests can join the SH Diana in Senegal to discover Africa’s leading tourist destination in Morocco, marvelling at North Africa’s rich tapestry of cultural influences.
Departing from Dakar’s medina on 1 May 2026, this seven-night expedition includes stops in Mauritania’s cultural hubs of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, home to the world’s largest ship graveyard, with over 300 rusting vessels stranded in its bay.
Throughout these stops, guests can take in views of the Sahara Desert from both the ocean and the shore. A stop in Arrecife, Lanzarote, gives travellers the chance to photograph its vast landscape of volcanoes, craters and lava fields while driving through Timanfaya National Park.
After a few days at sea, guests can wander the historic streets of Safi, a former Portuguese port city renowned for its local pottery, crafted in the coastal city’s hillsides.
After docking at its infamous port, travellers can discover the French colonial legacy in Casablanca’s architecture which blends Moorish styles with European Art Deco flair.
Each stop on this luxury cruise offers unique and unforgettable experiences, from soaking in the continent’s breathtaking landscapes to discovering the diverse cultures along this African coastline.
This seven-night stay aboard SH Diana from Senegal to Morocco is priced from £4,725 pp, based on two sharing a state room.
This includes international charter flights, group return transfers, one night’s accommodation in a 4-5* hotel before the cruise departs, all meals onboard, lecture programmes, and one selected shore excursion per port of call.
A unique 51-night Grand Voyage combining all five northbound cruises sailing up the West Coast of Africa from Cape Town to Lisbon is also available, priced from £42,999 pp in a balcony stateroom, based on two sharing on an all-inclusive basis.
Main stops include Luanda, Accra, Dakar, Casablanca, and Lisbon, along with several other ports on each cruise.
In Autumn 2026, guests can embark on a 13-night West Africa Cruise from Ghana to Angola, departing on 29 September 2026, priced from £1,0375 pp, based on two sharing a state room.
This includes international charter flights, group return transfers, one night’s accommodation in a 4-5* hotel before the cruise departs, all meals onboard, lecture programmes, and one selected shore excursion per port of call.
Guests can also explore the African coast all autumn long with southbound cruises departing from Lisbon on 7 September 2026, reaching Dakar before arriving in Accra.
This 35-night experience is priced at £23,664 pp based on two sharing an Ocean-view stateroom on an all-inclusive basis. This trio of cruises includes stops in Mauritania, Madeira, Dakhla, the Bijagós Islands, Elmina and Congo.
For more information about Swan Hellenic, please visit www.swanhellenic.com or call 0207 846 0271
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