Eastern Madagascar & Mozambique

A dynamic coastal metropolis, Mombasa draws you in with its rich history and beguiling blend of cultures. For centuries, Arabs, Portuguese, Asians and British settlers have lived side by side in the enchanting old town, whose buildings meld African, European and African styles. Perched above the sea, Fort Jesus was built by the Portuguese in the 1590s to protect the city, while the bustling spice market is packed with fragrant stalls selling pepper, ginger and cardamom.

You can spend your day at sea enjoying the many facilities available. Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the jacuzzi whilst taking in incredible views along the way. If you prefer to learn a little more about your surroundings, listen to an informative talk or have a chat with one of our knowledgeable on-board experts.

Comprising 13 islands around a lagoon, this massive raised coral atoll is home to the world’s largest tortoise colony. More than 100,000 lumbering giant tortoises inch their way around the isolated archipelago’s protected landscape, which features hundreds of flowering plant and fern species. You might be lucky enough to spot swooping Aldabra drongos - endemic to the islands - or wading pink flamingos. Look out too for scavenging white-throated rails, the only flightless bird remaining in the Indian Ocean.

Lying north of Madagascar, the remote Glorieuses (Glorioso Islands) are a protected nature reserve and sanctuary for an extraordinary array of marine life. This low-lying French archipelago encompasses two islands, Grande Glorieuse and tiny Île du Lys, as well as a scattering of craggy islets forming part of a coral bank. Look out for pods of dolphins or surfacing beaked whales in the ocean surrounding the islands, and keep your eyes peeled for green turtles foraging in seagrass beds.

Sandy swimming beaches, biodiverse jungle and vividly blue crater lakes are among the highlights of this verdant island off Madagascar’s northern coast. After exploring the French colonial buildings in the port of Hell-Ville, head to nearby Lokobe Reserve, accessed via guided pirogue canoe. Black lemurs clamber up the park’s centuries-old trees, and you might also catch a glimpse of a vibrantly hued panther chameleon, which typically grow to around a foot and a half long.

The lively northern port of Mahajana (Majunga) is known for its charming French colonial and Arabian architecture as well as a broad seafront promenade lined with coconut palms. Be sure to look for the gigantic landmark baobab tree towering near the water. Long sandy beaches stretch north towards Cirque Rouge, a remarkable natural amphitheatre whose crumbling rocks are a blend of red, ochre and pale pink. The colours are at their most dramatic at sunset.

You can spend your day at sea enjoying the many facilities available. Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the jacuzzi whilst taking in incredible views along the way. If you prefer to learn a little more about your surroundings, listen to an informative talk or have a chat with one of our knowledgeable on-board experts.

The relaxed west coast town of Morondava is the gateway to the iconic Avenue of the Baobabs. Lining a bumpy track, this striking grove of centuries-old giants - often nicknamed upside-down trees - is especially popular at sunset, when the trunks cast long shadows on the ground, creating spectacular photo effects. To the south, Kirindy Mitea National Park is a protected coastal reserve home to several species of lemur along with the rare fossa, a close relation of the mongoose.

Mangroves, beaches and an offshore coral reef surround Toliara (Tuléar), near the mouth of the Onilahy River. Just southeast of the city, you can explore the Arboretum d’Anstokay, created by a Swiss botanist in 1980 amid a swathe of spiny forest. Garden guides lead you past more than 900 mostly endemic plant species, and you might spy flitting butterflies or lemurs tucked into branches. Within the port, there’s also a fascinating small museum dedicated to local marine life.

You can spend your day at sea enjoying the many facilities available. Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the jacuzzi whilst taking in incredible views along the way. If you prefer to learn a little more about your surroundings, listen to an informative talk or have a chat with one of our knowledgeable on-board experts.

Mozambique’s capital city has an intriguing mix of Portuguese colonial and Soviet-style buildings on broad boulevards lined with jacaranda and palm trees. Architectural standouts include the early-20th-century domed railway station, painted in green and white, and the Smiling Lion, a distinctive post-modernist apartment block designed by Pancho Guedes. Exploring Maputo is also simply about wandering the historic district of Baixa and taking in the vibrant street scene of bustling pavement cafes, live music and busy markets.