The boutique luxury cruise line Swan Hellenic has announced that two of its six African itineraries for 2024 are already sold out, with the remaining cruises, including voyages to and from Cape Town, selling fast.

Swan Hellenic will be operating six expeditionary voyages around the African coast next year, including a Cape Town departure to Antarctica, a voyage from Cape Town up the West Coast of Africa, and a Maputo departure down the Wild Coast of South Africa. 

Swan Hellenic says four of these cruises will be operated as cultural expedition voyages between March and May 2024. 

“We’re proud and delighted that these expert-designed African cultural expedition cruises have met with such an enthusiastic response,” said Patrizia Iantorno, chief commercial officer of Swan Hellenic. 

”Combining in-depth encounters with pristine nature, extraordinary wildlife and unique cultures, they each offer exceptional experiences and two already have limited availability,” she added. “So anyone inspired to join us, please book without delay to avoid disappointment”.

The first cruise in the 2024 Africa series is the 13-night Coastal Treasures of Southwest Africa, which departs Cape Town on March 25th, and calls in Luderitz and Walvis Bay in Namibia, as well as Namibe and Luanda in Angola.

The 13-night Unspoilt Wilds of Southwest Africa cruise then sails from Luanda for Tema on April 4th and visits seven countries, followed by the 13-night Crucibles of West Africa, which leaves Tema for Dakar on April 17th. 

Pristine Islands of West Africa concludes the series to focus exclusively on the Bijagos Islands, departing from Dakar on April 30th for an 8-night exploration.

All four of these cruises are sailed aboard SH Vega, named after the first ship to cross the Northwest Passage. The ship is just 113-metres and carries 158 guests.

In addition to these four cultural expedition cruises, Swan Hellenic will also be sailing a cruise to Cape Town aboard SH Vega departing Ushuaia in Argentina on March 4th, 2024.

This South Atlantic Semi-Circumnavigation crosses the infamous Drake Passage for the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands, giving passengers the chance to see Adelie penguins and snow petrels on the South Orkneys and encounter the world’s largest macaroni penguin population on South Georgia. 

There’ll also be a chance to observe some of the world’s rarest animals on Gough Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha, before ending the trip in Cape Town.

For those looking for a shorter voyage closer to home, there’s also an Extraordinary South Africa itinerary from Maputo to Cape Town. The 7-night cruise aboard SH Diana departs Maputo on November 6th, 2024 and calls in Richard’s Bay, Durban, Port Elizabeth, and Mossel Bay before arriving in Cape Town.

Swan Hellenic says the voyage is part of its Explore & Restore program developed in partnership with Chopra, a leading integrative health company founded by world-renowned pioneer Dr. Deepak Chopra.

Between safaris, swimming, sandy beaches, destination-inspired cuisine and informative lectures and cultural enrichment activities, passengers will be able to take part in transformative activities onboard, including sunset yoga sessions, daily meditation close to nature, and exclusive, expert-led workshops.