DESTINATION FOCUS
HOW TO CRUISE-AND-SAFARI
Here is a representative sample of 2011 cruises that either embark or disembark in South Africa and provide an opportunity for an extended pre or post-cruise tour.
Crystal Cruises | Serenity Mumbai to Cape Town, Mar 29-Apr 17 Ports of Call: Marmagao, Male, Port Louis, St-Denis Reunion, Durban, Port Elizabeth. Cape Town to London, Apr 17-May 8 Ports of Call: Namibia, Bom Bom Island, Lome, Takoradi, Dakar, Lisbon.
Oceania Cruises | Nautica Dubai to Cape Town, Nov 22-Dec 22 Ports of Call: Fujairah, Muscat, Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore, Cochin, Male, Mahe, Prasline, Nosy Be, Port Louis, Pointe des Galets, Richards Bay, Durban.
P & O | Artemis Cape Town to London, Mar 26-Apr 12 Ports of Call: Namibia, Sao Vincente, Cape Verde, Tenerife, Funchal, Madeira.
Silversea | Silver Wind Port Louis to Cape Town, Feb 10-20 Ports of Call: Tulear, Richards Bay, Durban, Port Elizabeth. Cape Town to Cape Town, Feb 20-Mar 2, Mar 2-12 Ports of Call: East London, Maputo, Richards Bay, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay.
either yawning or dozing on their backs, and followed that up with sitting among a herd of giraffes. Their distinctive walk- ing style, gracefully moving both legs on the same side, is breathtaking. We also learned their tongues are blue and can extend up to 20 inches, while they sleep standing up.
f you’re wondering how we were able to get within feet of all these wild animals, the answer is they’re actually accustomed to human onlookers or, more accurately, onlookers in vehicles, and basically consider them one big, non- confrontational animal. If even one person stands up, the animal will consider that an invitation to charge.
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In between safaris, we enjoyed hearty home-cooked breakfasts, lunches, after- noon teas and dinners in front of crackling fires, along with some truly fabulous spa
treatments, cozy afternoon naps and one great ranger-guided walkabout that got us a bird’s eye views of a hippo and croco- dile enjoying themselves in a nearby lake, while an elephant cautiously took a cool dip on the other side.
Last Resort On our way back to Johannesburg, we decided to have one last hurrah by book- ing a night at the Saxon, which is less than an hour’s drive from the airport. Originally built as a private home, Nelson Man- dela lived here for six months after being released from prison and it’s where he finished his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. From the moment we drove up, it was one of the best hotel experiences I have ever had. From the butlers to the amazingly sumptuous spa to the lavish buf- fet breakfast, there wasn’t a moment where we didn’t feel superbly coddled.
100 WORLD OF CRUISING I Winter 2010 / 2011
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