Hurtigruten Expeditions is adding West Coast Africa and two archipelagos - Cape Verde and Bissagos, to its list of new destinations.
The 13-day itinerary visits 4 countries (Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Senegal) with the ship MS Spitsbergen homeported in Dakar Senegal - one of Africa's largest cities.
The company's expansion follows a recent announcement of year-round voyages in the Galapagos Islands starting early 2022. Besides the first-ever African cruises, Hurtigruten will also launch a series of itineraries visiting the Canary Islands (Spain) and Madeira (Portugal) for season 2022-2023.
Hurtigruten’s first-ever African voyage is currently scheduled to depart on November 27, 2022, and will be the first in a series of expeditions to call at Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau's Bissagos Islands. The Bissagos archipelago is offering travelers a combination of diverse landscapes and distinctive wildlife as they enjoy 4 days exploring the 88-island archipelago, home to dolphins, crocodiles, hippos, sea turtles, manatees, and 500+ species of birds.
In Cape Verde are visited the islands Santiago (Praia), Fogo (Sao Filipe), Santo Antao (Porto Novo), Boa Vista (Sal Rei). Hurtigruten’s itineraries spend 4 full days in the archipelago. The 10 rugged volcanic islands make up the country boast a blend of Portuguese and African influences. Besides palatial mansions, old forts, and colonial churches in many of the cities spread out across the archipelago, the isles also feature a wealth of migratory and endemic species of birds. Other wildlife includes dolphins, whales, and sea turtles.
The itinerary includes a day in Gambia's capital Banjul. All voyages from Dakar include land-based adventures. Before departure, passengers can explore the island of Goree, where they’ll experience colonial houses, palm trees, baobabs and immerse in the history of the former slave island. A tour of Dakar is offered on disembarkation day.
The new African cruises of the Hurtigruten Expedition are scheduled to depart Dakar on November 27, December 9 & 21, 2022, and January 2 & 14, 2023.
While the Canary Islands and Madeira are popular tourist destinations among Europeans, Hurtigruten cruises will show a different side of the islands, focusing on national parks, cultural walking tours, and great hiking. The five 10-day sailings to the Canary Islands and Madeira are in November 2022 and January-March 2023.