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From the Imperial Cities of Morocco to the Gold & Ivory Coasts: Exploring West Africas Cultural & Natural Treasures

The Africa that most travelers know is the “safari”, most probably in East Africa. This voyage is far from those expectations.

We are excited to show you something very different, and marvelous, that will change your expectations of an African vacation, as we sail on this extremely unusual itinerary from the Imperial Cities of the Al-Maghrib to the Gold and Ivory Coasts, from Morocco to Ghana.

On this voyage, we will go further than an admiration of natural wonders— which include the windswept Atlas Mountains, the immense plateaus and serene oases of the Sahara, and the dense, bird-thronged rain forests of The Gambia and Ghana. Throughout our journey, we will be talking with the people who are at the heart of the culture, from Berbers in their mountain-gorge villages and traditional artisans in their workshops to members of non-governmental agencies as well as government officials. Our journey begins in the medinas, amid the souks and minarets of historic Moroccan cities and towns. We will also travel into the Sahara, and discover an oasis amid the rippling dunes. In exotic Dakar, we will catch the colors of the arts and markets, then delve into the rain forests of The Gambia, with their remarkable biodiversity.

We will also have the very rare opportunity to explore Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Monrovia, Liberia—two cities and nations that have made remarkable progress in the last few years. We conclude with three days in Ghana, an extraordinarily vibrant country with vast nature reserves—where monkeys, elephants, birds, and antelopes abound—and Accra, one of the most exciting and artistic cities in Africa.

Aboard the elegant, 114-guest, all-suite Corinthian II, we will be joined by Dr. Deborah Mack, Dr. Donald Wright, and Prof. Alexander Murphy, who will provide their expertise on our destinations, as well as their fascinating insights for a complete experience of Africa—the beauty, the history, and the culture. Whether you are a first-time traveler to Africa, or an experienced traveler looking beyond the “safari”, this will be an incredible experience to treasure for a lifetime.
We hope you can join us.

Book early to receive a price reduction of $1,000.
Call 1-800-257-5767 for details.

Itinerary

Tuesday, November 30, 2010 • FLY FROM USA

Wednesday, December 1 • CASABLANCA, Morocco | EMBARK

Thursday, December 2 • CASABLANCA | RABAT

Friday, December 3 • SAFI | MARRAKECH | SAFI

Saturday, December 4 • AGADIR | TAROUDANT or IMOUZZER | AGADIR

Sunday, December 5 • ARRECIFE, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain

Monday, December 6 • LAAYOUNE, Western Sahara

Tuesday, December 7 • DAKHLA

Wednesday, December 8 • AT SEA

Thursday, December 9 & Friday, December 10 • DAKAR, Senegal

Saturday, December 11 • BANJUL, The Gambia | ABUKO NATURE RESERVE | MAKASUTU CULTURE FOREST | BANJUL

Sunday, December 12 • AT SEA

Monday, December 13 • FREETOWN, Sierra Leone

Tuesday, December 14 • MONROVIA, Liberia

Wednesday, December 15 • AT SEA

Thursday, December 16 • TAKORADI, Ghana | KAKUM NATIONAL PARK | TAKORADI

Friday, December 17 • TAKORADI | THE CASTLE COAST

Saturday, December 18 • TEMA | ACCRA | TEMA

Sunday, December 19 • TEMA | DISEMBARK | ACCRA | FLY TO USA

View Detailed Itinerary

Dr. Deborah L. Mack has made a career of interpreting to a general audience the history and culture of Africa and its heritage in the Americas.  She has taught anthropology and African studies; worked in museum collections, film production, and anthropological research; and developed, led, and lectured for educational tours in the United States and Africa.  Dr. Mack is one of the original five scholars appointed by the Smithsonian Institution to an advisory committee for the National Museum of African American History and Culture.  And her work over more than 20 years includes directing the installation of Chicago’s Field Museum’s permanent exhibit, Africa.  An engaging speaker, Dr. Mack has much to share with you about the societies of West Africa and about how their rich diversity continues to influence a wide range of aspects of life in America.
November 30 – December 19, 2011

Dr. Donald Wright has devoted his professional life to the study of African and African-American history.  Distinguished Teaching Professor of History, Emeritus, at the State University of New York, Cortland, his wide ranging knowledge and interests are represented in his contributions on West Africa in The Atlantic World: A History (2007).  But the heart of Don’s research and teaching is The Gambia and Senegal.  He has written widely on their traditions, customs, and pre-colonial history, and he has also examined their relations to the wider world, especially in The World and a Very Small Place in Africa: A History of Globalization in Niumi, The Gambia, now in its third edition.  Don’s research and travel in Africa has been sponsored by Fulbright-Hays and the National Endowment for the Humanities; and he was honored in 2003 as a Scholar-in-Residence at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Study Center in Bellagio, Italy.  He lives with his wife Doris in Homer, New York.
November 30 – December 19, 2011

Please note that the rate for the March 16th departure is $500 more per person in each category as the voyage is 2 days longer.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: A limited number of cabins have been designated for single travelers in Categories C - A at a supplement of $2,495 to the per person, double occupancy rates indicated above. Singles in Categories AA - PHS are available at double the per person, double occupancy rates.

AIRFARE: Airfare is not included in the cost of the program. Please call the Air Travel Desk at toll-free 877-711-9896 or 212-592-1340 to make your reservations, or see your travel agent.

Corinthian II Deck Plan

PROGRAM INCLUSIONS

• 18-night cruise aboard the all-suite, 114-guest Corinthian II
• Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard ship
• All meals aboard ship, including house wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
• Open bar aboard ship throughout the cruise
• Complete program of tours and excursions
• Educational program of lectures and discussions by accompanying guest lecturers
• Professional Travel Dynamics International tour staff
• Complete pre-departure materials
• Baggage handling and transfers abroad on the designated program arrival and departure dates
• Port and embarkation taxes
• Gratuities to porters, guides, and drivers

Tuesday, November 30, 2010
FLY FROM USA

Wednesday, December 1
CASABLANCA, Morocco | EMBARK
Arrive in cosmopolitan Casablanca. Embark Corinthian II and spend the night aboard ship, docked in port. 

Thursday, December 2
CASABLANCA | RABAT
From Casablanca drive to Rabat, Morocco’s elegant capital, to explore its main sites, including the medina. Within the medina are colorful souks, the Kasbah des Oudaias, the evocative quarter of the old Almohad, the Chellah Citadel, and Merenid and Andalusian towns. Sail in the evening.

Friday, December 3
SAFI | MARRAKECH | SAFI
From Safi, drive to fabled Marrakech, one of Morocco’s four Imperial Capitals, founded in the 11th century and set among gardens and palm groves. Our exploration includes the 12th-century Koutoubia Minaret, the Bahia Palace, the Ben Youssef Medressa, the Jewish Quarter, and Djemaa el-Fna, the city’s central square at the heart of the medina.

Saturday, December 4
AGADIR | TAROUDANT or IMOUZZER | AGADIR
Built around a sweeping bay, Agadir was first colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century and was captured by the Saadians in the 1500s. Drive through the fertile Souss Valley to reach the imperial city of Taroudannt, once the capital of the Saadian dynasty and now famous for its stately red ocher ramparts. Ascend the city walls and walk through the city’s medina, including the souks around Assarag and Tamaklotte Squares. Alternatively, visit Imouzzer des Ida Oudatane, an extremely scenic area of the Atlas Mountains. The surrounding valleys harbor several Berber villages, nestled deep in picturesque gorges.

Sunday, December 5
ARRECIFE, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
One of the seven islands of the Canary Archipelago, Lanzarote is home to the National Park of Timanfaya, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve whose landscape has been shaped by volcanic activity and which is renowned for its distinctive plant species. En route, pass villages of red-tiled houses that exist in bright contrast to the ash-covered mountains.

Monday, December 6
LAAYOUNE, Western Sahara
From the port of El Marsa, drive inland across Saharan dunes to reach Laayoune, the main city in Morocco’s Western Sahara. Explore the Spanish-Saharan architecture of the city’s old district, the Museum of Traditional Arts, and the Artisans Center’s craft workshops. After visiting a nearby oasis, where you will enjoy an elaborate Saharan tea show, end the day with a drive in the dunes.

Tuesday, December 7
DAKHLA
Dakhla is the southernmost town of Western Sahara, located on a long peninsula jutting into the Atlantic. Whitewashed houses characterize this easygoing and friendly town. Discover the city and then drive north through the scenic peninsula, which is flanked on one side by the Atlantic and by a tranquil bay on the other.

Wednesday, December 8
AT SEA

Thursday, December 9 & Friday, December 10
DAKAR, Senegal
Senegal’s beautiful capital city, Dakar, with its strong French influence, is also a center of African arts and culture. Experience both at the Museum of African Art, one of the continent’s best, and the artisan market. A short ferry ride brings you to Gorée, a UNESCO-protected island, with narrow alleyways and characteristic pastel mansions.

Saturday, December 11
BANJUL, The Gambia | ABUKO NATURE RESERVE | MAKASUTU CULTURE FOREST | BANJUL
Founded by the British early in the 19th century, Banjul is the capital and commercial center of The Gambia. Drive to the Abuko Nature Reserve, one of the last surviving examples of tropical riverine forests in the country. Within its confines are about 300 species of birds, as well as red colobus and callithrix monkeys. Continue on to the Makasutu Culture Forest, a private nature habitat with beautiful woodland and waterways.

Sunday, December 12
AT SEA

Monday, December 13
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone
With its lush forests, nature reserves, and white-sand beaches, Sierra Leone is one of West Africa’s most attractive destinations. Explore Freetown, the country’s capital, including the Sierra Leone Museum, St. George’s Cathedral (1828), and the city’s colorful markets. Also visit the picturesque Regent Village, with its early 19th-century Krio-style houses tucked into the lush hills above the city.

Tuesday, December 14
MONROVIA, Liberia
Inhabited at least since the 12th century, the Republic of Liberia was founded in 1847 by African-Americans. Elected as president in 2005, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, an American-educated economist, is Africa’s first female head of state. Explore Monrovia, named after U.S. President James Monroe and built on a hilly peninsula between a river and the sea, including the National Museum, displaying masks (for which Liberia is famed) and other artifacts; and the Waterside Market, where colorful textiles and other objects are sold. Also, meet with government officials and learn about the country’s recent history and development plans.

Wednesday, December 15
AT SEA

Thursday, December 16
TAKORADI, Ghana | KAKUM NATIONAL PARK | TAKORADI
From Ghana’s Takoradi, travel to Kakum National Park, one of the most extensive rain forest habitats in Ghana and home to a variety of flora and fauna. Kakum’s highlight is the 1,000-foot aerial walkway through the rain forest canopy, 100 feet above the forest floor. Overnight aboard ship in Takoradi.

Friday, December 17
TAKORADI | THE CASTLE COAST
The stretch of coastline around Takoradi is known as the “Castle Coast” for the string of imposing forts built by various European powers, starting in the 15th century, to protect their commercial interests. Explore the two most important forts, Cape Coast Castle and St. George Castle, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Built by the Swedish in 1653, Cape Coast Castle was later captured by the British, who held it for 200 years. St. George’s Castle, in the picturesque small town of Elmina, was constructed in 1482 by the Portuguese and is the oldest European structure still standing in sub-Saharan Africa.

Saturday, December 18
TEMA | ACCRA | TEMA
Arrive in Tema, the port of Accra, Ghana’s capital and a city that vibrates with energy and an air of excitement and industry. Visit the excellent crafts market, which showcases the best of local artisans throughout the region, as well as the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography. Return to Corinthian II to spend the night aboard ship, docked in Tema.

Sunday, December 19
TEMA | DISEMBARK | ACCRA | FLY TO USA

The March 16 departure operates in the reverse direction, from Accra to Seville. As this voyage is 2 days longer, the rate has been increased by $500.