9-night Seychelles & Africa Cruise

Mombasa, also called Gateway to Kenya, is the country’s most historic city and largest port on Africa’s Coral Coast. Today impressive Fort Jesus still dominates the entrance to the old harbor and serves as a museum about Mombasa’s colorful past. The most exotic part of Mombasa is Old Town. Here, narrow alleys lined by mosques and cramped old houses slope down to bustling dhow harbor where pier vendors offer arts and crafts. Local cuisine includes spicy stews and game such as eland, gazelle and impala. One of the best-known restaurants is the Tamarind; it is regarded as the best in East Africa. Old Dhow Harbor is where traditional boats (dhows) load and unload goods from faraway places and nearby islands. Nyali Resort Area is a coastal stretch with white sand beaches and hotels offering resort facilities. Mamba Village is a crocodile farm where more than 10,000 crocodiles live in their natural habitat. Shimba Hills National Reserve is Kenya’s most underrated wildlife refuge.

For many centuries, traders from Europe, India, the Orient and Arabia were lured to these shores. It was from here explorer David Livingstone set off on his last expedition into the heart of the continent. Today, as you walk along the winding streets of the old Stone Town, lined with whitewashed coral rag houses, you can see reminders of this rich history all around you. Visit the Palace museum, former residence of the Omani Sultans, and the cathedral that now stands on the site of the notorious slave market.

Dar es Salaam in east Tanzania is located on an arm of the Indian Ocean. It is the country's largest city and former capital, chief seaport, and principal commercial, manufacturing, and educational centre. Rail links extend inland to Arusha in the north, to Lakes Tanganyika and Victoria, and to Zambia. Dar es Salaam's exports include coffee, sisal, cotton, and copper (from landlocked Zambia). Places of interest include Kariakoo market, the Botanical Gardens, National Central Library and the National Museum of Tanzania which has notable collections dealing with east African ethnography, archaeology, and history.

Mahajanga, also known as Majunga, shows strong Arab and Indian influences, reflecting its importance as a center of maritime trade in Madagascar since the mid-18th century. There are more than a dozen mosques in town and countless Indian- and Pakistani-owned shops. There's also an enormous baobab tree by the sea. The coastline of the city is very pleasant, and the beaches become more beautiful as you move away from the center.

Every year in July the Fanompoa Be is celebrated, washing the royal relics of the Sakalava people, which begins a week of festivities.

Plan two days in the area, which is located 240 mi/385 km northwest of Antananarivo, to visit nearby beaches, the grottoes of Androhibe (about 53 mi/85 km from town) and the Ankarafantsika National Park and Ampijoroa Forestry Reserve (both about 60 mi/95 km from town), which offer opportunities to see lemurs, waterbirds and a breeding center for two threatened species of tortoise.

The holiday resort of Nosy Be has colonial French atmosphere galore. Nearby is the island of Nosy Komba and its free-spirited lemurs.

The white, sandy beaches of Praslin is lined with beautiful palm trees, some reaching 100 feet. Three of the rarest birds in the world are found here: the Seychelles Black Parrot, Blue Pigeon and Bulbul. It is also home to the Coco-de-Mer, a unique and stranger-than-fiction coconut.

La Digue is a delightful island oozing with refreshing old world charm. Transportation by bicycles and ox-carts preserves peace and tranquility. For nature lovers, the gigantic granite boulders or the near extinct Black Paradise Flycatcher is reason enough to explore this fascinating island.

Mahé, being the largest of the Seychelles islands, beckons with Creole restaurants, craft shops and art galleries. The nearby waters surrounding Mahé are perfect for swimming, body surfing and snorkeling.

Mahé, being the largest of the Seychelles islands, beckons with Creole restaurants, craft shops and art galleries. The nearby waters surrounding Mahé are perfect for swimming, body surfing and snorkeling.