SmallShips.travel - MS Hanseatic | Cape Town-Mauritius Nov 19 2012

Intensive Encounters in the Wild - Cape Town to Mauritius
MS Hanseatic - November 20 - December 3, 2012

5% early booking discount if booked before April 23, 2012!

Far-reaching nature reserves, rainforests and dream beaches.... This expedition takes you from the sun-kissed coast of South Africa to exciting encounters with the Big Five in their natural habitat. The exotic beauty of the islands in the Indian Ocean is also bound to enchant you.

Date	Destination
20-Nov-2012	Embarkation in Cape Town/South Africa, departure 24.00 hrs
21-Nov-2012	Hermanus/South Africa, from 7.00 to 14.00 hrs
22-Nov-2012	Mossel Bay/South Africa, from 7.00 to 13.00 hrs
23-Nov-2012	Port Elizabeth/South Africa, from 5.00 to 18.00 hrs
24-Nov-2012	Relaxation at sea
25-Nov-2012	Durban/South Africa, from 7.00 to 22.00 hrs
26-Nov-2012	Richard's Bay/South Africa, arrival 5.00 hrs
27-Nov-2012	Richard's Bay, departure 18.00 hrs
28 Nov - 29 Nov - 2012	Relaxation at sea
30-Nov-2012	Port d'Ehoala (Taolanaro)/Madagascar, from 8.00 to 17.00 hrs
1-Dec-2012	Relaxation at sea
2-Dec-2012	Le Port/Réunion, from 9.00 to 18.00 hrs
3-Dec-2012	Port Louis/Mauritius, arrival 6.00 hrs. Disembarkation.

On the Trails of the Big Five
Your exciting expedition starts with unforgettable views as you leave the port of Cape Town. Enjoy the fascinating sight of the nocturnal sea of lights of the metropolis at the foot of Table Mountain slowly disappearing on the horizon. The little town of Hermanus beckons you into the green mountains of the hinterland for a hike in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve*. Following narrow trails, you will discover the blossoming splendour of heathers, proteas and dried flowers. Another experience not to be missed in this area is the landscape tour with wine tasting*. At the heart of the Garden Route, Mossel Bay will enchant you with its sun-kissed sandy beaches. This was where the Portuguese explorer Bartolomew Diaz landed in 1488 - the first European to circumnavigate the southern tip of Africa. The fifth biggest city of the country, Port Elizabeth, stretches out along 16 kilometres of the coast, with glorious sandy beaches extending as far as the city centre. If you set out for animal observations in the Kariega Game Reserve*, you may with luck have your first unforgettable encounter with the Big Five - elephants, rhinoceroses, buffaloes, lions and leopards share the extensive park with giraffes, wildebeest, antelopes and more than 200 bird species. The Addo Elephant Park* is entirely dedicated to the colossal pachyderms. At the time the park was set up in 1931, the population was almost extinct - but today there are more than 300 elephants living here. A township tour* offers you the opportunity to gain insights into the lives of the local human population. From the coast, you subsequently travel on to the 'roof of South Africa' - starting from Durban, an adventure trip over the Sani Pass* takes you into the mountain scenery of the Drakensberg. Narrow winding roads lead up to the top of the pass on the Lesotho border at a height of 2874 metres, where you will be rewarded with breathtaking views. If you prefer to stay by the sea, the city tour* enables you to experience the style of cosmopolitan Durban - a city of mingled African, European and Indian influences. On an animal observation tour in the Tala Game Reserve*, you can look out for rhinoceroses, hippopotami and giraffes. You will have an even more intense experience of the soul of Africa when you start from Richard's Bay for a two-day visit to the Phinda Game Reserve*, which is one of the most impressive conservation areas of the country. This unspoilt wilderness consists of seven different ecosystems over an area of 15,000 hectares - a perfect habitat for the African animal kingdom. If you have not yet spotted all of the Big Five, this gives you another chance. A visit to the Zulu Village of Kwabhekithunga* will move you deeply, introducing you to the proud traditions of this historic tribe. On a trip to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi National Park*, you can go looking for white rhinoceros and the rare black variety, and with luck you may also see leopards, lions and zebras. The boat trip across St. Lucia Lake*, on the other hand, offers impressive encounters with hippopotami and crocodiles - a suitably climactic conclusion to a plethora of intensive animal observations.

Pearls in the Indian Ocean
On Madagascar you can immerse yourself in an indescribable flora and fauna. Starting from Port d'Ehoala, a hike in the Andohahela National Park* takes you right to the heart of the fascinating plant world. Maybe you will also catch a glimpse of the graceful lemurs that live here. Young baobabs and Madagascar's national tree, the Ravenala palm (also known as the 'traveller's tree'), are to be admired on a walk in Nahampoana Park*. Alternatively, a boat trip to the fishing village of Evatraha* gives you the opportunity to enjoy the fantastic landscape and gain insights into the day-to-day life of the fishermen. Without any doubt, the closest to paradise you will get in France is the tropical volcanic island of Réunion. When the green coastline of this French overseas region appears on the horizon, it promises tropical forests, precipitous volcanic slopes, brilliantly coloured and sweet-scented hibiscus and frangipani blossoms and fabulous white beaches. Starting from Le Port, a helicopter flight* reveals spectacular views of this paradise and of the extinct volcano Piton des Neiges, which is 3069 m high. As an optional extra, you can look forward to experiencing another superlative, the most active volcano on Earth - on the landscape tour to the Piton de la Fournaise Volcano*. On the excursion Salazie and the Bridal Veil Waterfalls*, the staggering scenery of the greenest valley bottom of the island gives you much to marvel at before this unique expedition draws to a close.

* These arrangements are not included in the cruise price. The
shore activities listed here are in the planning stage and are subject to changes.

On this expedition the landings on Cape Verde are subject to official permission, and a change of itinerary may be necessary.

5% early booking discount if booked before April 23, 2012! ²

Category	Cabin type	Price per person in € * includes airfare - see below for details◊	Cruise Only Fares in USD²
1	Two-berth, outside, guaranteed cabin	7,378 €	$6,748
2	Two-berth, outside	7,828 €	$7,288
2	Two-berth, outside, single occ.	10,328 €	$10,288
3	Two-berth, outside	8,698 €	$8,332
4	Two-berth, outside	8,998 €	$8,692
4	Two-berth, outside, single occ.	12,078 €	$12,388
5	Two-berth, outside	9,288 €	$9,040
6	Two-berth, outside¹	10,168 €	$100,90
7	Two-berth suite, outside¹	13,808 €	$14,464
8	Extra bed in cat. 3	6,068 €	$5,176
-	Without travel arrangements from cruise arrival point	- 755 €	not applicable
-	Without travel arrangements from cruise arrival point	- 1,000 €	not applicable

¹ Categories 6 and 7 include butler service
² If you book your cruise 210 days (approx. 7 months) or earlier prior to departure, you will receive an early booking discount of 5% on the cruise-only price (catalogue price minus surcharge for travel arrangements to cruise departure point and from cruise arrival point)
³ United States Dollar prices are based on the current Euro to Dollar exchange rate as of January 9,2012 and are subject to change. These rates do not include airfare.

See lions in their natural habitat aboard the Hanseatic