the bijagos archipelago and cape verde - with nat geo

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THE BIJAGOS ARCHIPELAGO AND CAPE VERDE - WITH NAT GEO

In partnership with National Geographic Expeditions.

Board Le Dumont-d’Urville for a fabulous expedition cruisebetween Praia and Dakar. This brand-new 12-day adventure willenable you to discover two exceptional archipelagos includingwild nature, cultural heritage and encounters with the localpopulations.

In Cape Verde, you will call at the island of São Nicolau, whichwill delight you with its pristine mountain landscapes, itspicturesque capital, Ribeira Brava, its friendly inhabitants andits lively traditions.

Further west, you will visit Mindelo, the cultural capital of CapeVerde, where the famous morna singer Cesaria Evora was born.

A gigantic volcanic cone emerging from the Ocean, Fogo or“volcano island” is the most unusual in the Cape Verdearchipelago. With scenery of savannah and fields of sugar cane,scattered with peaceful hamlets, Fogo offers you extraordinary panoramas.

The second part of your cruise will take place in the Bijagos Islands. Located off the coast of Guinea-Bissau, this archipelago is one of the most preserved and protected on the planet. Classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it is made up of 88 islands, most of which are uninhabited and nestling in the heart of an environment which often remains untouched by humans.

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During your Zodiac® excursions, you will get as close aspossible to nature, between pale-sand beaches, mangrovestretching as far as the eye can see, savannah, palm trees andbaobabs. Please note: your voyage rates include Flight Paris / Praia +transfer

ITINERARY

Day 1 PRAIA

The capital of Cape Verde, Praia, is located on the southern tipof Santiago island. You can dally in the districts planted withTamarind and Albizia trees. . Above the harbour, the statue ofDiogo Gomes pays homage to the man who discovered CapeVerde in 1460. A few streets away, in the old centre, theEthnographic Museum presents the diversity of thearchipelago’s cultural origins. Its historical building with transomwindows is one of the city’s more unusual curiosities.

Day 2 SÃO NICOLAU

Located south-west of São Vicente, the island of São Nicolau isa dramatic sight with steep, richly forested mountains thatreach their peak at ﾠMt Gordo. Near the summit, the islandﾒsattractive capital, Ribeira Brava, nestles in a deep green valley.Not far off, you can hike along the mountain paths of Fajã,where youﾒll see rare and extremely old dragon trees growingnaturally on the high plateaux. Coastal landmarks include theBlue Hole, ﾠpeaceful Tarrafal beach and the picturesque fishingvillage of Preguiça.

Day 3 MINDELO

Set on the shores of the Porto Grande bay on the north-west coast of São Vicente, Mindelo is considered to be Cape Verde's

cultural capital. Here in singer Cesaria Evora's homeland, youcan listen to real morna in the bars of the old town, where youcan also sip the local grog, a Cape Verdian sugarcane spirit. Afew streets from the elegant floating resort of Pont d'água you'llsee the pastel-coloured houses and colonial buildings of thehistorical district. Other landmarks are the facades of the oldGovernor's Palace and the busy municipal market.

Day 4 PORTO NOVO

The coastal town of Porto Novo is located on the south-eastcoast of Santo Antão Island. Near the jetty, colourfully paintedboats lie on the sand and the waterfront boasts beautifulvantage points overlooking the Atlantic and the nearby island ofSão Vicente. In the town centre, built at the foot of steepescarpments, youﾒll discover the low-profile, painted buildingsthat are typical of traditional Cape Verde architecture. And youﾒlldefinitely be tempted to sample one of the many desserts madefrom locally grown fruit, such as a banana tart or pawpaw flan.

Day 5 FOGO

Lying west of Praia, the volcanic island of Fogo is Cape Verde'shighest landmark. The foothills of Pico de Fogo are ideal forhiking, with an immense caldera surrounding the active crater.Trails start at the little town of Chã das Caldeiras and you cansee recent lava flows and older ones sprouting with new growth.Along the rocky coastline you'll come across picturesqueMosteiros and the historic town of São Filipe, where elegantcolonial houses overlook the Atlantic.

Day 6 AT SEA

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on

01432 507 280 (within UK)


the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or aspot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also bean opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed onboard, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet thePONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers ofthe open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck toadmire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be luckyenough to observer marine species. A truly enchanted interlude,combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Day 7 MAIO ISLAND, BIJAGOS

Some 20 kilometres off the coast of west Africa, theBissau-Guinean archipelago of Bissagos is famous for itsabundant biodiversity. The richness of its marine animal andplant life afforded it the status of Biosphere Reserve byUNESCO. Of the 88 islets and islands in the archipelago, only23 are inhabited. At Maio, still called Chediã, you can meet theBissagos people and get to know their ancestral ways andcustoms. In this region, cut off from the rest of the world andsecluded from Western influences, youﾒll discover how localsreally live.

Day 8 CARAVELA ISLAND, BIJAGOS

Off the west African coast of Guinea-Bissau, the Bissagosarchipelago rolls out its 88 islands and islets of black rock andwhite sand in the heart of the Atlantic. Declared a BiosphereReserve by UNESCO in 1996, this string of islets hasexceptionally rich land and sea fauna. In the heart of luxuriantnature, you'll enjoy Caravela Island's wild charm and its Bijagoinhabitants, fascinating men and women who have adapted toand melted in with their natural environment.

Day 9 CARACHE ISLAND, BIJAGOS

Off the west African coast of Guinea-Bissau, the Bissagosarchipelago rolls out its 88 islands and islets of black rock andwhite sand in the heart of the Atlantic. Declared a BiosphereReserve by UNESCO in 1996, this string of islets hasexceptionally rich land and sea fauna. In the heart of luxuriantnature, you'll meet the Bijago inhabitants, fascinating men andwomen who have adapted to and melted in with their naturalenvironment.

Day 10 CARAVELA ISLAND, BIJAGOS

Off the west African coast of Guinea-Bissau, the Bissagosarchipelago rolls out its 88 islands and islets of black rock andwhite sand in the heart of the Atlantic. Declared a BiosphereReserve by UNESCO in 1996, this string of islets hasexceptionally rich land and sea fauna. In the heart of luxuriantnature, you'll enjoy Caravela Island's wild charm and its Bijagoinhabitants, fascinating men and women who have adapted toand melted in with their natural environment.

Day 11 LATERITE BEACH, BIJAGOS

Day 12 DAKAR

On the tip of the African continent, the buzzing capital ofSenegal stretches along the narrow peninsula of Cape Verde.You may be overwhelmed by its sheer size, but Dakar will winyou over with its richly diverse districts, appealing cultural sceneand rich natural surroundings. In the historic centre, you'll enjoythe pell-mell of colours and tasty delights in Kermel market. Avisit to the island of Gorée is deeply moving; for several hundredyears this island was the largest slave trading centre on theAfrican coast. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. If you arelooking for pristine, unspoilt nature, the wildlife in the heart ofMadeleine Islands' national park will not disappoint.

01432 507 280 (within UK)


Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

01432 507 280 (within UK)


YOUR SHIP: LE DUMONT D'URVILLE

YOUR SHIP: Le Dumont d'Urville

VESSEL TYPE:

LENGTH:

PASSENGER CAPACITY:

BUILT/REFURBISHED:

Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment,elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with largewindows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this newlimited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suiteswill offer you a truly unique cruising experience.As the first ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponantspirit, Le Dumont d'Urville will embody the unique atmospherethat is the cruise line's hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement,intimacy and comfort.Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experiencethe incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with thepossibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinationsin an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service.Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is onauthenticity and passion for travel.RESTAURANTSAs it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy willnaturally have pride of place aboard this new ship. Through itstwo

restaurants, Le Dumont d'Urville will invite you on a journey to elegance and epicureanism. In a relaxed atmosphere, a first dining area located on Deck 3 and able to seat 70 will serve grilled meats daily, along with a variety of salads and desserts. To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals. PUBLIC AREAS Like Le Boreal and its sisterships, Le Dumont d'Urville has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger. A 140 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An excursions desk, The ship's administrative services, The

01432 507 280 (within UK)


sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer, Our 50 m²boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products,postcards and various accessories, Toilets accessible topassengers with reduced mobility. A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides: Easierboarding than on any other cruise ship, Easier Zodiacembarkation and disembarkation for expeditions, Easier accessto the sea for swimming and practising various water sportssuch as kayaking or paddle-boarding. A pool deck offering: A pool with a panoramic view, equippedwith a counter-current swimming system, A pleasant solarium,An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas. A 200 m²main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers toshare convivial moments and to host activities organised duringthe day or evening. Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with: The latestsound and lighting technology, A LED wall as the stagebackdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images andvideos. Please click the following links to read more about Ponant andthe other Ponant cruise ships.

01432 507 280 (within UK)


PRICING

ADDITIONAL CHARGES: Port Charges. From 810 AUD pp

the bijagos archipelago and cape verde - with nat geo

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