Namibian & South African Coastlines
Walvis Bay - Durban
Dates:
17/12/2025
to
27/12/2025
days
nights on board
Set sail on an all-new, unforgettable 11-day cruise aboard Le Bougainville to explore the shores of Namibia and South Africa. From one ocean to another, from Walvis Bay to Durban, explore southern Africa’s incredible scenery, flamboyant wildlife and bustling cities.
Over the course of your trip, at every port of call, each guest will be able to choose one included excursion from the selection offered by PONANT. On this cruise, from Lüderitz, visit the ghost town of Kolmanskop and its colonial buildings now overrun by sand; discover the spectacular Cape of Good Hope and its unique biodiversity from Cape Town; or admire the elephants in Addo Elephant National Park during a safari, from Port Elizabeth. The range of experiences on offer promises a great time with lots of variety (for the full list of excursions, click on the Itinerary tab).
On the Atlantic coast, facing an untameable ocean, lies the Namib Desert, the oldest in the world. In Walvis Bay, where your adventure begins, nature has sculpted the sand into mountains, sheer drops, ochre and rust-coloured waves in perpetual motion. In this erg listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, silence reigns supreme. And yet this place is teeming with life. Zebras and springboks wash here, while in the neighbouring lagoon, the natural barrier formed by Pelican Point offers thousands of flamingos and cormorants, as well as one of the largest colonies of Cape fur seals, a choice refuge. In Namibia, the desert is king. This is clearly evident in the ghost town of Kolmanskop. A few kilometres from Lüderitz and its pastel-coloured houses clinging to the cliffs, the sand has long since reclaimed the homes of the German settlers, shrouding the abandoned houses in perpetual mystery.
In stark contrast to the serenity of the desert, the bustling cities of South Africa will immerse you in a unique cultural kaleidoscope. Dominated by the distinctive silhouette of Table Mountain, Cape Town reveals its lively streets and colourful gastronomy. After rounding the mythical Cape of Good Hope, discover Port Elizabeth. Known as the “Friendly City” for its hospitality, it is also the gateway to Addo Elephant National Park, famous for its elephants and other iconic African animals. From East London and its beaches of fine sand located on the Sunshine Coast, meet the Xhosa community before your next stop, Durban. In the KwaZulu-Natal region, the cradle of Zulu culture, this city of African, Indian and colonial influences is a perfect example of the term ‘Rainbow Nation’. This is where your journey will end, along the white sandy beaches of the Indian Ocean.
Ref : EG171225
Your itinerary
A brand-new itinerary between Namibia and South Africa. Make the most of an excursion included* per person per port of call during your cruise thanks to the selection made by our destination experts. Christmas...
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Your trip in detail
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LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
6/3/2025 to the 21/3/2025
LE LYRIAL
3/3/2025 to the 21/3/2025
LE PAUL GAUGUIN
LE BORÉAL
L'AUSTRAL
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
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Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
- Simple dress
- Skirt or trousers
- Blouse
- Polo
For men:
- Pleated trousers or chinos
- Sports jacket
- Shirt
- Polo
Officer’s evening:
For all cruises longer than 8 nights, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
- Cocktail attire
- Evening dress (if you wish to)
For men:
- Dark suit
- Tie recommended, possibly bow tie (if you wish to)
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
ACCESSORIES:
- Polarized sunglasses
- Swimsuit (for the Spa on board)
- Gym wear (fitness)
- Battery charger and memory cards for your camera
- Mobile phone charger
- Hat/cap
HEALTH CARE:
- Sunscreen and after-sun lotion
- Medications and prescriptions
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
- Casual outfits for the day
- Smarter outfits for dinners
- Elegant outfits for Gala evenings
- White or black and white outfit
PRECAUTIONS:
In your hand luggage, remember to bring any medicines that you need, and possibly a small spare bag of toiletries (in case of delay in the delivery of your baggage by the airline). Remember to always have your travel documents with you in case you need them: hotel vouchers, cruise vouchers, return flight tickets... Never leave them in your hold luggage.
All our cabins have a safe. We recommend not to go ashore with valuable jewellery.
PONANT activities
Highlights
- A brand-new itinerary between Namibia and South Africa.
- Make the most of an excursion included* per person per port of call during your cruise thanks to the selection made by our destination experts.
- Christmas celebrations in an exceptional environment: change of scenery guaranteed.
- UNESCO sites: the Namib Desert, the Cape Floral Region and the Robben Island Prison, where Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela was incarcerated.
- The discovery of the Cape of Good Hope and its sheer cliffs that plunge into the Atlantic Ocean and overlook vast stretches of white-sand beaches.
- The stunning landscapes of the Namib coastal desert, one of the largest deserts in Africa.
- Addo Elephant National Park, home to elephants, lions, buffalo, rhinoceros, leopards and more.
- The Nahoon Point Nature Reserve, home to a unique ecosystem and to one of the oldest footprints in the world.
- The ghost town of Kolmanskop, a former German settlement now being eaten away by sand.
- The encounter with the Xhosa community, from East London.
*Pre-bookings open around two months before the start of the cruise; requests are processed on a first-come first-served basis, subject to availability.
Ports of Call & Excursions
17 December 2025 18 December 2025 - Walvis Bay
Embarkation 17/12/2025 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Departure 18/12/2025 at 2:00 pm
On the wild coastlines of Namibia, you will feel the force of the encounter between the infinite dunes of the oldest desert in the world and the tempestuous waves of the Atlantic Ocean. A natural port in the curve of a bay formed by an old river delta, Walvis Bay is protected from the whims of the ocean by the natural barrier of Pelican Point. It is a real refuge for migratory birds, where thousands of pink flamingos and Cape cormorants mix with one of the largest Cape fur seal colonies in the world. On the Namibian coastline, the seals make the most of the Benguela Current, cold and full of fish, which comes up from the Antarctic.
19 December 2025 - Lüderitz
Arrival 19/12/2025 late morning
Departure 19/12/2025 late evening
Located in Namibia, in southern Africa, Luderitz is a coastal town in the Karas region. A former German colony at the gates of the Namib desert, this singular town has houses featuring occasionally extravagant colonial architecture. With its sandy streets overlooking the ocean, the small port town gives off a particular atmosphere that will not leave you indifferent. Perched on a granite promontory, the Felsenkirche Lutheran church is well worth a visit, as are the Deutsche Afrika Bank building and the Goerke Haus monument. The Kolmanskop ghost town, with its hospital and abandoned colonial houses invaded by the desert sands , looks like it’s come straight off a film set.
20 December 2025 - At sea
Arrival 20/12/2025
Departure 20/12/2025
During your journey 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 the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
21 December 2025 22 December 2025 - Cape Town
Arrival 21/12/2025 early morning
Departure 22/12/2025 late afternoon
Dynamic and peaceful, cosmopolitan and hip, Cape Town offers its visitors a most unique mix. Here, the locals like to say that their city is “the quintessential melting pot of South Africa”. Located in the heart of one of the most beautiful bays in the world and dominated by the famous Table Mountain, it is graced with extraordinary landscapes including sheer cliffs that plunge into the Atlantic Ocean and vast whitesand beaches. We invite you to discover this incredible city, the South African capital of fashion, the art of living, and gastronomy. Further on, the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve awaits you and is home to a wide variety of endemic fauna and flora.
23 December 2025 - At sea
Arrival 23/12/2025
Departure 23/12/2025
During your journey 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 the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
24 December 2025 - Port Elizabeth
Arrival 24/12/2025 early morning
Departure 24/12/2025 late afternoon
Discover Port Elizabeth, one of South Africa’s major cities. Located in the province of Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth is nicknamed “The Friendly City”, in reference to the hospitality of its inhabitants. Renowned for the beauty of its beaches, Port Elizabeth is also home to rich wild life, particularly in the Addo National Park, famous for its elephants. Another key site in the city, the Donkin reserve is a public space home to numerous historic monuments. Port Elizabeth also reflects an important aspect of South African history, through both its colonial heritage and its contemporary history marked by the end of apartheid.
26 December 2025 - At sea
Arrival 26/12/2025
Departure 26/12/2025
During your journey 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 the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
27 December 2025 - Durban
Arrival 27/12/2025 early morning
Disembarkation 27/12/2025 at 8:00 am
Situated in the Kwazulu-Natal region, the cradle of Zulu culture, Durban is the third largest city in South Africa and one of Africa's major ports. Between long beaches rocked by the rollers of the Indian Ocean and the skyscrapers dominating the avenues lined with jacarandas, in this multicultural city with African, Indian and colonial influences, the term "rainbow nation" takes on its full dimension. With a rich cultural and historical heritage, with its museums, colonial buildings and picturesque neighbourhoods, it is also known for the fauna and flora that surrounds it.
Le Bougainville
Welcoming and spacious common areas, refined open-to-the-sea design, sleek exterior lines, a marina to make access to the ship's zodiac inflatables easier, hi-tech equipment, an outdoor pool, a multisensorial underwater lounge… Le Bougainville represents the new generation of ships designed to combine discovery and exploration with luxury, even in the planet's most remote and isolated regions.
Decks
Guest Speaker
Aboard your ship, an English-speaking lecturer will enlighten you about the culture and history of your destination to deepen your knowledge of the origins of local traditions, the history of emblematic sites, and stories involving famous personalities and those of major historical significance. During on-board lectures or on your shore visits, this expert will be there to share their precious knowledge with you throughout your PONANT cruise.
Christmas Cruise
Christmas celebrations in an exceptional environment: change of scenery guaranteed.