South Africa and Indian Ocean: from epic wilderness to idyllic islands - Mahe (Seychelles) to Cape Town

16 nights Mar 9, 2028

The South Africa and Indian Ocean: from epic wilderness to idyllic islands - Mahe (Seychelles) to Cape Town is a 16-night Africa cruise aboard HANSEATIC Nature, operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Departing Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles on March 9, 2028, the voyage visits 8 ports. Fares start from $10,833 per person.

Itinerary

Day 1 Mar 9, 2028 Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles Departs 23:59 The Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean about 1,000 miles off the east coast of Africa, impresses visitors with its pristine natural beauty and indigenous plants and animals, such as the hawksbill turtle and the magpie robin. On the island of Mahé, Victoria—the nation’s main city and one of the smallest capitals in the world—bustles with activity and is home to nearly a third of the Seychelles’ population. Set against steep, velvet-green mountains that include 905-meter (3,000-foot) Morne Seychellois, the island's highest peak, the city is a colorful patchwork of tin-roofed buildings. It displays a vibrant Creole heritage that’s evident in the conversations of locals (English is the official language, but Seychellois Creole is the lingua franca) and the aroma of fragrant spices wafting from its open-air market. Beyond the market area, Victoria’s main sights are the circa 1903 Victorian clock tower Little Ben, modeled after its larger counterpart in London, and the Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar temple, the only Hindu temple on the islands. Just outside of town is the tranquil Seychelles National Botanical Gardens, but to truly appreciate Mahé Island, one must head to the beach—and luckily there are more than 60 from which to choose.

Seychelles photo — Day 2 Mar 10, 2028 Seychelles The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa. It's home to numerous beaches, coral reefs and nature reserves, as well as rare animals such as giant Aldabra tortoises. Mahé, a hub for visiting the other islands, is home to capital Victoria. It also has the mountain rainforests of Morne Seychellois National Park and beaches, including Beau Vallon and Anse Takamaka. Go to Seychelles Cruises visiting Seychelles

Day 7 Mar 15, 2028 Richard's Bay, South Africa Richards Bay was named after Frederick William Richards of the British Royal Navy. When he learned of the conflict the English experienced in Zululand, Richards arrived with 250 men in support of his fellow countrymen. He also made a survey of the coast in 1879. In 1906, development of the area got underway with the founding of the Zululand Fisheries and the first ox wagon trek to the town of Empangeni. In 1928, Richards Bay got a hotel and a store, from which it gradually developed into the economic center of Northern Kwazulu-Natal. A new deep-water port inaugurated in 1976 is the second largest port in the country after Durban. In its wake, a number of large and small industries, hotels, shops and restaurants have sprung up, causing the town to develop at a record-breaking pace. The most important attractions however are found outside Richards Bay in the game reserves and cultural villages. For many visitors Zululand represents some of the "real" Africa, an area that covers much of central Kwazulu-Natal, including the port of Richard's Bay and the adjacent Hluhluwe Game Park. The region is dominated by the Zulu tribe; their customs, historical traditions and culture are evident throughout the region. The name Zulu derives from an early chief, whose descendants were called aba-kwa Zulu, or people of Zulu. Their capital is Ulundi, located north of the Tugela River. Much of Zululand comprises a scenic, hilly interior plus some coastal areas, where it is usually hot and humid.

Day 11 Mar 19, 2028 Durban When you alight from your MSC cruise in Durban – South Africa’s third-largest city and the continent’s largest port – you will be captured by its tropical colours and holidaying people. A shore excursion on your MSC South Africa cruise can be the opportunity to discover Durban’s second-largest ethnic group, its Indian population, whose mosques, bazaars and temples are juxtaposed with the Victorian buildings of the colonial centre. The pulsing warren of bazaars, alleyways and mosques that makes up the Indian area around Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street is ripe for exploration, and there are some excellent restaurants around Durban’s photogenic harbour area. Durban’s city centre grew around the arrival point of the first white settlers, and the remains of the historical heart are concentrated around Francis Farewell Square. Durban’s expansive beachfront on the eastern edge of the centre has one of the city’s busiest concentrations of restaurants, a surfeit of tacky family entertainment. Durban’s beachfront, a high-energy holiday strip just east of the centre, is South Africa’s most developed seaside. MSC South Africa cruises also offer excursions to the 6km-stretch of the beach from the Umgeni River in the north to the Point in the south, traditionally called the Golden Mile. The big draw of Addington Beach – and the only really worthwhile attraction along the beachfront – is instead uShaka Marine World. This impressive water adventure wonderland is a tropical African theme park, complete with palm trees, fake rock formations and thatched bomas. The most appealing section is uShaka Sea World, designed in and around a superb mock-up of a wrecked 1920s cargo ship. The complex also includes a dolphin stadium and a seal pool, where daily shows (three a day) feature these creatures, as well as uShaka Wet ’n Wild, a series of pools and water slides, including The Drop Zone, the highest water slide in Africa. Go to Durban Cruises visiting Durban

Durban photo — Day 11 Mar 19, 2028 Durban When you alight from your MSC cruise in Durban – South Africa’s third-largest city and the continent’s largest port – you will be captured by its tropical colours and holidaying people. A shore excursion on your MSC South Africa cruise can be the opportunity to discover Durban’s second-largest ethnic group, its Indian population, whose mosques, bazaars and temples are juxtaposed with the Victorian buildings of the colonial centre. The pulsing warren of bazaars, alleyways and mosques that makes up the Indian area around Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street is ripe for exploration, and there are some excellent restaurants around Durban’s photogenic harbour area. Durban’s city centre grew around the arrival point of the first white settlers, and the remains of the historical heart are concentrated around Francis Farewell Square. Durban’s expansive beachfront on the eastern edge of the centre has one of the city’s busiest concentrations of restaurants, a surfeit of tacky family entertainment. Durban’s beachfront, a high-energy holiday strip just east of the centre, is South Africa’s most developed seaside. MSC South Africa cruises also offer excursions to the 6km-stretch of the beach from the Umgeni River in the north to the Point in the south, traditionally called the Golden Mile. The big draw of Addington Beach – and the only really worthwhile attraction along the beachfront – is instead uShaka Marine World. This impressive water adventure wonderland is a tropical African theme park, complete with palm trees, fake rock formations and thatched bomas. The most appealing section is uShaka Sea World, designed in and around a superb mock-up of a wrecked 1920s cargo ship. The complex also includes a dolphin stadium and a seal pool, where daily shows (three a day) feature these creatures, as well as uShaka Wet ’n Wild, a series of pools and water slides, including The Drop Zone, the highest water slide in Africa. Go to Durban Cruises visiting Durban

Day 12 Mar 20, 2028 Mossel Bay 07:00 – 19:00 12.0 hrs ashore This stretch of coast along the Indian Ocean, aptly called the Garden Route, receives 300 days of sunshine a year, ranking only behind Hawaii as having the world’s mildest year-round climate. All this sunshine is put to good use, nurturing ecologically diverse habitat for a wonderful abundance of plant and animal life. The sun also fosters the human desire to indulge in exciting outdoor adventures. Ten nature reserves and several protected marine areas provide chances to see coral reefs, dolphins, seals and, in season, the endangered southern right whale. Excellent beaches are great places to hang ten, or simply hang out. Shoppers will enjoy trolling for handcrafted treasures in town, while history buffs will relish a trip to the museum complex focusing on the arrival of the first Europeans, who arrived in the bay in 1488. Go to Mossel Bay Cruises visiting Mossel Bay

Day 14 Mar 22, 2028 Cape Town 08:00 – 18:00 10.0 hrs ashore Sprawling across endless, staggeringly blue coastline, and watched over by the iconic plane of Table Mountain, Cape Town is without doubt one of the world’s most beautiful cities. A blend of spectacular mountain scenery, multiculturalism and relaxed ocean charm awaits in the Mother City, where you can venture out to rolling vineyards, dine in laid back sea suburbs, or spend days exploring cool urban culture. Cape Town’s natural splendour fully reveals itself as the cable car rears sharply to the top of Table Mountain. From the summit, 3,500 feet above sea level, you can let the scale of the panoramic vistas of the city rolling down towards the ocean wash over you. Another heavenly perspective waits at the top of Lion's Head’s tapering peak. A sharp hike and an early start is required, but the views of the morning sun painting Table Mountain honey-gold are some of Cape Town’s finest. Cape Town’s glorious sunshine and inviting blue rollers can be a little deceiving - these oceans are anything but warm at times, with nothing between the peninsula’s end and Antarctica’s icy chill. This cool water has upsides though, bringing a colony of adorably cute African penguins to Boulders Beach. Boarded walkways offer the perfect vantage point to see the cute creatures dipping into the sea and lounging in the sun. Nearby, journey to the end of Africa at the Cape of Good Hope, where you can stand at the bottom of this mighty continent, watching out over the merging waves of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Cape Town’s beauty is counterpointed by the ominous island form, which sits four miles offshore from the bustling restaurants and lazy seals of the lively V&A Waterfront. A living history lesson, you can sail in the ships that transported prisoners out to Robben Island, before a former prisoner tells of the traumas of life on this offshore prison. Your guide will show you the cramped cells, and render Mandela’s long walk to freedom in heartbreaking, visceral clarity. Go to Cape Town Cruises visiting Cape Town

Cape Town photo — Day 14 Mar 22, 2028 Cape Town 08:00 – 18:00 10.0 hrs ashore Sprawling across endless, staggeringly blue coastline, and watched over by the iconic plane of Table Mountain, Cape Town is without doubt one of the world’s most beautiful cities. A blend of spectacular mountain scenery, multiculturalism and relaxed ocean charm awaits in the Mother City, where you can venture out to rolling vineyards, dine in laid back sea suburbs, or spend days exploring cool urban culture. Cape Town’s natural splendour fully reveals itself as the cable car rears sharply to the top of Table Mountain. From the summit, 3,500 feet above sea level, you can let the scale of the panoramic vistas of the city rolling down towards the ocean wash over you. Another heavenly perspective waits at the top of Lion's Head’s tapering peak. A sharp hike and an early start is required, but the views of the morning sun painting Table Mountain honey-gold are some of Cape Town’s finest. Cape Town’s glorious sunshine and inviting blue rollers can be a little deceiving - these oceans are anything but warm at times, with nothing between the peninsula’s end and Antarctica’s icy chill. This cool water has upsides though, bringing a colony of adorably cute African penguins to Boulders Beach. Boarded walkways offer the perfect vantage point to see the cute creatures dipping into the sea and lounging in the sun. Nearby, journey to the end of Africa at the Cape of Good Hope, where you can stand at the bottom of this mighty continent, watching out over the merging waves of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Cape Town’s beauty is counterpointed by the ominous island form, which sits four miles offshore from the bustling restaurants and lazy seals of the lively V&A Waterfront. A living history lesson, you can sail in the ships that transported prisoners out to Robben Island, before a former prisoner tells of the traumas of life on this offshore prison. Your guide will show you the cramped cells, and render Mandela’s long walk to freedom in heartbreaking, visceral clarity. Go to Cape Town Cruises visiting Cape Town

Pricing

Lowest fare we've tracked over the observed 88-day span: $10,833 · range $10,833–$10,833

Current prices

Per person · 2 guests · incl. taxes & fees

Inside

Not available

Oceanview

from $10,833

$677 / night

Fare rows

Outside Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $10,833

$677 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Panoramic Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $11,431

$714 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony

from $12,673

$792 / night

Fare rows

French Balcony Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $12,673

$792 / night

per person · incl. taxes

French Balcony Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $12,984

$811 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $13,766

$860 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $14,226

$889 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $14,686

$917 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Balcony Cabin

Cabin grade

Available

from $16,066

$1,004 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Suite

from $19,171

$1,198 / night

Fare rows

Junior Suite with Balcony

Cabin grade

Available

from $19,171

$1,198 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Grand Suite with Veranda

Cabin grade

Available

from $26,128

$1,633 / night

per person · incl. taxes

Prices verified Jun 16, 2026

Prices come from third-party data feeds via Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and may differ from the cruise line's current fare. Confirm the final price before booking. How our pricing works

All cabin grades (23) Detailed cabin specs available at booking.

Name	Supplier code	Type
French Balcony Cabin	03	Balcony
Balcony Cabin	04	Balcony
French Balcony Cabin	05	Balcony
Balcony Cabin	06	Balcony
Balcony Cabin	07	Balcony
Balcony Cabin	08	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	S02	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	S03	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	S04	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	S05	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	S06	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	S07	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	S08	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	SB	Balcony
Guarantee Balcony Cabin	SF	Balcony
Outside Cabin	01	Oceanview
Panoramic Cabin	02	Oceanview
Guarantee Outside Cabin	S01	Oceanview
Guarantee Outside Cabin	SAP	Oceanview
Guarantee Outside Cabin	SKAB	Oceanview
Junior Suite with Balcony	09	Suite
Grand Suite with Veranda	10	Suite
Guarantee Suite	SJS	Suite

Ship