Cape Verde

9 days / 8 nights

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Cape Verde

Expedition

Return flight included

Cape Verde

Transfer + flight Praia / Paris

Cruise Africa

from 16 October 2019 to 24 October 2019
9 days / 8 nights

Departure Port : Dakar
Arrival Port : Praia

Ship : LE DUMONT-D'URVILLE

Ref : DP055 - U161019

Other departure dates

from 12 April 2019 to 19 April 2019

At the crossroads of two continents, Europe and Africa, PONANT invites you to discover a new itinerary at the heart of the Cape Verde Islands.

From Dakar, Senegal, you will set sail aboard Le Dumont-d’Urville for a 9-day expedition cruise far from the main maritime routes and crowded tourist destinations.

You will call at the island of São Nicolau, which will delight you with its pristine mountain landscapes, its picturesque capital, Ribeira Brava, its friendly inhabitants and its lively traditions.

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

You will also visit Santo Antão, an authentic island where you will find the greenest valley on the archipelago, the Paúl Valley. Here, you can enjoy the serenity of the landscapes surrounded by almost tropical vegetation.

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

Before disembarking in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, you will discover Boa Vista, its barren landscapes and its beaches edged with crystal-clear water.

Naturalists

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Fare From * -

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* Subject to availability.

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Special offer(s) :

CONSECUTIVE CRUISES

Take advantage of our special consecutive cruises offers*

-When this cruise is in 2nd position get a -20% discount

-When this cruise is in 3rd position get a -30% discount

- When this cruise is in 4th position get a -40% discount

- When this cruise is in 5th position get a -50% discount

- When this cruise is in 6th position get a -60% discount

- When this cruise is in 7th position get a -70% discount

*Reduction does not apply to the first cruise and relates to the port/port fare excluding port taxes, non available for Ocean Voyages and subject to availability. The offer is only available on selected cruises. Please, contact us.

Highlights

Outings and shore visits in Zodiac^® inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
Cidade Velha, the historic centre of Ribeira Grande (island of Santiago), listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Discovering the Cape Verde archipelago and the cultural mix that exists there due to Portuguese, African and Mediterranean influences.
The city of Mindelo and its elegant buildings with British and Portuguese colonial influences.
The wild west, the small villages and the fishermen in Porto Novo.
The sugar cane plantations and savannah on Fogo, the volcano island.
The beautiful fine-sand beaches on Maio and Boa Vista.

Transfer + flight Praia / Paris

Return flight included

Staterooms & Suites
LE DUMONT-D'URVILLE
Port of call & excursions
Formalities
Theme
Cruise Package
Pre/Post & Overlands

Staterooms & Suites

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There are no staterooms available for booking. Please contact our cruise advisors.

LE DUMONT-D'URVILLE

Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience.

As the fourth ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Dumont d'Urville will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort.

Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service.

Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel.

Virtual tour

Port of call & excursions

Formalities

Theme

TROPICAL EXPEDITION

Discover the unique concept of PONANT tropical expedition cruises: explore the world’s extreme regions while enjoying luxurious comfort and service.

A luxury expedition voyage

Choosing a PONANT expedition cruise means choosing a state of mind: the alliance of elegance and authenticity, of exploration and comfort, of adventure and refinement… The comfort of your ship and your stateroom, personalised and attentive service, refined gastronomy: a very special atmosphere that we take great care to maintain. In the heart of the archipelagos of Oceania or the atolls of the Indian Ocean, along the wild coastlines of Central America or Australia, our luxurious services will ensure that your expedition cruise is an unforgettable experience.

PONANT, expedition cruise specialists

With almost 20 years of experience in the extreme regions, PONANT, the world’s number 1 polar cruise company, is also a real specialist in the planet’s most remote tropical regions. Our latest-generation fleet has the most modern technology to guarantee both your safety and respect for the regions visited. The size of our ships means we can get as close as possible to areas that are difficult to reach, offering a privileged access to preserved sites. Our flexibility enables us to adapt to the surprises inherent to these expedition itineraries.

Professional expedition teams, varied activities

After scouting missions in the field, our Expedition Leaders and their teams of naturalist guides design exceptional itineraries in the tropical regions. During the cruise, they organise daily outings and shore visits in Zodiac^® dinghies so as to get as close to nature as possible. They can reserve local means of transport (dugout canoes, bush taxis, local buses, etc.) in order to reach essential sites for hiking (volcanoes, nature reserves, etc.) or for visiting isolated villages. Indeed, the close relationships that our teams have been able to build with the local communities will enable you to share the life and ancestral customs of these peoples for a few hours. The naturalist guides also supervise snorkelling tours to discover the coral reef fauna. On board, the naturalist guides will share their knowledge during various conferences on fauna, the history of the great explorations, geology and climatology…

Transfer + flight Praia / Paris

For your serenity, PONANT selects a flight and organizes the transfers between the port and the airport. This package is included in your cruise fare.

Disembarking Day – Praia / Paris

Disembarkation and transfer to Praia airport.

Flight Praia / Paris selected by PONANT.

Approximate flight duration: 6h00.

It is highly recommended to stay one night in Paris after this flight.

Your programme includes:

Flight Praia / Paris selected by PONANT in economy class.
Transfer pier / airport.

Your programme does not include:

Personal expenses.
Other services not mentioned in the programme.

Please note :

Flight included in the programme is, as of today, operated in economy class.
For passengers in transit in Paris, we recommend staying one night in Paris after this flight to ensure your connecting flights.
Package is subject to availability.
This programme is subject to change.

To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents. Passengers must check in at least two hours before flight departure time.

Pre/Post & Overlands

Before your cruise
15/10/2019 – DAKAR AND THE PINK LAKE (1 NIGHT)

770.00 AU$ ^**
More information

Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.
Day 1 – Dakar
Meet and greet at the Dakar international airport arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign.
You will be greeted by our local English-speaking representative and directly transferred to the Radisson Blue hotel.
Check-in in your room
Day 2 – Dakar
After you breakfast, you will take the direction to Dakar. Driving through the West Corniche Coastal road, you will stop to see the African Renaissance Monument, a magnificent 160-foot-tall monolith weighing in at 190 tons. Reverend Jesse Jackson was among the dignitaries who attended the opening of statue in 2010 to celebrate Senegal's 50 years of independence from France. Loved by some and reviled by others, the copper and bronze statue was made by the North Koreans and cost $27 million. Senegal is a land of lighthouses, and a standout among them is the Mamelles Lighthouse, your next destination. Mamelles is one of the world's great lighthouses. It stands on Cape Verde (for which the offshore islands belonging to Portugal are named) and guides ships around the treacherous western tip of Africa. Mamelles' light range is almost 36 miles, but the structure itself may soon fall victim to the rapid, uncontrolled erosion of the coastline. Enjoy a quick photo stop at the Deity (Divinity) Mosque before you head to Pink Lake for lunch.
This morning, you will travel approximately 1½ hours to reach Lake Retba, famous for its unusual pink water-you really have to see it to believe it. The lake is shallow and warm, and is surrounded by white foam and palms. It is very high level of salinity means that everything floats on the surface. Workers crush the thick crust of salt that lies on the lake-bed and gather the salt to sell. Sand dunes, a baobab forest and traditional villages with thatch-roofed huts line the shores of the pink lake. You will cross over sand dunes and through bush during your drive around the lake. We will drive through the Rally Paris-Dakar pathway up to the ocean. Finally, stop for a brief encounter with the chief of Fulani Village. He will let you visit his dwelling hut and will explain the villagers' way of life.
Lunch will be served after the tour around the lake and surroundings, in a Mauritanian Tent on the beach, in front of a beautiful landscape. This Tent called "Khaima" is all made with African materials and fabrics. Lunch Buffet. An Entertainment (with a folkloristic group) will be offer by our local representative before or during Lunch.
After your nomad traditional lunch, you will be transferred to the port to embark your ship.
Your hotel:
The Radisson Blu Hotel is a sophisticated, modern resort on the quiet Cape Verde Peninsula, located in the elegant Fann Corniche neighborhood. The peninsula is shaped like a triangle, with the base of the triangle roughly along the north and its apex on the south, the site of the seaport of Dakar. All rooms are characterized by their contemporary design and superb amenities, including individual climate control and Free high-speed wireless Internet. The restaurant proposes international dishes as well as revisited regional food in a contemporary setting. Outdoor swimming pool.
Your programme includes:
1 night accommodation at the Radisson Blu hotel 5* (or similar) in Standard room, including breakfast.
Full board
Beverage package during meals (mineral water + 1 soft drink or 1 local beer + 1 coffee or tea).
Transfers, visits and entrance fees as mentioned in the programme.
Local English-speaking guide.
Your programme does not include:
Tips for the guide and the driver.
Personal expenses
Other services not mentioned in the programme.
Please note:
Senegal is part of the West African financial community area. The local currency is the CFA franc which has a fixed exchange rate with the euro (1 CFA franc = 0.00152 euro, 1 euro = 655.957 CFA). US dollars are widely accepted.
The official language is French, which is understood by the majority of people, and there are about a dozen local languages and several dialects. Greetings are very important and the easiest way to avoid making a mistake is to use traditional Arab greetings (Salaam aleikoum, Aleikoum asalaam).
We also recommend you only drink bottled mineral water.
Please take note of the local and basic nature of the installations and equipment used during the dunes outing to Pink Lake. Lunch will be served under a Kaïma tent. The 4-wheel drive vehicles are open and non-air-conditioned but have a canopy to protect you from the sun.
Contact of your hotel:
Radisson Blu Hotel
Route de la Corniche Ouest Fann Residence
BP 16868 Dakar,
SENEGAL
Telephone : (+221) 3 3869 3333
Duration of the visits are given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
Less details

** Prices per person, based on double occupancy

Attention: the prices listed at the time of your reservation can be different from those listed in the brochure. These prices can evolve based on availability and the real time rates of the airline companies selected.

Travellers are advised to check all the information with the authorities concerned prior to the departure date. Ponant advises Travellers to consult the country factsheets relating to the chosen destinations. Ponant specifically draws Travellers' attention to the fact that the information provided may change up until the departure date, and they are advised to consult that information up until the time of departure. CDP invites Travellers to adjust their behavior to the visited country, to exercise vigilance and to avoid carrying valuable objects during their travel.

Cape Verde

Cruise Africa

Special offer(s) :

Highlights

Staterooms & Suites

LE DUMONT-D'URVILLE

LE DUMONT-D'URVILLE

Port of call & excursions

Formalities

Theme

TROPICAL EXPEDITION

Transfer + flight Praia / Paris

Pre/Post & Overlands

Before your cruise

15/10/2019 – DAKAR AND THE PINK LAKE (1 NIGHT)

Attention: the prices listed at the time of your reservation can be different from those listed in the brochure. These prices can evolve based on availability and the real time rates of the airline companies selected.