Africa & Indian Ocean Cruise

Originally a coastal fishing village, Abidjan was settled by French colonists at the turn of the century and by 1934 it had been designated the capital of Côte d’Ivoire. Two decades later, Abidjan welcomed the completion of the Vridi Canal which connected the city on the lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean, and secured Abidjan’s place as a commercial and trading centre.

The thriving economy of this modern city has been overwhelmed by in-migration from rural areas and less prosperous neighboring countries. Most of Abidjan has a well-developed network of roads that are generally in good condition, including a strong public transportation system and a modern airport.

The city is located on the top of a large and deep aquifer which has provided Abidjan with a adequate water supply system. While Abidjan is considered to have the best sewage and drainage system in West Africa, the system has not kept pace with the city’s growth.

Located on an island in the Gambia River where it flows in to the Atlantic Ocean, Banjul is the country’a capital and largest city. It was founded by the British in 1816 as a trading post.

Before the Dutch East India Company established a 17th-century victualling station on Table Bay’s pristine shore, the Cape Flats were hunted for hippopotami and other large game by the Khoi-Khoi and the San (Bushmen). With colonisation, the Cape of Good Hope established a lasting tradition of hospitality leading weary explorers and sailors to rename it The Tavern of the Seas. The sight of majestic Table Mountain and the people who live beneath it are as welcoming today as they were all those years ago, the looming crags a striking landmark providing a magnificent backdrop to the vibrant, friendly Mother City. Modern Cape Town, with its extended seafront, underground malls and soaring skyscrapers holds itself dear to its origins. Explore the many fascinating museums and historical buildings reflecting the cultures shaping the city and the province it serves.

Dakar, (dä-kär´) largest city (1988 pop. 1,447,642) and capital of Senegal, on Cape Verde Peninsula, on the Atlantic Ocean. It is an economic center for a market-gardening region, and its expanding industries produce food products, fertilizers, cement, and textiles. The city is the busiest port in W Africa, also serving Mali and Mauritania, and is linked by rail and air with other Senegalese cities. Dakar became the capital of French West Africa in 1902 and was occupied by U.S. forces in World War II. The modern city is an educational and cultural center.