From endless dunes to Atlantic dreams - Cape Town to Tenerife

Cape Town's port is a vibrant blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, making it a premier destination for travelers. Must-do experiences include savoring local dishes like bobotie and exploring the bustling V&A Waterfront. The best season to visit is during the Southern Hemisphere summer, from December to February, when the weather is warm and perfect for outdoor adventures.

Luderitz is a surreal German colonial town on Namibia's desert coast, where Art Nouveau architecture, Lutheran churches, and half-timbered houses face the cold Atlantic amid some of Earth's most desolate terrain. Must-dos include visiting the sand-swallowed ghost town of Kolmanskop, feasting on West Coast crayfish, and admiring the Jugendstil Goerke Haus. September through April offers the warmest weather for this extraordinary desert-meets-ocean destination.

Walvis Bay is Namibia's principal deep-water port, set between the ancient dunes of the Namib Desert and the wildlife-rich Atlantic lagoon famed for its vast flamingo colonies. Visitors should not miss a catamaran cruise through the lagoon for close encounters with dolphins and Cape fur seals, nor the otherworldly dune landscapes of Sossusvlei in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The optimal season for cruising is October through April, when southern-hemisphere spring and summer bring warm, clear days and peak flamingo populations to the bay.

Jamestown, Saint Helena, opens a window onto Africa's extraordinary blend of natural grandeur, cultural vitality, and warm hospitality. Visitors should explore the local markets and venture into the surrounding landscapes for wildlife encounters of genuine wonder. The most favorable conditions occur May through October, when the climate is at its most welcoming for outdoor exploration. Cruise lines including Hapag-Lloyd Cruises feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

Palmeira, Cape Verde, opens a window onto Africa's extraordinary blend of natural grandeur, cultural vitality, and warm hospitality. Visitors should explore the local markets and venture into the surrounding landscapes for wildlife encounters of genuine wonder. The most favorable conditions occur December through April, during the dry season when skies are clearest and seas are calmest. Cruise lines including Hapag-Lloyd Cruises feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, is Cape Verde's cultural capital — a harbour city of pastel colonial facades, vibrant street art, and the soulful musical heritage of Cesária Évora. Visitors should savour *cachupa rica* at a waterfront restaurant and take the ferry to Santo Antão for world-class hiking through terraced volcanic valleys. The best time to call is between November and June, when the trade winds temper the tropical heat and transatlantic cruise itineraries converge on Porto Grande's magnificent natural bay.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the cosmopolitan capital of the Canary Islands, balances volcanic grandeur with refined urban pleasures — from the Santiago Calatrava–designed Auditorio rising beside the Atlantic to the ancient dragon tree at Icod de los Vinos and the World Heritage Teide volcano looming above the island. The city's Carnival, second in scale only to Rio de Janeiro's, erupts each February in spectacular costumes and street revelry. Local wines from the volcanic slopes, wrinkled potatoes with mojo verde, and fresh Atlantic fish define the island's culinary character. November through April offers reliably warm, sun-drenched conditions.