Christmas & New Year in South Africa | Cape Town to Cape Town

DECEMBER 18, 2015

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR IN

SOUTH AFRICA THE BEST OF SOUTH AFRICA ON A 19-DAY CELEBRATION VOYAGE

EARLY BOOKING FARES APPLY S M A L L - S H I P

CRU I S I NG

AT

I T S

BE S T

UNTIL 31/7/15

19-days departing december 18, 2015

the ultimate

your itinerary DATE

PORT

ARRIVE

DEPART

DEC 18

Depart UK

DEC 19

Arrive CAPE TOWN South Africa Embark Aegean Odyssey

DEC 20

CAPE TOWN (Table Mountain & Robben Island) South Africa overnight

DEC 21

CAPE TOWN (Stellenbosch) South Africa

overnight

DEC 22

CAPE TOWN South Africa

7.00pm

DEC 23

At Sea

DEC 24

PORT ELIZABETH South Africa (Addo Elephant Park)

DEC 25

Christmas Day celebrations at sea

DEC 26

RICHARDS BAY South Africa (Hluhluwe Game Reserve)

DEC 27

RICHARDS BAY South Africa (St Lucia Nature Reserve)

overnight

8.00am 2.00pm 5.00am overnight 9.00pm

DEC 28/29 At Sea DEC 30

MOSSEL BAY South Africa (Garden Route)

DEC 31/ JAN 1 ‘16

New Year’s celebrations at sea

JAN 2

LUDERITZ Namibia

JAN 3

LUDERITZ Namibia

JAN 4

At Sea

JAN 5

CAPE TOWN South Africa Disembark and transfer to Cape Town Airport for flight home

8.00am 6.00pm

8.00am

overnight 6.00pm

8.00am

AEG151219

South African safaris included

christmas & new year voyage “This is a pretty and singular town; it lies at the foot of an enormous wall (Table Mountain) which reaches into the clouds”.

These words of Charles Darwin will resonate with you after spending a few days in Cape Town at the beginning of this splendid festive voyage.

Cruise features include: • 4 days on board in Cape Town • Travel to the top of Table Mountain - Visit Robben Island and Stellenbosch • Enjoy 3 Safaris - Addo Elephant Park/Hluhluwe Game Reserve/ St Lucia Nature Reserve • Christmas and New Year’s celebrations at sea • Visit South Africa’s famous ‘Garden Route’ • Visit to Namibia’s Skeleton Coast SPECIAL EARLY BOOKING SAVINGS

Luderitz

South Atlantic Ocean

Namibia

South Africa

Cape Town

Richards Bay

Port Elizabeth Mossel Bay

Indian Ocean

CHRISTMAS DAY CELEBRATIONS Celebrate Christmas day in style on board Aegean Odyssey with: •Festive concert •Trivia quiz •Themed cocktails •Traditional Christmas dinner •Live music •Surprise special guest

Res er v e you r ca bin n ow – call 0845 437 9737 or vis it www. voyages toa n tiqu ity. com

celebrate the festive season on a voyage to the natural wonders of South Africa december 18, 2015

YOUR JOURNEY

Day 1 London to Cape Town Overnight flight to South Africa.

Day 2 Cape Town South Africa Arrive Cape Town Airport and transfer to Aegean Odyssey.

Day 3 Cape Town Your included morning sightseeing tour includes an unforgettable trip up Table Mountain by cable car. Table Mountain gets its name from the flat topped central massif of the mountain, which viewed from the city, is surrounded by Devil’s Peak on the left, Lion’s Head on the right, and Signal Hill in the foreground. On your way back to the ship, you’ll enjoy an orientation tour of the city, including the colourful and historic houses of the Bo-Kaap (Malay Quarter), the Convention Centre, Adderley Street with statues of Jan van Riebeeck and Bartholomeu Diaz, the Castle of Good Hope, City Hall in Darling Street, the Dutch Reformed Church and St George’s Cathedral.

After lunch on board Aegean Odyssey, there’s an included boat ride to Robben Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Since 1960, it has become synonymous

Cape Town

Reser ve your cabin now – call 0845 437 9737

Day 5 Cape Town Free day to further explore the city or head out of town to the Cape of Good Hope.

Day 6 At sea

Stellenbosch vineyards

Visit Robben Island

with the political struggle against apartheid in South Africa and past political prisoners have included Nelson Mandela and poet Dennis Brutus. The last political prisoners were released in 1991 and on the 1st of January 1997, the Robben Island Museum opened its doors to the public. During your visit you will see the old leper colony, the quarry where political prisoners laboured, and Nelson Mandela’s cell.

Day 4 Cape Town The Cape Winelands region is the source of many legendary Cape wines, the produce of row-upon-row of grapevines, many of which were first planted hundreds of years ago. You head first to the town of Paarl in the Berg River Valley. Paarl is a romantic

town built on both sides of a 10 km-long main street, shaded by oak trees and jacarandas. From Paarl, continue to a wine estate where you will enjoy a cellar tour and have the opportunity to taste some of the local wines. The tour continues to Franschhoek, a small town, situated at the foot of the Franschhoek Pass, which commemorates the arrival of the Huguenots in South Africa. Then enjoy a second wine tasting, followed by a picnic lunch at a local wine estate, before continuing to Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch has become known as the “Town of Oaks” some of the oaks have been proclaimed national monuments and it is also famous for the typical Cape Dutch-style architecture.

or v isit www.voya gestoan tiqui ty. com

Day 7 Port Elizabeth Port Elizabeth is South Africa’s fifth largest city and is located on the Indian Ocean coast half-way between Cape Town and Durban. Also known as the friendly city and the windy city, it tends to live up to both names. Today, we visit the Addo Elephant Park, which consists of over 51,000 hectacres of bush country and is home to over 450 elephants. Although it belongs to the same species as the African Elephant, the reddish Addo Elephant is smaller with more rounded ears, while the females generally have no tusks. On a game drive through the park by coach, you will hopefully be able to encounter this rare animal, as well as a variety of other game, which was recently introduced to the reserve. This includes lion, hyena, cheetah, zebra, eland, kudu, red hartebeest and wild dogs. After a busy day on safari, unwind in the evening and get in the mood for Christmas with traditional carols, mulled wine and mince pies.

Day 8 Christmas celebrations at sea While the Aegean Odyssey sails to Richards Bay, celebrate Christmas day in style.

Highlights include festive concert, trivia quiz, themed cocktails, traditional dinner with all the trimmings, live music and a surprise special guest in the evening.

Day 9 Richards Bay The town of Richards Bay lies at the sea edge of an ancient floodplain, almost halfway between Durban and Kosi Bay and it acts as a gateway to Zululand and Maputaland. Here, we enjoy an included drive to Hluhluwe Game Reserve.

Proclaimed a game reserve in 1895, Hluhluwe has since become well known for its small population of the rare white rhino.

In addition to rhino, the reserve has a spectacular variety of bird and animal life, including elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, blue wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, cheetah, mountain reedbuck, kudu and warthog.

The reserve preserves not only the wildlife of Zululand but also some of the indefinable charm and traditions of the natural surroundings. Enjoy your buffet lunch at Hilltop Restaurant, surrounded by beautiful scenery. After lunch, depart on another exciting game drive before returning to the ship.

Hluhluwe Game Reserve

Res er ve your cabin now – call 0845 437 9737

Zulu traditions, Richards Bay

Day 10 Richards Bay Today you’ll discover the wildlife from the water as you visit the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enjoy a cruise on beautiful Lake St Lucia.

Your boat affords the best views of the nesting sites of crocodiles and hippos that make their home in the estuary. This is also home to 526 different kinds of bird species, favourites of which are the African Fish Eagle and the Mangrove Kingfisher.

Enjoy time ashore in Richards Bay before a late evening departure.

Days 11/12 At sea

Mossel Bay

Day 13 Mossel Bay (Garden Route) This morning an included excursion takes you into the majestic Outeniqua Mountains via scenic passes that lead from semi-desert terrain to fertile valleys. Taking the beautiful Garden Route east, you’ll pass ancient forests, golden beaches and craggy peaks to reach Oudsthoorn. In an oasis-like setting, much of the town’s architecture reflects the opulence of the Ostrich Feather Boom from 1860 to 1914 when it supplied ostrich feathers to Europe.

This afternoon, there’s an optional visit to Botlierskop Private Game Reserve, a wellstocked, free roaming private game reserve, which provides visitors with the opportunity to view African wildlife in

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its natural habitat. There are currently 26 animal species and more than 1,800 animals in total in the 3,000-hectacre reserve. Visitors have an excellent chance of experiencing close encounters with white rhino, Cape buffalo, blue wildebeest, giraffe, Cape mountain zebra, eland, giraffe, impala and lions.

Days 14/15 New Year Celebrations at sea As the ship makes it way to Namibia, relax on board and enjoy a lecture or two. On News Year Eve there will be cocktails on the deck and a party in the Ambassador lounge with live music from the Odyssey Trio and Blue Velvet until the countdown at midnight. See in the New Year with friends old and new.

EXPERT GUEST SPEAKERS

Ghost town, Kolmanskop

Days 16/17 Luderitz Namibia Adolf Luederitz, a merchant from Bremen, bought the bay in 1883 for around 10,000 Marks and 260 rifles. Once a trading post, it later flourished with the prosperity of the diamond rush in the 20th century.

Your guided walking tour is the best way to see this German colonial town, taking you past the sights including Goerke Haus on the slopes of Diamantberg, and Felsenkirche, the German Lutheran Church.

Also included during your 2-day stay is a visit to Kolmanskop, a ghost town in the Namib Desert. Driven by the enormous wealth of the first diamond miners, the residents built the village in the

architectural style of a German town. After World War 1 geologists prospecting further south found much larger diamond deposits near the mouth of the Orange River. Hence Kolmanskop was abandoned and the miners transferred to Oranjemund. The last security personnel departed in 1954 and the mining village has been exposed to the elements since, leaving buildings feet deep in sand.

Day 18 At sea Time today to reflect on the marvellous experiences of the last few days.

Day 19 Cape Town South Africa Disembark and transfer to Cape Town Airport for the flight home.

David Price-Williams worked for the Smithsonian Institution as an archaeological field surveyor on excavations in the Near East before directing his own field research in the same area through the early 1970s. David has just retired after thirty-seven years lecturing on the Archaeology of Western Asia (Eastern Mediterranean) at the Institute of Archaeology for the University of London Extra Mural Department. He is the author and co-author of numerous academic papers on the area.

Lecture topics FROM MACRO-CHIP TO MICRO-CHIP: The History of Human Technology – The earliest experiments in tool making took place on the African Continent. What is the archaeological evidence for the first appearance of technology and what does it mean for the colonisation of the whole world?

CONTINENTS ADRIFT AND CONTINENTS IN COLLISION – Southern Africa was right in the centre of the Supercontinent of Gondwana. How did it come into being, what happened to it, and what was its impact on the shape of Africa today, from the Cape to the great East African Rift Valley?

OUT OF AFRICA: The Search for Human Origins – We came from Africa; all of us! When did that take place and why did it happen, and what is the physical evidence for the emergence of our genus in the sites from southern Africa?

Meet our guest speakers who will be accompanying you on this voyage. Here is a taste of what to expect...

David Crilly graduated from the Universities of Southampton and London, first in Music and then with a Masters degree in Drama and Theatre Studies before completing his doctorate in the philosophy of art at Magdalen College, Oxford.

He is a conductor, composer and author and has given lectures all over the world. He recently retired from academia having lectured in Cambridge for twenty years before taking on the role of Director of Creative and Performing Arts in Liverpool. Despite his academic background he has remained faithful to his roots and currently plays guitar in two rock tribute bands (Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd) and regularly tours.

Lecture topics THE MUSICAL TRADITIONS OF AFRICA – This introductory lecture explores the varied musical styles of the region, and provides a broad survey of the musical traditions of South-East Africa with respect to their historical, social and cultural backgrounds. The lectures in this series use plenty of recorded examples and live demonstrations to illustrate the points made.

THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS – Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these were not Christmas Carols. They were pagan songs, sung at the Winter Solstice celebrations as people danced round stone circles. This lecture charts the transition from antiquity to present-day practice.

Simone Schofield specialises in teaching patchwork and quilting to all ages. She was born in Cape Town in 1955 and co-owns a patchwork shop called STITCH 'N STUFF in a suburb of Cape Town.

Simone has also branched out into embroidery, bead making and quick, fun things to sew which give the maker instant pleasure. Her patchwork classes now include beginners, intermediate and advanced students and the techniques will satisfy the traditional and innovative quilter.

Lecture topics CRAFT CLASSES – Simone makes the classes revolve around the area past which the ship is sailing ie.

Herero dolls from Namibia, African bead work, native embroidery from East Africa and many others. She prepares a variety of kits for the cruising students and supplies everything needed to finish the article.

Andrew Schofield is an ecologist and was born in Farnborough, England. He has lived in Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania and now lives in Cape Town, South Africa. Conservation has been the theme of his life with influences by many people, starting with his Godfather who was the National Parks field officer for Nigeria and who took him as a young boy to see the herds of Elephants in the bush to the turtles nesting on the beaches.

Andrew has created wildlife reserves in areas that have not had game on them for hundreds of years. He has collected and translocated species such as Elephant, Rhino, Cheetah and Lion and successfully habituated them to the new reserves and was the first person in the world to release White Lions back into the wild.

Lecture topics ADVENTURERS AND EXPLORERS OF WESTERN AFRICA AND ITS WILDLIFE – The earliest experiments in tool making took place on the African Continent. What is the archaeological evidence?

PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOP – helping you to get the most out of your holiday photos.

Please note these lecturers and their chosen topics are subject to change.

Visit w w w. v oyages toa n ti qu ity.com/s peaker f or mor e in f or mation

HOLIDAY READING IDEAS There’s nothing like a good book to accompany you on your travels.

Our associates at Blackwell’s of Oxford have put together a selection of books that we feel would provide the perfect accompaniment for this magnificent voyage.

Ian Knight THE ZULU WAR 1879

ISBN: 9781841766126

This title covers one of the most dramatic periods of British and African history including the Zulu's victory at Isandlwana. It assesses not only the causes of the war, but traces its progress and the repercussions that are still felt today.

J. M. Coetzee

Nelson Mandela

LIFE & TIMES OF MICHAEL K

LONG WALK TO FREEDOM

ISBN: 9780349106533

The riveting memoirs of the outstanding moral and political leader of our time, A Long Walk To Freedom brilliantly re-creates the drama of the experiences that helped shape Nelson Mandela's destiny.

Ryszard Kapuscinski

ISBN: 9780099479154

In South Africa torn by civil war, Michael K sets out to take his mother back to her rural home. On the way there she dies, leaving him alone in an anarchic world of brutal roving armies. Imprisoned, Michael is unable to bear confinement and escapes, determined to live with dignity.

H. N. Quinnen

THE SHADOW OF THE SUN

ISBN 9780140292626

Creates an account of post-colonial Africa seen at once as a whole and as a location that wholly defies generalised explanations. This book gives a sustained meditation on the mosaic of peoples and practices we call 'Africa', and an impassioned attempt to come to terms with humanity itself as it struggles to escape from foreign domination.

Nadine Gordimer THE CONSERVATIONIST

and mistress leave him; his foreman and workers become increasingly indifferent to his stewardship; even the land rises up, as drought, then flood, destroy his farm. As the upheaval in Mehring's world increasingly resembles that in the country as a whole, it becomes clear that only a seismic shift in ideas and concrete action can avert annihilation.

ISBN: 9780747578246

Mehring is rich. He has all the privileges and possessions that South Africa has to offer, but his possessions refuse to remain objects. His wife, son

STARLIGHT IN THE RING

ISBN: 9781782795322

Nelson Mandela called for forgiveness and reconciliation.

When your heart is at stake, that's hard to do... Growing up in South Africa in the 1950s, Betty Baker's whole childhood has been shaped by the tyranny of the Apartheid Laws. As the daughter of native farm-labourers, her future is already mapped out for her. Betty's dreams are larger than Burgersdorp. Each of the sixteen laws brings hate, hardship, exile and murder, but Betty's passion and ambition drives her on. Her first love affair brings tragedy, and later, a choice: will she let the events of her past determine her future? Will she seek love - or fall for revenge?

Exceptional value fares DOUBLE ACCOMMODATIONS

CAPE TOWN TO CAP E TOWN FULL FARE

SAVER FARE

• 19-DAY CRUISE aboard Aegean Odyssey

M

Inside cabins with shower Standard Inside

£4,395

£3,995

L

Premium Inside

4,695

4,245

Premium Inside

4,995

4,495

K

THese prices include • 9 INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS AND SAFARIS as described with specialist-guide • Scheduled economy class AIR FARE

Outside cabins with shower J

Standard Outside

5,295

4,745

I*

Premium Outside

5,595

5,045

H

Premium Outside

5,925

5,325

G

Premium Outside

6,250

5,650

Deluxe outside staterooms

• EXPERT guest speaker programme on board • ALL MEALS on board Aegean Odyssey • COMPLIMENTARY WINE (or beer/soft drinks) with dinner on board

F

Deluxe Stateroom, Outside

6,595

5,945

E

Deluxe Stateroom, Outside

6,875

6,175

• CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATIONS at sea

Deluxe Stateroom, Balcony

7,350

6,600

• GRATUITIES for on-board restaurant staff and your cabin steward

Deluxe balcony suites and staterooms D C

Deluxe Stateroom, Balcony

7,695

6,895

B

Junior Suite, Balcony

8,495

7,595

A

Owner’s Suite, Balcony

9,250

8,250

• TRANSFERS & BAGGAGE handling on arrival and departure overseas

SINGLE ACCOMMODATIONS

Category C: Deluxe Stateroom with balcony

MM

Standard Inside

5,095

4,695

SPECIAL EARLY BOOKING FARES

JJ II*

Standard Outside

6,095

5,545

Premium Outside

6,495

5,945

Save up to £2,000 per cabin

HH*

Premium Outside

6,895

6,295

PLUS LOW FARES FOR SINGLE TRAVELLERS

GG*

Premium Outside

7,250

6,650

EE

Deluxe Stateroom, Outside

7,995

7,295

CC

Deluxe Stateroom, Balcony

8,995

8,195

Air Credit (when making your own arrangements)

1,500

Cruise Only Credit (no air or land included)

1,500

Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include all discounts. † Saver fares vary per cabin category and are valid until 31/7/15.

†

Reserve your cabin now

Call 0845 437 9737 AEG151219

*Please note: Category GG, I, II and some HH cabins have restricted view. For full terms and conditions, please refer to our brochure or website. Ship’s Registry: Malta.

or visit www.voyagestoantiquity.com

winter 2015/16 Cruise portfolio: NOVEMBER 19, 2015

DECEMBER 18, 2015

VOYAGE TO

JANUARY 4, 2016

SOUTH AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA

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BE S T

BURMA &

THE MALAY PENINSULA

S M A L L - S H I P

ON AN EXTRAORDINARY VOYAGE

C RU I S I NG

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BE S T

B E S T

SAIL FROM CAPE TOWN TO COLOMBO THROUGH THE WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL OCEAN

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UNTIL 31/7/15

S M A L L - S H I P

CRU I S I NG

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BE S T

PASSAGE TO

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EARLY BOOKING FARES APPLY

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UNTIL 31/7/15

B E S T

S M A L L - S H I P

CRU I S I NG

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CRUISE THROUGH THE SUEZ CANAL ON A JOURNEY TO ANCIENT SITES OF THE AEGEAN SEA

UNTIL 31/7/15

I T S

AT

CLASSICAL GREECE

A MAGICAL 26-DAY JOURNEY FROM DELHI TO JORDAN

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CRU I S I NG

MARCH 19, 2016

THE RED SEA

SAIL FROM THE MYSTERIES OF MALAYSIA TO THE TREASURES OF INDIA’S GOLDEN TRIANGLE

CRU I S I NG

S M A L L - S H I P

ANCIENT JORDAN TO

INDIA & THE WONDERS OF

SRI LANKA & INDIA

S M A L L - S H I P

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UNTIL 31/7/15

MARCH 2, 2016

FEBRUARY 20, 2016

FEBRUARY 5, 2016

SAIL INTO THE HEART OF BURMA

CRU I S I NG

INDIAN OCEAN

A 2-WEEK ADVENTURE TO THE NATURAL WONDERS AND VIBRANT CITIES OF SOUTH AFRICA

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SOUTH AFRICA & THE

SOUTH AFRICA

THE BEST OF SOUTH AFRICA ON A 19-DAY CELEBRATION VOYAGE

AN EXTRAORDINARY 31-DAY JOURNEY FROM MALAGA TO CAPE TOWN

JANUARY 16, 2016

GAME PARKS OF

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR IN

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BE S T

ER EARLY WINNBOOKING FARES APPLY S M A L L - S H I P

CRU I S I NG

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UNTIL 31/7/15

AWARDS

To find out more, watch our inspiring videos online or request cruise portfolio booklets at

www.voyagestoantiquity.com/cruisebooks For all enquiries call 0845 437 9737

VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY BEST FOR ADVENTURE

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