13 February - At sea

14 February

Portugal: Funchal

Funchal, Madeira’s bustling capital, tumbles down a dramatic hillside towards a beautiful sweeping bay. Highlights include colourful markets, wine lodges and the spectacular cable car ride up to the village of Monte, home of the famous toboggan run.

15 February

Canary Islands: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Said to have the world's most perfect climate, cosmopolitan Las Palmas is the capital of Gran Canaria and the largest city in the Canary Islands. The charming old quarter, La Vegueta, is where you'll find the city's most interesting colonial architecture, while beach fans should head for lovely Playa de las Canteras.

16 February

Canary Islands: Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Situated on Tenerife’s north eastern shore, the island’s capital is a busy port that serves mostly as a gateway to the popular south west coast and the spectacular volcanic landscapes of the island’s interior.

17 February to 18 February - At sea

19 February

Cape Verde: Porto Grande

20 February - At sea

21 February

Senegal: Dakar

The busy, dusty streets of Senegal’s capital Dakar are filled with life and colour, noises, smells and local music. The people here are friendly and helpful, so expect a warm welcome – but watch out for the usual hustles and scams of a busy city.

22 February

Gambia: Banjul

Banjul is the capital of The Gambia, Africa’s smallest country, situated at the point where the Gambia river enters the Atlantic. City highlights include the National Museum and the bustling Royal Albert Market, and the nearby Tanji Bird Reserve attracts ornithologists from around the world, with hundreds of colourful species.

23 February to 24 February - At sea

25 February

Côte d’Ivoire: Abidjan

Abidjan, the most important city in Côte d’Ivoire, has bounced back since the civil war of 2011, and the glittering array of skyscrapers comes as a surprise to many visitors. There is still plenty about the city that is authentically African, however, including some of the best street food in the region.

26 February

Ghana: Takoradi

Once just a little fishing village, Takoradi is now a deep-water sea port growing rapidly on the back of Ghana’s oil industry. Nearby points of interest include Cape Coast Castle, part of a network of colonial-era forts where slaves were held captive before being shipped across the Atlantic.

27 February

Togo: Lomé

Lomé is Togo’s capital and largest city, once known as the ‘Pearl of West Africa’, and there are still some architectural remnants of the colonial period, when the city was part of German Togoland. Perhaps more interesting today are Lomé’s colourful fetish markets, where you can learn about the role of Voodoo in West Africa.

28 February - At sea

1 March

São Tomé and Príncipe: Principe

2 March to 4 March - At sea

5 March to 6 March

Namibia: Walvis Bay

Walvis Bay is situated on the edge of a tidal lagoon, sheltered from the Atlantic by a long sand spit. This important wetland area is famous for its birdlife, home to one of southern Africa’s largest flamingo colonies, and it’s a short drive to the city of Swakopmund, known for its quirky German colonial architecture.

7 March - At sea

8 March to 9 March

Arriving in Cape Town

Cape Town is a magical, multicultural city where Africa meets a European-style cosmopolitan atmosphere, creating a vibrant melting pot of cultures and religions. With flat-topped Table Mountain soaring above the city, beautiful natural landscapes, and gardens within the city, you never feel far from nature here.