West African Archipelago Expedition: Cape Verde & Bissagos Island Cruise

Your expedition cruise starts in Dakar, Senegal's colourful and animated capital. Located at the tip of the Cape Verde peninsula, it's the westernmost city not only in Africa but in all the Old World. Dakar is a low-rise, cosmopolitan place, famed these days for its buzzing music and arts scenes. The city enjoys a laid-back atmosphere, and you'll see suit-clad businessmen rubbing shoulders with barefoot market traders in this swirling kaleidoscope of modern Africa.  

The peninsula on which Dakar lies projects westwards into the ocean, and it was formed when offshore volcanic islands were joined to the continent by a land bridge. The exposure to humid winds off the sea keeps the vegetation a bit greener than the otherwise desert-like landscape of northern Senegal, hence its name, Cape Verde, meaning Green Cape.  

You'll find the beating heart of the Dakar in the district of Medina, with its maze of streets, the bustling market of Marché Tilène, and the imposing Grand Mosque. Also worth checking out is Independence Square, which is laid out with gardens and fountains and is home to numerous grand colonial buildings that hint at the nation's past.  

Our expedition ship MS Spitsbergen will be waiting for you close to the ferry dock. Upon boarding you'll be greeted by the crew and given a complimentary wind and water-resistant expedition jacket. After you've settled into your comfortable cabin there'll be a mandatory safety briefing to make sure we're all safe at sea, and then it's time for us to set sail and for the adventure to begin.  

If you'd like to extend your stay in Dakar at the beginning of your adventure, we recommend booking our optional Pre-Programme. 

You'll arrive in Dakar a day prior to embarkation, and the optional Pre-Programme includes one night in a hotel close to the city centre and harbour. Spend the first day relaxing after your long journey and make use of the hotel's amenities, or participate in an optional pre-bookable excursion, such as the Bandia Animal Reserve. The next day after breakfast a transfer will connect you to a privately chartered ferry to historic Gorée Island.  

UNESCO listed Gorée Island is the most interesting – if tragic – site in Dakar. You'll see colourful colonial mansions alongside the infamous Maison des Esclaves, where slaves were kept before transportation across the Atlantic. Despite its sobering history, the island has many beautiful sights, including ancient baobab trees, and you'll be able to see artisans creating and selling their crafts. 

During your day visit you'll dive deep into the history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your guide will take you to the Maison des Esclaves and museum, and lunch will be served in a local restaurant. After this action-packed day your ferry will take you back to Dakar port where MS Spitsbergen is waiting for you.

Get set for island adventures  

Today we head west to the Cape Verde Islands. There will be plenty of time to get acquainted with your fellow passengers and Expedition Team.   

Enjoy the onboard comforts – from delicious meals and drinks in the Explorer Lounge & Bar, to relaxing in the panoramic sauna or a hot tub out on deck. 

To learn more about what's ahead, join the Expedition Team for fascinating lectures in the Science Center and pick up pointers from our professional photographer as you watch for marine life and seabirds.  

See Santiago's eclectic mix of cultural influences 

Santiago embodies the spirit of the Cape Verde archipelago. Here you can enjoy a little of everything, from historical sites and bustling markets to lush valleys and craggy mountains.  

The capital of Praia is a dynamic city that attracts immigrants from the rest of Cape Verde and the African continent.  

Explore Praia's vibrant culture on a city tour. Visit the museums and buildings around the Plateau, which displays artifacts recovered from the islands' shipwrecks. Stop by viewpoints, the local market, and more. 

A landscape of lava, craters and calderas 

Today's expedition day takes you to Fogo, an island dominated by a cone-shaped active volcano. Centuries of eruptions, the last in 2014, have left an incredible landscape for us to explore. 

Enjoy a tour of São Filipe's cobbled streets and charming historic centre. Or why not discover the stunning lava fields of Chã das Caldeiras.  

Fogo doesn't have any natural harbours, so we'll only land if conditions allow us to launch our small expedition boats.  

Island paradise made for adventure

Santo Antão's landscapes of peaks, gorges and canyons have benefited from their unsuitability for agriculture. Largely untouched, this wilderness sanctuary is a paradise for hikers and nature lovers.  

We'll land in Porto Novo, the island's main port, which has spectacular views across to São Vicente. Enjoy a ride around the island, which takes you on a nature tour through the island's ribeiras. These are deep, narrow canyons with near vertical walls. 

Or why not go on a nature walk and take in the local beauty spots up close. Walk along trails through mango and almond groves, punctuated by the delicious aroma of roasting coffee wafting through the villages. 

Explore an island gem 

You've now reached Cape Verde's easternmost island, Boa Vista.  

You'll be awed by the rugged beauty of the Sahara-like desert formations and landscapes of this volcanic island. The sand dunes and oases found here are in stark contrast to the other islands we visit on this cruise. 

Stroll the streets of the island's capital, Sal Rei, where you can explore its history and traditions, and visit Santa Isabel Church. The Ponta do Sol nature reserve is within hiking distance of the town, and a great way to enjoy the scenery. 

Prepare to experience the Bissagos Islands  

We say goodbye to Cape Verde as our expedition cruise continues to Guinea-Bissau. As we sail, your Expedition Team will brief you on what lies ahead.  

Learn about the extraordinary biodiversity of this tropical region, the traditional culture of the Bijagós people, and the historical impact of Portuguese exploration and the slave trade. 

You can also participate in our Citizen Science Programme and contribute data to important ongoing research projects. Or why not brush up your photography skills with our onboard photographer in readiness for the sights to come.  

Take in the nature and wildlife of this UNESCO wonder  

Over the next four days, you'll explore a maze of islands and channels, seeking out mangroves, tropical forests, savannah woodlands and coastal lagoons. Our small expedition boats will take us down the smaller channels and on shore landings with the Expedition Team, and we may launch our kayaks. 

You'll meet and learn more about the local Bijagós people, a tribal society organised in clans. Practising a life that's in balance with nature, they hold the world around them sacred, and have retained their ancestral traditions. 

Local conditions will determine when and where we can land and explore, but whatever we do you can be sure you'll experience the rich diversity of the archipelago up close. 

Soak up the past and present in historic Banjul 

Today we reach The Gambia and its tiny capital Banjul. It may be a small city, but its location at the mouth of the Gambia River means it is an important trading hub.  

Banjul played a role in ending the slave trade, as its garrison was used by the British Navy to uphold abolition laws. Close by is the birthplace of Kunta Kinte, the protagonist of Alex Haley's famous book Roots. 

This city is easy to explore on foot. Visit the lively Royal Albert Market and the National Museum, which contains historical documents and displays about the country's history. Back on board, you'll enjoy a cultural performance, introducing you to The Gambia's music and traditions. 

The expedition comes to an end as we dock at Dakar. It is time to say farewell to MS Spitsbergen and all the crew and staff onboard the ship. However, the cruise may be at an end, but there is still time to explore Dakar and perhaps see some things you may have missed at the start.

Immediately after disembarkation you can join our Dakar City Tour, which takes in the main sights of Senegal's capital such as  Independence Square, the African Renaissance Monument, the cathedral and the west and east Corniche.

With the tour complete, you'll be taken to a hotel where you can spend the rest of the day relaxing in comfort. There will be a lunch waiting for you upon arrival. After lunch you can relax in your day-room, or use the hotel's amenities, before later that day starting your return journey back to your home country from the airport.

If you'd like to stay longer in Dakar you're welcome to book some nights at the hotel.