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The moment you step on board Discovery, you'll feel a genuine warmth in the welcome of her crew and staff. They are supported by a team of officers from Europe and over 300 friendly international crew members. Cabin and restaurant staff hail predominantly from the Philippines. Renowned for their high standards, you'll be the first to appreciate their courteousness and their attentive levels of service. In addition to the experienced cruise staff and the company of the guest speakers they've invited to join, you'll also enjoy the talents of a highly accomplished team of musicians and entertainers. Together, they'll ensure that your time aboard Discovery is as rewarding and enjoyable as can be. As well as the wonderful places you'll travel to, Discovery is a destination unto herself. Whether you prefer relaxing in a quiet corner, dancing, keeping fit and treating yourself to a massage, or dining out, life on board Discovery will keep you as busy or as relaxed as you like.

All Day: 18:00

Capital and main port of Mauritius, Port Louis was founded by the French governor, Mahé de Labourdonnais, in 1735. The harbour lies sheltered in a semi-circle of mountains. The town has plenty of character, and shows off its past elegance. Off the Place d'Armes main square, there are some particularly fine French colonial buildings, especially the Government House (18th century) and the Municipal Theater, built around the same time. There are two cathedrals, Anglican and Catholic, a mosque, a Chinese casino, a fine supreme court, some 18th century barracks, and a natural history museum. The Central Market is one of Port Louis' most memorable attractions. The restaurants in the city and throughout Mauritius are quite diverse and the new Caudan Waterfront is considered by many to be the main tourist attraction in town. It has become the hub of the city with plenty of trendy shops, cinemas, restaurants and a casino. The Chinese quarter has plenty of little restaurants as well, and food stalls abound on street corners. It's probably the most colorful part of the city with its herbal remedy shops and spice sellers. You'll also find the island's most beautiful mosque in this area. The Jummah Mosque was built in 1853 and is adorned with fabulous teak doors and decorations; however, it is only open to visitors at certain times.

Things to see and do:
* Caudan Waterfront
* Place d'Armes – main square
* Chinese quarter
* Champs de Mars market

We set sail this evening.

All Day: 7:00 to 18:00

Réunion is a French overseas department where Parisian chic melds with Creole spice around its capital, St-Dénis. A port on the Indian Ocean at the mouth of the St-Dénis River, the main exports are sugar and rum. St.-Dénis is Réunion's largest city and its administrative, communications, and economic center.

Tropical heat warms the awnings of bars and brasseries just as vulcanologists wear out their baking shoe leather scaling the slopes of the island’s still active volcano. Doused by one of the rainy season’s welcome short, sharp showers, your wanderings will lead you past East India Company façades, through the stalls of the Grand Marché to tables laiden with spicy salsas and the freshest mangoes.

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All Day: 8:00 to 18:00

The town of Tulear draws tribes from all over Madagascar, each with its own rituals and idiosyncrasies. The university’s ethnographic museum celebrates this diversity with artifacts that include masks used by the bush-dwelling Mikea tribe for black magic rituals. Head out to Nosy Ve Island or explore nature reserves where you will discover the lemurs, cute creatures indigenous to Madagascar. St. Augustin Bay to the south is famous for its blue lobsters, and Ifaty to the north for its spiny forests and its rich variety of bird life.

Located in the Southern Dry Forest, Tulear reminds you of an "old west" town with its dry air and dusty streets. If you are interested in snorkeling and diving, go to the beach area of Ifaty just to the north, or if birding interests you, travel to the spiny desert forest outside of town. If you continue east you'll find the Isalo National Park or south to the Beza Mahafaly reserve where Madagascar's lemurs can be spotted.

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All Day: 7:00 to 22:00

Situated on KwaZulu-Natal's fertile south coast, Richards Bay started out as a holiday town and has developed into a major port. It is situated on a lagoon that is part of the Mhathuze River and its potential as a great natural harbor was confirmed in 1897 after a detailed survey was carried out.

Originally, the lagoon provided a home for a vast population of aquatic birds, attracted to the area by a rich supply of fish. Crocodiles, sharks and hippos frequented the lagoon, as did hunters and fisherman in search of trophies.

The town of Richards Bay was laid out on the elevated northern slope of the lagoon, overlooking a fine stretch of water. Today Richards Bay is a thriving industrial port with the surrounding areas offering game reserves, exotic vegetation and native villages providing the real attraction.

All Day: 7:00 to 23:00

Three-wheeled tuk-tuk open cabs ply the Golden Mile, Durban’s palm-lined promenade. Restaurants and oriental bazaars like the Victoria Street Market are filled with the fragrance of spices and incense, all reminders that these shores look out over the Indian Ocean and the exotic south-east Asian destinations beyond. Follow the arts and crafts trail, go golfing or fishing, visit a crocodile farm or head inland to the game reserves of KwaZulu Natal, the high veldt that leads the eye to the craggy peaks of the dramatic Drakensberg Mountains.

Durban is South Africa's second-biggest city and reflects a mix of cultures, including a large Indian community and a new influx of Africans from countries to the north. East Indians were brought to KwaZulu-Natal in the 1860's as indentured laborers to what was then the Colony of Natal. They have remained and have brought with them their culinary delights and passion for spices. In the Victoria Market there are many hawkers selling fine spices. Durban Metro is where the proud Zulu nation meets East and West, creating a wealth of influences to entertain and enthrall with traditional warrior dances and mystic fire walks, all manifested against the canvas of a colonial heritage.

Traditionally Durban was known for its conservatism when it came to the erection of public buildings, yet in the 1930's the city threw off this mantle and embraced a new Art Deco style. Numerous buildings, especially residential high rises, were erected in this new design. In many ways the art work on the Art Deco Buildings reflects a unique Durban identity with a strong emphasis on the city's maritime background.

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All Day: 7:00 to 22:00

Halfway between Cape Town and Durban, Port Elizabeth is situated along the beautiful shores of Algoa Bay, making it a mecca for all beach and water sports activities. Across the bay is the wonderful Addo Elephant National Park. In and around the city there are scenic nature trails and wildlife experiences, long golden beaches, historic heritage sites and a warm sunny climate. Port Elizabeth has a famous oceanarium on the seafront, colorful Edwardian architecture, and Fort Frederick, from which no shot was ever fired. The old library, City Hall, and Market Square are all worth a visit. South of the city are good beaches, such as King’s Beach and Humewood Beach. The latter features the Apple Express, one of the few remaining narrow-gauge steam trains which runs from Humewood to Thornhill.

Things to see and do:
* Water sports at King’s and Humewood Beaches
* Addo Elephant National Park
* the Oceanarium
* Donkin Reserve and Donkin Heritage Trail
* the Snake Park

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Overnight: 7:00

Between landmarks like the Twelve Apostles and Table Mountain, Cape Town is a city you can sit back and enjoy at the leisurely pace the locals do, or as a launching pad to dozens of exhilarating adventures. In and around town are the historic Malay Quarter of Bo Kaap, the bars and restaurants of the V & A Waterfront and haunting Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Within easy reach are the exotic blooms that thrive out at Kirstenbosch and the Dutch architectural styles and wineries of Stellenbosch.

Cape Town and the surrounding areas are regarded among the most beautiful in the world. The city, South Africa's third-largest, is a rare cultural gem resulting from the amalgamation of Malaysian, French Huguenots, Dutch, British and German settlers, the Bushman and Hottentot tribes from the north as well as the Bantu tribe. The impressive presence of Table Mountain, flanked by legendary Devil's Peak and historical Signal Hill, stands proudly above the city. Beautiful white sandy beaches along a peaceful coastline frame the entire Cape Peninsula.

Cape Town boasts a multitude of entertainment, ranging from outdoor activities and adventures in the sun to a roaring night life under neon signs. The vast range of shopping opportunities includes haggling with hawkers at Greenmarket Square Flea Market, as well as breezing through sophisticated and stylish shopping malls. The huge variety of restaurants reflects the multi-cultured history of the Cape and caters for everyone's taste, from fast-food outlets to casual, chic, or very elegant dining.

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With its backdrop of flat-topped Table Mountain, Cape Town is rated as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Start your exploration of the 'Fairest Cape', the Cape of Good Hope, with an unforgettable journey to the southernmost tip of the African continent, Cape Point. Here, the cold and warm currents of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans clash, giving rise to its ominous reputation as the Cape of Storms. Lunch is included on this full day tour, but today dinner is on your own in the venerable Victoria & Alfred Waterfront district, the fully refurbished docklands area of the city. Overnight at the Winchester Mansions, a stylishly elegant hotel with a spectacular oceanfront location.

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After your sumptious breakfast at the hotel, today you set off into the hinterland and the famous wine- and fruit-growing regions of the Cape. The well known winelands around Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek are complemented by the fruit belt towns of Wellington, Ceres, and Worcester. Lunch is at a winery, with a glass or two of the locally produced wines included. Don't imbibe too much; you'll fall asleep afterwards and miss the magnificent scenery on your return into the city. Dinner is on your own this evening. Overnight at the Winchester Mansions Hotel.

Overnight:

You will have a very early breakfast this morning as you set off on your transfer to the airport. Your flight takes you to Maun, Botswana via Johannesburg. Upon arrival in Maun, you then board your private charter flight that will whisk you into the northwest region of Botswana, leaving the familiar world far behind. Upon touching down at a remote airstrip, you are then transferred by four-wheel drive to your first safari camp where you will spend two glorious nights in luxurious surroundings in the middle of the bush. If your energy is running high, you can head out on an early evening game drive before enjoying your sumptuous dinner back at camp. You overnight for two nights at a camp in the middle of the Okavango Delta, with all your meals included.

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Nestled near the western boundary of the Moremi Game Reserve, the camp is in the heart of the famous Okavango Delta, the world's largest inland delta. Morning game drives are preceded by tea, coffee or hot chocolate before you head into 'Wild Kingdom' country, seeking Africa's Big Five game animals: Cape Buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard, and rhino. If water levels are high enough, you could opt for a boat trip to view the rich bird-life in the area. Breakfast usually follows the morning game drive, and a leisurely morning allows for a cat nap before lunch. Late afternoon game drives precede the evening's surprisingly varied and mouth-watering meals.

Overnight:

Enjoy another fascinating game drive into the bush before breakfast. After eating, transfer to the airstrip for your private flight to your second safari camp in northern Botswana. You are again transferred by four-wheel drive from the airstrip to your camp which fronts onto the Linyanti Wetlands. Enjoy a wonderful lunch before readying yourself for the late-afternoon game drive or boat trip. Night drives are also available here to view the nocturnal predators and birds. At your camp, an understated elegance meets untamed Africa. Once again, all your meals are included while on safari; your stay at this camp is for two nights.

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Your morning game drive takes you through the wetlands and flood plains around camp which offers a wonderful variety of wildlife with excellent sightings of elephant, hippo, lechwe, zebra, giraffe, impala, wildebeest, kudu, tsessebe, roan, sable, buffalo and the ever-present predators -- wild dog, lion, cheetah and hyena. Return to camp for a hearty, well-earned breakfast, followed by lunch in the early afternoon. You can even enjoy a refreshing dip in the pool before preparing for yet another sortie into the wild. Dinners are amazingly delicious here.

Overnight:

Enjoy one more game drive before breakfast and your transfer to the airstrip for your private charter flight to Kasane in the northeastern corner of Botswana. Transfers are then provided to your accommodation. Lunch is on your own today, but your dinner this evening is an extraordinary affair. You will enjoy an evening sunset cruise with a buffet dinner served onboard as you view the wildlife at the water's edge from a different vantage point -- a riverboat. Your accommodation this evening is at Chobe Safari Lodge, fronting on the splendid Chobe River.

Overnight:

Before returning to civilization, enjoy a final game drive in the morning through Chobe National Park, Botswana's second largest national park. Known especially for its huge herds of elephant, the park is nestled against the borders of four countries: Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and of course Botswana. Return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast. After getting your own lunch today, you are then transferred to Kasane airport for your short flight to Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city. Known as the gateway to Africa, Johannesburg is a city literally built on gold. You will be transferred to your downtown 'oasis' of an hotel where you can re-adjust to 'normal' life. Dinner is on your own this evening, and your accommodation is at the Indaba Hotel.

After breakfast at your hotel, and depending on the time of your departing flight, you may have the opportunity to do some more last-minute shopping before heading to the airport. Lunch is on your own today. Depending on your final destination, flights will be leaving at different times; however, your transfer is included to the airport for your overnight flight home.