Grand Africa Cruise
10-10-2023 to 25-11-2023
Victoria, Mahe, (Seychelles)
10th November
Arriving in Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles on Mahe island.
We decided to walk to the Botanical Gardens. It was only about 1.6km. When we arrived we were very hot so we went to cool down with some refreshments on the verandah of the garden's cafe.
After cooling down we went for a walk round the gardens.
Colleen feeding the tortoises in the enclosure.
One of the tortoises enjoying a mud bath.
And one sploot posing.
Walking back to the ship. They are mangroves on the right.
View from our room. That is the French frigate Nivose. It was leaving when we arrived and there was much tooting as we passed. It returned later in the day.
Victoria, Mahe, (Seychelles)
11th November
Our first photo stop. Today we are having a tour round the island of Mahe.
Our driver, Laurent, stopped to let us out for photos. Just stopping in the middle of the road for a few moments seemed to be normal. Other drivers drove round us.
Laurent picked one of these multi coloured frangipani flowers for each of us.
This was a stop for a break and to see one of the beaches.
Silhouette Island through the tree. Named after Etienne de Silhouette the french finance minister under Louis XV.
After touring the northern part of the island we passed through Victoria on our way to the southern part and stopped at this look out. Below is Eden Island a luxurious residential marina development built on a reclaimed coral reef.
Our lunch stop was at Surfers Restaurant.
Most of us had fresh grilled Red Snapper. Laurent is at the back with a Ginger Ale not a beer like we had.
This was a stop to view giant tortoises. The stream had just breached the beach and was pouring out into the sea. The channel was becoming wider as the basin emptied.
Unusually one of the tortoises standing up.
Us at the beach.
Another stop in the road for a photo looking down to the sea as we pass over to the west coast heading to a beach for a swim.
We sat on the beach while some of our group swam.
Stone Town, Zanzibar
14th November
Sunrise over Zanzibar.
The sign says 'Welcome to Zanzibar'.
Our excursion today is first to a spice farm. And then a tour of Stone Town the former capital of Zanzibar. On the road to Jambo Spice Farm.
At the spice farm we had just started the tour when it started to rain and we had to take shelter.
Here one of the guides shows us nutmeg that had been picked from the tree just before we had to shelter.
After the rain.
Our guide explaining the cinnamon tree. The bark, leaves and roots are used. The roots have a eucalyptus flavour.
The pods and flowers of a cardamon plant.
And the demonstration of climbing a coconut tree.
Here we are we are wearing platted crowns.
A table with all the fruit we are about to taste. Colleen is in the background with my seat next to her.
To start we had coffee with cardamon in and a local fig roll.
A piece of red banana.
Jack Fruit. The stones are not eaten.
Pineapple being cut up for tasting. We also had orange, grapefruit, yellow banana and mandarin.
The view from the verandah where we had lunch.
We shared Sea food Tacos. Most people only wanted a lite lunch and shared a plate.
Our tour group.
Stone Town Old Fort. It was originally built by the Portuguese in the 17th century.
One of the many Zanzibar doors.
Freddy Mercury was born in Zanzibar and this is where he lived.
Back at the port after a very enjoyable day. The setting sun illuminating the buildings.
Stone Town, Zanzibar
15th November
Early morning fishing.
Sailing along.
It has been raining this morning so we waited for a break before catching the tender to shore. Forodhani Park. From about 5pm. this park is full of stalls selling food bringing locals and tourist together.
The narrow streets of Stone Town and the pot holes.
After walking round the town we ended up on the street where Freddy Mercury's house is.
And then to lunch at this restaurant called Cape Town Fish Market.
A different view from the restaurant. The rain started just as we were seated.
Fish and Chips for lunch today with a Zanzibeer for me.
The sun came out when we left the restaurant. So we had a hot walk along the seafront back to the tender dock.
The People's Palace Museum about the Zanzibari royal family and history. It used to serve as a residence for the Sultan's family.
A view of the seafront from the tender dock.
One of the dhows returning to town from a snorkelling excursion.
Mamoudzou (Mayotte)
17th November
Some photos from our walk in Mamoudzou and from the ship. Mamoudzou is the capital of the Mayotte archipelago which is an overseas department and region of France.
Andoany, Nosy-Be (Madagascar)
18th November
Arriving in Andoany, Madagascar.
Colleen on the boat speeding us to the island Nosy Tanikely to snorkel.
Nosy Tanikely beach.
Some photos from snorkelling. Snorkelling from the beach is not as good as going to a reef as we did in Savusavu Fiji.
The island of Nosy Komba where we saw lemurs and had lunch.
The walk up to see the lemurs through the souvenir stalls.
A lemur with baby. Females are red and brown in colour and males are black.
Colleen feeding a lemur with banana.
And then the dismount.
My turn at feeding and a photograph.
The guide gave his last banana to this lemur.
The souvenir stalls as we head back down from the lemurs.
These are the boats that bring tourists to the island.
Our group enjoying a lunch. Beer and cocacola and water were supplied. After a hot climb to see the lemurs a cold beer was very welcome.
My plate with a sample of the various dishes served.
The restaurant where we had lunch.
At Sea
20th November
Mariner Silver Medallion Award for 300+ days(309) at sea. Captain Friso is on the right and Hotel General Manager Henk Mensink is on the left.
Maputo (Mozambique)
21st November
Berthing in Maputo, Mozambique.
We were heading to see the Maputo railway station. The Indian Navy was berthed in front of us so on the way out we stopped for a while to watch the ceremony.
Maputo Central Railway Station. It was constructed from 1908 to 1916 in the Beaux-Arts Style. Widely recognized for its attractiveness, the station has been ranked by international publications as one of the world's most beautiful.
Photos of the station.
Inside the museum.
It was about 40c and we were thirsty so we had a drink in the restaurant on the platform. Colleen had orange juice and I had mango juice.
Looking out the entrance of the station at the WWI memorial.
The front of the station without a tree obscuring it. Only a bus parked on the crossing.
On our way back to the ship Made, one of our cabin stewards, called out to us as he was cleaning our balcony glass.
This was the first time I could properly photograph the 'Grand Africa Voyage' logo on the front of the ship.
The railway station from the ship. It looks close but we had to walk a long way down the wharf, in the heat, to the port gate and then walk back along the street to the station.
Leaving Maputo. The Indian Navy ship that was in the berth in front of us.