Grand Voyages - 2009 - (Page 26) Indian Ocean Odyssey 3 6 - DAY S IngAPoRe To CAPe ToWn Come sunbathe on idyllic islands that dot the Indian ocean. Immerse yourself in the glory of India. Head out for a bright morning’s game drive in Kenya. Savor the luxury of lingering for days in Mumbai, Dubai, Victoria, Mombasa and Cape Town. Amboseli national Park (Mombasa), Kenya Highlights mAG I C A L m U m B A I Discoveries: Prince of Wales Museum with its stunning displays of jade and illuminated manuscripts; colorful Chowpatty Beach; laundry workers at the dhobi ghats; the chance to travel to the wondrous Taj Mahal, white marble monument to love. AFRI CA N S A FA R I S The voyage continues, this time in a sweeping arc of the Indian Ocean that takes you as far north as Dubai then down the entire east coast of Africa. Our first port of call: pretty Phuket, Thailand’s premier beach resort, where swimming and sunbathing are the order of the day. In India we’ll call first on the beguiling seaside resort of marmagoa, where Christian and Hindu cultures mix followed by mumbai, India’s financial hub, and center of the thriving “Bollywood” film industry. Our extended stay here allows time to enjoy the city’s dizzying street life, tour the caves on Elephanta Island or travel to Agra to take in the splendid sight of the famous Taj Mahal. Golf in Dubai? This ultramodern capital of the United Arab Emirates offers four championship courses, along with shops brimming with luxury goods at excellent prices — our extra-long days here allows you to explore the city at leisure. The Al-Alam palace built for the Sultan of Oman dominates muscat’s waterfront. Venture ashore to explore an intriguing Old Town guarded by two imposing Portuguese forts. Crossing the equator, we come to Victoria, capital of the luxe Seychelles Islands. You will have two leisurely days here to stroll palm-shaded botanical gardens, shop for diaphanous fabrics and fragrant spices and enjoy the island’s chic, simple lifestyle. The Africa of Isak Dinesen awaits in mombasa, where Arab dhows tie up along the docks and the narrow streets are filled with vendors, tailors, coffee merchants and perfume makers in a glorious cacophony of colors and aromas. How fortunate to have two days to take it all in. Off the coast of Africa lie island delights: Follow your nose in Nosy Be, Madagascar, where perfume is distilled from the ylangylang tree, then add the little-known port of mamoudzou to your list of “been theres.” Next, exotic mozambique and its capital maputo — a maiden call for Holland America Line. For a taste of under-discovered South Africa, we’ll venture to Zululand (Richards Bay), a vast tract of land dominated by the proud warrior nation. The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve here is home to Africa’s Big Five. Durban, a major holiday resort for South Africans, offers a golden mile of beach lined with glittering high-rise hotels boasts the flavors of Africa and India in its markets. From Mombasa travel to the Taita Hills Game Sanctuary or the Maasai Mara Reserve. From Cape Town: Lion Sands Game Reserve or Phinda Game Reserve. T I mE I N C A P E TOW N Take a cable car up to flattopped Table Mountain for stellar views. Head to the Cape of Good Hope. Enjoy an afternoon tasting superb wines in the Stellenbosch region. And finally — an extended stay in Cape Town to explore this world-class city and its surrounding countryside in depth. L E F T TO R IGH T Stroll through streets lined with old colonial-style houses in Mozambique’s Maputo. Paradise found: sunning in the Seychelles. A little exotic local color in nosy Be, Madagascar. 26 e-brochures available online
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