Cruise Description

PONANT brings you a brand-new cruise between South Africa and Madagascar. Over 12 days aboard Le Bougainville, discover the contrasting faces of these magnificent countries offering breathtaking nature, friendly communities, captivating cities and heavenly spots.

From Durban, a melting pot of Indian, African and colonial influences and the cradle of Zulu culture, you will sail to Richards Bay, a former fishing village that is now the second largest port in South Africa. Renowned for its commitment to eco-friendliness, the town is the ideal base from which to explore the Hluhluwe Reserve, where hippos, lions, elephants and wild birds roam in pristine natural surroundings.

Le Bougainville will then cross the Mozambique Channel to reach Madagascar. There are countless adjectives to describe this island continent, as anyone who travels there is inevitably awestruck. Discover unique landscapes and ecosystems, such as the impressive marine tsingy of Nosy Hara. On the island of Nosy Komba, nature lovers will love the black lemurs, which look very much like fluffy toys, and the famous Avenue of the Baobabs in Morondava. Renowned for its exceptional natural sites, including a breathtaking red sandstone cirque, Mahajanga, the former capital of the Sakalava kingdom, boasts a fascinating cultural heritage, as does Toliara, a port town in the south-west of the island, known for its botanical gardens. Your journey will end on Nosy Be, also known as “the perfume island”.