For years, a dream of mine has been to travel to South Africa, not only to experience and photograph the stunning landscapes of the region, but above all, to have the opportunity to see wild animals in their natural habitat. That dream has not yet been realized, as planning such a trip has been a bit intimidating…..until now.

My husband and I are great cruise aficionados and, if you follow our site, have seen much of the world thanks to our experiences onboard boutique ships. As we always say, on a cruise you unpack once and the world of exploration, in luxurious comfort, awaits you. We would never had been able to visit and photograph so many destinations on our own, as we have in all the ports of call around the world we were able to visit as part of a boutique cruise itinerary.

So it was with great interest I learned of Azamara’s return to South Africa this winter, with sailings from Capetown from January to March 2022, which include visits to several South African ports as well a safari adventure at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, home to Africa's "big five" wild animals, and tours of traditional Zulu homesteads.

Pre-and post land explorations are available with leading luxury safari operator, Micato Safaris, an award-winning outfitter. Their land programs include a five-night itinerary in Greater Kruger National Park, where Azamara travelers will have the opportunity to explore the Kapama Game Reserve, home to more than 40 mammal species, including Africa’s Big Five: the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo.

As an added bonus, you can raise a glass to your close encounter with nature in a world-class wine region. This tour takes you to the Western Cape, blessed with the perfect climate for making award-winning wines, to explore the country’s famous wine region, sip local vintages, and enjoy gourmet meals at renowed local restaurants.

Other pre-post cruise itineraries include visits to Victoria Falls and the Chobe Game Park Safari and Thula Thura, one of the oldest private game reserves in the African bushveld.

You’ll return from these exhilerating experiences, aka Amazara Destination Immersion experiences, to the comfort and luxury of your Amazara ship, where you will enjoy exceptional cuisine and top notch entertainment as you sail through the oceans of South Africa.

Amazara offers cruises in all seven continents of the world, and as an added plus, gratuities, select beverages, cultural events and more are included in the fare. For more information visit www.azamara.com.