Swan Hellenic unveils West Africa Grand Voyages for 2026, expands 2027 program

Swan Hellenic has announced two West Africa Grand Voyages for fall 2026 alongside an expanded slate of itineraries for spring and fall 2027.

The program focuses on expedition-style sailings along Africa's west coast, with itineraries designed to be combined into longer journeys.

For 2026, two back-to-back voyages can be linked into a 26-day sailing from Dakar to Luanda, covering 14 countries and 18 ports.

In 2027, the line will offer nine cruises across two seasons, including four northbound spring voyages from Cape Town to Lisbon spanning 14 countries, and five southbound fall sailings from Lisbon to Cape Town spanning 15 countries.

The itineraries include a mix of cultural and natural experiences, from historic slave-trading sites to remote coastal destinations such as Ilha dos Tigres in Angola, Loango National Park in Gabon and Banc d'Arguin in Mauritania.

Programming onboard includes lectures, cultural experiences and photography workshops led by expedition guides.

All sailings take place aboard SH Diana, a boutique expedition ship accommodating 192 guests across 96 staterooms and suites, the majority with private balconies. 

The ship is equipped with Zodiacs and tender boats for accessing remote locations, and features multiple dining venues, a spa, gym and lecture theatre.

Highlights from the schedule include:

Fall 2026

• Dakar to Tema (Sept. 16–29): 12 nights across seven countries
• Tema to Luanda (Sept. 29–Oct. 12): 13 nights across seven countries

Spring 2027

• Cape Town to Luanda (March 29–April 9): 11 nights
• Luanda to Tema (April 9–22): 13 nights
• Tema to Dakar (April 22–May 5): 13 nights
• Dakar to Lisbon (May 5–14): 9 nights

Fall 2027

• Lisbon to Casablanca (Sept. 8–15): 7 nights
• Casablanca to Dakar (Sept. 15–22): 7 nights
• Dakar to Tema (Sept. 22–Oct. 5): 13 nights
• Tema to Luanda (Oct. 5–18): 13 nights
• Luanda to Cape Town (Oct. 18–29): 11 nights

"Now entering our fourth year in West Africa, I believe Swan Hellenic has built something truly special. Few expedition cruise companies can match our knowledge and experience of this region, particularly in the most remote ports and expedition areas," said CEO Andrea Zito.

"We continuously refine the guest experience by listening to feedback and drawing on the deep trust we have earned with local authorities and communities in every country we visit. Our expeditions prioritize meaningful connection, building into curated voyages that change how our guests see and relate to Africa and exploration itself."

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