With MSC OPERA
JAZZ FESTIVAL and ENCHANTING SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA & RED DESERT NAMIBIA & VICTORIA FALLS
JAZZ JOURNEY ONBOARD HOSTED BY CLARENCE FORD and NAMIB DESERT INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
Cape Town(3) – Walwis Bay(1) – Victoria Falls (2) – Botswana (1) – Johannesburg (1)
“CAPE TOWN & VICTORIA FALLS & BOTSWANA & JOHANNESBURG
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION INCLUDED”
ALL TOURS – JAZZ MUSIC EVENTS ONBOARD – NAMIB DESERT JAZZ FESTIVAL TICKET – FULL BOARD ACCOMMODATION ONBOARD – RIVER SAFARI - 3 LUNCHES AND 4 DINNERS ON LAND – INCLUDING FLIGHTS
DAY 01 ISTANBUL AIRPORT – CAPE TOWN 04.04.2026
Meet our guide in front of the Turkish Airlines counter at 10:00 p.m. at the International Departure Terminal of Istanbul Airport (airport meeting will be on the night of April 03). After check-in, baggage, and passport procedures, depart for Cape Town at 01:55 on Turkish Airlines flight TK44. Arrival in Cape Town at 12:00 local time. After arriving at Cape Town Airport, transfer to the port where our ship is located with our private vehicle waiting for us. After ship check-in and passport procedures, settle into the cabins and free time. Our ship will depart from the port at 18:00 in the evening. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 02 AT SEA 05.04.2026
On this day, which we will spend cruising at sea, our ship will offer you many alternatives. Those who wish can make use of the ship’s open and covered pools, jacuzzis, and sunbathing areas. Those who want can shop at duty-free stores, try their luck at the casino, or enjoy the various music and entertainment performed in dozens of bars. Different dining options await you all day long.
DAY 03 WALVIS BAY 06.04.2026
Our ship will dock at Walvis Bay port at 16:00 in the morning. After breakfast, free time for shopping and personal activities. Guests who wish can join the “Moon Landscape & Welwitschia Lagoon & Swakopmund Tour” organized by our guide. After a brief briefing from our local guide, we will go to the Welwitschia lagoon, home to the region’s densest flamingos. Then we will climb Dune 7, located approximately 132 meters (433 feet) high. While enjoying the magnificent view here, we will have the chance to see the Welwitschia Mirabilis plant, an endemic living fossil. After our guide’s information about the region, you will accompany the moon landscape of the Welwitschia Plains, which you will admire, before going to the Goanikontes Oasis for lunch. After lunch, we will go to the old German town of Swakopmund. Free time in town for shopping and personal activities. Then return to our ship following the coastal road. Our ship will anchor in port tonight. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 04 WALVIS BAY 07.04.2026
After breakfast, free time for shopping and personal activities. Guests who wish can join the “Sandwich Harbour Desert Safari Tour” organized by our guide. Sandwich Harbour, located a little less than 60 km south of Walvis Bay in Namib-Naukluft National Park, is one of Namibia’s most unique and impressive places. On the 4x4 safari tour we will do here, we will see some of the world’s highest sand dunes and observe this formation flowing into the cold Atlantic Ocean to create a picturesque lagoon. We will also have the chance to discover wildlife in this area, which has magnificent wetlands and is devoid of any human settlement. Don’t forget to photograph this one-of-a-kind natural beauty. After the free time we will provide, return to our ship. Our ship will depart from the port at 16:00 in the evening. Dinner and overnight on board
DAY 05 AT SEA 08.04.2025
On this day, which we will spend cruising at sea, our ship will offer you many alternatives. Those who wish can make use of the ship’s open and covered pools, jacuzzis, and sunbathing areas. Those who want can shop at duty-free stores, try their luck at the casino, or enjoy the various music and entertainment performed in dozens of bars. Different dining options await you all day long.
DAY 06 CAPE TOWN 09.04.2026
Our ship will dock at Cape Town port at 09:00 in the morning. After breakfast, we complete our disembarkation procedures. Depart with our private vehicle waiting for us at the port for the “Cape Town City Tour & Table Mountain Tour.” On our tour, our first stop is Table Mountain, 1,087 meters high, where we can enjoy a 360-degree view, and we take the cable car up to capture magnificent views of the city and the ocean. (Depending on weather conditions) Cape Town, located at the southernmost tip of Africa, is not only a historic city that has been the subject of struggles for freedom, but also a city that dazzles with its natural beauty. Parliament Building, Company Gardens, Long Street, Castle of Good Hope, Reibeck Statue, Adderley Street, the Castle of Good Hope, and the Bo-Kaap district are among the places we will see. After our walking break in Sea Point and Camps Bay for wonderful ocean views, transfer to our hotel and settle into our rooms. After a rest and settling-in break, we meet in the lobby at the time determined by our guide and depart for the Welcome to South Africa Dinner at a local restaurant. We will taste the magnificent flavors of South African cuisine and enjoy a pleasant evening in front of the ocean view. After our tour, transfer to our hotel in Cape Town and free time to rest. Overnight at our hotel
DAY 07 CAPE TOWN 10.04.2026
After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the “Cape of Good Hope & Hout Bay Tour with Lunch.” We will pass through the Bantry Bay, Camps Bay, and Clifton areas and arrive at Hout Bay, a fishing town. (Depending on weather conditions) We will go out by boat and see African fur seals in their natural habitat on Seal Island, and we will have plenty of opportunities to take photos. After lunch, we go to Boulders Beach to see the adorable African penguins. Then, with our bus, we pass along the Chapmans Peak road built on granite rocks, and the Cape of Good Hope, discovered by Bartolomeo Diaz, and the highest lighthouse in the world will be seen via funicular. On our Cape of Good Hope excursion, which is part of the Cape Floral region, one of the richest flora areas on the UNESCO World Heritage list, we will have the opportunity to see 250 bird species, as well as African antelope, the Cape zebra, various reptiles, and baboon troops. After our tour, transfer to our hotel in Cape Town and free time. Accommodation at our hotel
DAY 08 CAPE TOWN 11.04.2026
After breakfast at the hotel, we go to Giraffe House and learn about various animals and see giraffes. Then depart for the “Stellenbosch & Franschhoek Tour with Lunch.” In Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa, we visit the farm where some of South Africa’s finest wines are made. The town, the heart of South Africa’s wine industry, the Stellenbosch Wine Origin region, contains 106 cellars. The heart of the town lies in the middle of oak-lined Dorp Street. After tasting wine here, we see Stellenbosch University, where modern student life intertwines with historical and architectural heritage in its distinguished old buildings. We will have free time for shopping in the city’s boutique and historic shops. Our next stop is Franschoek Town, founded by the French in the 17th century and regarded as South Africa’s Food and Wine Capital. This charming town is one of the places with the finest examples of Cape architecture, and today it has become one of the most frequented places by tourists. Settled by French Huguenots more than three hundred years ago, the Franschhoek Valley produces some of the world’s truly excellent wines with its magnificent vineyards covering the mountain slopes. Then transfer to our hotel in Cape Town and free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel.
DAY 09 CAPE TOWN – VICTORIA FALLS 12.04.2026
After breakfast at the hotel, we check out of the rooms and transfer to Cape Town airport. Then depart for Victoria Falls on local airlines. Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel by private bus and free time to rest. In the afternoon, depart for a sunset dinner boat tour on the Zambezi River. As the sun’s reddish rays color the river gold, depart for the “Sunset Boat Tour with Dinner” in this fairy-tale scenery. On the boat, we enjoy our meal filled with local flavors together with unlimited drinks. Here we will taste the traditional flavors of Zimbabwean cuisine. After our boat tour on the calm waters of the Zambezi River, transfer to our hotel in Victoria Falls and free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel.
DAY 10 VICTORIA FALLS 13.04.2026
After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the "Victoria Falls Tour." Our tour begins with the majestic Victoria Bridge at the entrance of the city. This border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, where the river waters cascade down, almost bridges the two countries and offers us an unforgettable view. Victoria Falls is recognized as one of the largest and most impressive waterfalls in the world. Also known as "the smoke that thunders," these falls have an impressive appearance with a width of about 1700 meters and a drop of more than 100 meters. The clouds and mist formed where the water falls create a magnificent natural phenomenon worth seeing. The falls are located within Victoria Falls National Park. The surroundings of Victoria Falls are known for their rich wildlife. Inside the national park, there are wild animals, bird species, and diverse flora. As our tour continues, we will get acquainted with local markets and craft workshops in Victoria Falls city center. Colorful textiles, handmade jewelry, and works of art will be waiting for us as pieces reflecting Zimbabwe’s cultural richness. Victoria Falls city is fascinating not only for its natural beauty but also for its historical monuments. Buildings from the colonial period and areas adorned with local stories shape the character of the city. Centers and monuments reflecting the daily life of the local people help us follow the traces of the past. After our tour, depart with our private bus for our Livingstone city tour. Livingstone is a Zambian city noted for its natural beauty, history, and tourist appeal. In addition to seeing Victoria Falls from here as well, Livingstone is also famous for its impressive natural scenery, river activities, wildlife tours, and adventure sports. The city is equipped with accommodation and tourism facilities offering all these activities. In addition, Livingstone is historically interesting. It is named after the English explorer David Livingstone. In the mid-19th century, Livingstone was an explorer who made expeditions into the interior of Africa and mapped the region. On our Livingstone Museum tour, we will see personal belongings of the famous English explorer David Livingstone, ethnographic objects reflecting various local cultures and traditions of Zambia, handicrafts, jewelry and clothing, and objects narrating the history of Zambia, the life of the indigenous people, and the colonial period. Return to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 11 VICTORIA FALLS – BOTSWANA– CHOBE (River Safari) 14.04.2026
After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Botswana. Upon arrival, we settle into our Botswana hotel. And we have lunch. After lunch, depart for the "Chobe River Safari Tour." As we explore the enchanting Chobe region, we will encounter rich natural wonders, incredible wildlife encounters, and captivating cultural experiences. Our adventure begins on our majestic Chobe River boat safari, where we will witness the awe-inspiring display of wildlife gathering for their daily rituals. Imagine cruising these tranquil waters, enjoying the golden hues of the sunset, and observing magnificent herds of elephants, playful hippos, and graceful antelopes gathered along the riverbank. The Chobe River is not just a waterway; it is a stage where nature’s most extraordinary performances unfold before our eyes. After our tour, transfer to our hotel in Botswana and free time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel.
DAY 12 BOTSWANA (4x4 Safari) – JOHANNESBURG 15.04.2026
After breakfast, we complete our hotel check-out procedures. Then, with our private vehicle waiting for us, depart for the Botswana “4X4 Safari Tour.” We do our safari with 4x4 vehicles. From the moment we set foot in Botswana, its various natural beauties will enchant us. Imagine ourselves exploring the untouched wilderness of the Okavango Delta; together we will admire lush lotus flowers, encounter rare bird species, and maybe even see the elusive leopard or buffalo hiding in the reeds. Imagine sharing the excitement of witnessing herds of elephants, graceful giraffes, and agile cheetahs in their natural habitat. As we roam this wildlife wonderland, we will create lasting memories, with our cameras ready to capture these awe-inspiring moments. After the tour, transfer to the airport. Depart for Johannesburg on local airlines. Upon arrival, we leave the area and begin our panoramic Johannesburg city tour. City Center, Houghton-Mandela House, Rosebank, and Sandton are among the places we will see during our tour. After our tour, return to our hotel and overnight at our hotel in Johannesburg.
DAY 13 JOHANNESBURG 16.04.2026
After breakfast at the hotel, we check out of the rooms and depart with our private vehicle waiting for us for the "Lion Park Visit & Lesedi Cultural Village Tour (with Lunch)." In the morning, we first start with our Lion Park tour, where we will have a wonderful experience with the rare white lion sighting, petting the cubs, seeing them play in their natural environment, and meeting many other rescued animal friends. When we go for a walk with the lions under the supervision of keepers in Lion Park, the harmony between nature, you, and the lion will be an experience you will never forget in your life. Depart for Lesedi Cultural Village, a cultural village where you can closely see the lifestyles, dances, traditions, and customs of the black tribes living in South Africa. At the beginning of the tour, the history of black cultures is explained with a video presentation; then, by dividing into small groups, we enter the areas exhibiting the home life of the Zulu-Xhosa-Basotho and Pedi tribes. Afterwards, cultural African dances are watched. After the tour, we will have our lunch and then transfer to the airport. Upon arrival, we complete our check-in, baggage, and passport procedures. Then, with Turkish Airlines flight TK39, we depart for Istanbul at 17:55 in the evening. Overnight on the plane..
DAY 14 ISTANBUL AIRPORT 17.04.2026
Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 05:00 in the morning local time. End of our tour...