Once overlooked on the global cruise map, West Africa is now drawing attention as cruise lines expand their itineraries to include the region’s rich cultural ports and scenic coastlines.
With multiple destinations covered in one trip and better value than many land-based holidays, cruising is fast becoming the easiest way to explore this vibrant part of the continent.
According to telegraph.co.uk, the hard part is deciding where to go, for it’s no longer just about the Mediterranean and the Caribbean – two longstanding cruise favourites.
Fast forward to today, and the world really is your oyster when it comes to choosing a cruise destination, with the likes of Alaska, Antarctica, the Norwegian fjords, the Nile and the Mekong all possibilities.
But there’s another region now steadily staking its claim to a place on this list: step forward West Africa, where a growing number of operators are now setting sail to less-travelled shores.
Historically, the region has languished as a cruise destination. However, recent troubles in the Red Sea have resulted in the “rerouting of itineraries away from the Suez Canal, which has brought West Africa into the mix,” says Dave Mills, chief commercial officer at online cruise agency Iglu.
Similarly, the backlash against cruise ships elsewhere in the world – Nice is the latest city to try to ban large vessels as it grapples with the negative effects of overtourism – has seen cruise lines forced to redraw the map and seek out destinations experiencing the opposite phenomenon.
West Africa, once a feather in only the most seasoned travellers’ caps, has emerged as a winner, with cruise lines including Azamara, Oceania Cruises and Crystal Cruises now offering sailings along the West African coast with stops in countries such as Senegal, Sao Tome, Cabo Verde, Gambia, Ghana and Togo.
It’s music to the ears of those who have always wanted to visit West Africa – with its vibrant culture, verdant landscapes, wildlife-rich national parks and pristine beaches – but have long been unsure how to approach planning a trip, as well as seasoned cruisers looking to explore somewhere relatively undiscovered.
Robert Wellman, who, with his wife Jacqui, has been sailing with Azamara for some seven years, chose to visit West Africa with the small-ship line in 2023 because “travel should be a force for good. And unlike other parts of the world that feel overrun, West Africa is eagerly accepting visitors.
“We’ve cruised all over the world, and just when we thought we had seen it all, we spotted a cruise to an intriguing new corner.”
Wellman and his wife aren’t the only ones to sit up and take notice of the region. In May 2024, passengers on Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise – a nine-month round-the-globe odyssey with a price tag of £88,000 per person – criticised the line for overlooking Africa in its original itinerary.
Consequently, the cruise giant added nine African ports to its voyage, including stops in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Senegal. And they aren’t the only ones – Oceania Cruises, too, has also observed increasing interest in the region and included Senegal, Gambia, and Ghana in its current itineraries.
To cope with the growing demand, several ports in West Africa are planning – or have recently undergone – improvements to their infrastructure. The island of Sao Vicente in Cape Verde, a stunning island chain 500km west of Senegal, opened a new £22 million cruise ship terminal (Mindelo) in October 2024; while Nigeria’s Lekki and Cote d’Ivoire’s Abidjan ports are both investing in their infrastructure so they can accommodate more cruise ships in the future.
West Africa’s emergence as a cruise destination comes as little surprise to British brand Swan Hellenic, which has been visiting the continent’s west coast since 2023, and Mario Bounas, the brand’s general manager for UK & Ireland, believes that the region’s “significance will only grow as travellers seek deeper, more meaningful experiences”.
“From the historic streets of Freetown to the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Ghana’s Unesco-listed Elmina Castle, every stop offers… a profound connection to the region’s history and culture,” he says.
It’s a sentiment shared by the CEO of family-owned Variety Cruises, Filippos Venetopoulos, whose father pioneered cruises to West Africa back in 2008. “West Africa offers incredible travel experiences, but we must use tourism to the area to support local communities,” he stressed to Telegraph Travel.
“My late father, Lakis, recognised the region’s potential early on. To this end, we built – through our philanthropic arm, Variety Cares – a school in the remote area of Lamin Koto in the Gambia. Today, it provides around 100 students not only with an English and Arabic education but also with electricity and clean water.”
West Africa is certainly benefiting from the increased attention and the economic boost that comes with it – but with so many popular cruise destinations now feeling the profound pinch of overtourism, the opening up of this less-trammelled region is of equal benefit to those of us seeking a calmer corner of the globe. It’s a match made in heaven – and these are five of the best ways to get in on the action.
The best West Africa cruise itineraries
Best for a boutique experience
Swan Hellenic sails to West Africa on the elegant 192-passenger SH Diana. Multiple shore excursions are offered at every port, but don’t miss the chance to delve into the area’s transatlantic slave trade at the 15th-century Elmina Castle; witness colourful kingfishers, bee-eaters and Abyssinian rollers in the little-known Bijagós archipelago; and immerse yourself in Abidjan’s art scene.
Best for destination immersion
This 26-night Azamara itinerary on the intimate Azamara Pursuit features a call at the West African capital of Dakar in Senegal – the jumping-off point for the tiny, car-free island of Gorée, whose pretty pastel-hued houses belie the fact this was once the largest slave trading centre on the African coast.
Next up is Banjul, Gambia’s breezy coastal capital and the gateway to sun-baked beaches, mangrove forests, and exotic birdlife. Every sailing includes an AzAmazing Evening – a special cultural event that allows passengers to dive deeper into the local culture.
Iglu offers a 26-night West Africa cruise with Azamara from £4,249pp including flights. Departs October 23, 2025
Best for uniqueness
Crystal Cruises is back with a new owner and a new 12-night West Coast Africa itinerary. It takes in one of the least-visited places on the planet – the dual-island nation of Sao Tome, that’s been dubbed the African Galapagos thanks to its almost 200 endemic species – as well as Cotonou, Benin’s vibrant capital. Here, visitors can learn about spirits (Benin is considered the birthplace of voodoo) and the Afro-Brazilian heritage of Ouidah, Abomey and Porto Novo.
Best for a less traditional experience
Variety Cruises’ yacht cruise up the Gambia River and along the coast of West Africa encompasses four natural reserves and a sobering dose of Britain’s slavery history in just eight days. Standout excursions include Kiang West National Park in Gambia – home to more than 250 species of birds – Senegal’s stunning Sine-Saloum Delta where guests can glide mangroves in a pirogue (motorised canoe), and a visit to the school (Lamin Koto) that the Greek small-ship line set up in 2010.
Best for luxury
Oceania Cruises is known for its in-depth excursions, and on this 24-night sailing bound for Cape Town, guests have the chance to visit a plantation to understand the importance of cocoa and coffee production in Lomé – Togo’s low-key yet attractive capital. As well as unsung Togo – whose landscapes range from lakes to palm-fringed beaches – you’ll call at six other West African gems: Sao Tome and Principe, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Gambia and Cape Verde.
