Africa Shore Excursions & Cruise Tours

The best time to cruise Africa depends on which coast you're visiting. For South Africa and West Africa, December through March is peak summer — ideal for Cape Town and the Winelands. East Africa and the Indian Ocean islands (Mauritius, Réunion, Zanzibar) are best October through November. Shoulder season in April–May offers great value for South Africa cruises with harvest-season winery excursions.

Yes — and it is one of the most extraordinary shore excursion days in all of cruising. From Alexandria's cruise terminal, the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx are approximately three hours by road. Venture Ashore's Alexandria excursion includes a licensed Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, and lunch — returning you before departure. From Port Said on the Suez Canal, the same Pyramids day is also available. From Safaga on the Red Sea, the equivalent landmark is the Valley of the Kings at Luxor.

Yes — in most cases, significantly so. Our Africa shore excursions are priced up to 50% less than equivalent tours sold through your cruise line's excursion desk. You also get smaller groups, expert local guides, and direct pick-up and drop-off at your pier — at a price that goes further.

Venture Ashore's Back to Ship Guarantee means that if one of our shore excursions runs late for any reason outside your control, we will arrange and cover the cost of getting you to your next port of call. You can explore Africa's ports knowing you'll never be left behind — and never be out of pocket for it.

If your cruise ship does not call at a scheduled port for any reason — weather, mechanical issue, itinerary change — Venture Ashore will refund your excursion booking in full. No forms, no delays. This guarantee applies to all Africa shore excursions booked through us, and is one of the reasons thousands of cruisers choose Venture Ashore over booking direct.

Requirements vary by port and nationality. Egypt (Alexandria, Port Said, Safaga, Hurghada) requires a tourist visa for most nationalities — available on arrival or as an e-Visa in advance. Morocco (Casablanca, Tangier, Agadir) is visa-free for most Western passport holders on short stays. Namibia (Walvis Bay) is visa-free for most EU, UK, and North American citizens. Mauritius (Port Louis) and Seychelles (Mahé) are visa-free for most nationalities on arrival. Always verify requirements for your specific passport before sailing.

Safety levels vary by port. Morocco's Casablanca, Tangier, and Agadir are well-established cruise destinations with mature tourist infrastructure and a strong track record for visitor safety. Egypt's major archaeological sites — including the Pyramids, Luxor, and the Grand Egyptian Museum — are among the most visited tourist destinations on earth, with extensive site security. Walvis Bay in Namibia and the Indian Ocean islands are considered very safe. Venture Ashore works exclusively with vetted, insured local operators at every port.

Currencies vary significantly by port: Egyptian Pound in Alexandria, Port Said, Safaga, and Hurghada (though USD is widely accepted at tourist sites); Moroccan Dirham in Casablanca, Tangier, and Agadir; Namibian Dollar in Walvis Bay (South African Rand also accepted); Mauritian Rupee in Port Louis; and Seychellois Rupee in Mahé. Most Venture Ashore Africa shore excursions are fully pre-paid, so local currency is mainly needed for personal shopping and gratuities.

Yes — Venture Ashore offers deposit booking on selected Africa cruise excursions, letting you secure your place without paying the full amount upfront. The balance is collected closer to your cruise date. Combined with our Don't Port, Don't Pay Guarantee, this makes booking Africa shore excursions entirely risk-free.