Saint Helena Island.

“An island of contrasts… from wind-eroded desert to lush pastures”

St Helena has a fascinating history – on the island, the evidence is all around you. Discovered in 1502 by the great Portuguese navigator, João da Nova, it changed hands a number of times and came finally under the control of the British in the middle of the sixteenth century. There is even a disputed theory that the island was the inspiration for Daniel Defoe’s story of Robinson Crusoe.
At one stage it was a busy and vital staging post for British East India Company ships on their long, slow voyages between England and the Far East.

But things change. The opening of the Suez canal dramatically reduced the island’s importance to world trade and, while the Union Castle liners on the South African run to Cape Town continued to call at the island until 1977, now it is a quiet backwater dreaming, perhaps, of a busy and exciting past.

Geographically, the island is a mere 47 square miles in area, situated about 1,500 miles north-west of Cape Town and well within the Tropic of Capricorn. The island has no natural harbour and no airport, though plans are afoot to build an airport by 2011-2012.

Because of its position, the weather is warm all year round, varying between 32°C (89°F) in April and May, to 21°C (70°F) in October and November. However, higher up in the centre of the island, it can get quite cool at night.

Geologically, it is an island of contrasts. In part, a wind-eroded desert with multi-hued ridges and 1,000 ft-high cliffs of bronze-coloured volcanic rock; part, green pastures and lush, vegetation filled valleys. There are a number of unique, endemic plants and wildlife and considerable efforts are being made to restore these to their former eminence in the face of imported species such as the New Zealand flax which the islanders once grew as a cash crop but is now a problematic weed.

The ‘Saints’ themselves are a happy mixture, descendants of the British East India Company workers, Boer prisoners of war, African and Chinese servants, amongst others. They are friendly, cheerful and helpful. They want to make your holiday a pleasure and you are always very welcome on their island. There are about 3,800 permanent residents but many Saints need – and wish – to work away from the island to make the most of the wider opportunities offered in the outside world. Many work in the UK and on Ascension Island but, although they may remain away for many years, they inevitably return to their home in the south Atlantic. Sailing aboard RMS St Helena ensures you will be travelling with them – and many tales they have to tell!

Informal, unique, purpose-built, nostalgic

Ascension Island

As yet the island is peaceful, tranquil and pretty unspoilt. There are no big hotels or nightclubs, but there is magnificent bird and marine life, beautiful beaches, fascinating countryside (there are 44 distinctive volcanic craters, for example – all very dormant) and some of the best sports fishing available.

So if you are looking for a slightly unusual holiday destination – and one that none of your friends has visited – this could be it.

Itineries

CAPE TOWN dep 09 JUL 10
ST HELENA arr 14 JUL 10
                         dep 16 JUL 10
ASCENSION arr 19 JUL 10
                         dep 19 JUL 10
ST HELENA arr 22 JUL 10
                         dep 22 JUL 10
CAPE TOWN arr 27 JUL 10

CAPE TOWN dep 29 JUL 10
ST HELENA arr 03 AUG 10
  dep 05 AUG 10
ASCENSION arr 08 AUG 10
  dep 08 AUG 10
ST HELENA arr 11 AUG 10
  dep 11 AUG 10
CAPE TOWN arr 16 AUG 10

CAPE TOWN dep 18 AUG 10
ST HELENA arr 23 AUG 10
  dep 26 AUG 10
CAPE TOWN arr 31 AUG 10

CAPE TOWN dep 05 OCT 10
ST HELENA arr 10 OCT 10
  dep 12 OCT 10
ASCENSION arr 15 OCT 10
  dep 15 OCT 10
ST HELENA arr 18 OCT 10
  dep 18 OCT 10
CAPE TOWN arr 23 OCT 10

CAPE TOWN dep 25 OCT 10
ST HELENA arr 30 OCT 10
  dep 01 NOV 10
ASCENSION arr 04 NOV 10
  dep 04 NOV 10
ST HELENA arr 07 NOV 10
  dep 07 NOV 10
CAPE TOWN arr 12 NOV 10

Fares starting from R 9 422.00 pp on C deck (cabin categories determine the fare)

For itineraries and fares  February 2011 and beyond – Call STEPHANIE 031 769 1305   -  info@africagetaways.co.za
FARES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS & FUEL SURCHARGE

The Voyageur Intinerary

DAY 1: Board the ship at Portland UK.

DAY 2–5: Enjoy days at sea. Simply relax or take partin the many on board activities and events that areorganised throughout the voyage.

DAY 6: Arrival in Tenerife, our first port of call. Youmay decide to stay on board and witness the busyactivity that takes place as cargo and provisionsare loaded or unloaded, or you may like to take anoptional excursion to experience a side of Tenerife that is still truly Spanish and traditional The Ship is in Port for approximately 8 hours, before setting sail again toward the equator.

DAY 6–12: At Sea, including passing the equator ceremony!

DAY 13: Arrive Ascension. Stay on board or enjoy an optional tour of this very secretive island knownas being one of the most strategically important locations in the world.

DAY 13–16: We may bid farewell to some fellow passengers who have decided to stay on Ascension,and welcome new passengers arriving by air from UK to join the RMS as she continues to St Helena.

DAY 16: Arrive St Helena. Witness the excitement as the Saints gather on the quay to welcome the RMS home. Feel part of the celebrations as Saintsembrace family and friends home, some for the fi rsttime in many years. Enjoy 9 nights exploring thismost scenic and remarkable island. Accommodationis arranged at one of the hotels on the island. Carrental is also available and reservations should bemade in advance of arrival.

DAY 25: The experience continues. Board theRMS for the fi nal leg of the voyage to Cape Town.The familiarity of the ship means embarkation islike rejoining an old friend. Swap stories with fellowpassengers about your time on the island, and makenew friends with Saints bound for Africa and beyond.

DAY 30: The emotions are mixed. The sadness ofthe voyage coming to an end is combined with thethrill of seeing Cape Town and Table Mountain asthe RMS makes Her arrival into this famous port thathas welcomed so many ocean liners over the years.Accommodation is included in a centrallylocated hotel.

DAY 31: Tour ends.

Please note: This voyage can be done in reverse from Cape Town to Portland. Duration, prices and itinerary may differ very slightly due to the RMS schedule.

Prices are quoted per person and include sea passage, accommodation in St Helena, arrival and departure transfers in St Helena and Cape Town, 1 night in Cape Town, all meals on board RMS St Helena.

Contact Stephanie – I will happily organise a quotation for you on this amazing sea voyage – 031 769 1305   info@africagetaways.co.za

A visit to St. Helena on the RMS St. Helena is unique

She is the only ocean-going vessel in the world still to carry the venerable title of Royal Mail Ship, held in the past by so many famous British passenger liners, the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary amongst them.

A voyage on the RMS is an unforgettable experience: a blue water voyage on a working ship to lonely and remote tropical islands.
Quality, comfort and peace of mind

Traditional values, service with a smile.
Compared with today’s giant cruise liners, RMS St Helena is a small ship. There are no theatres, no casinos, no golf ranges.
On the other hand the emphasis is on relaxation. Life on board is far from frenetic. You can bask in an atmosphere of sun, sea and relaxed, friendly efficiency. Almost nothing is too much trouble for the officers and staff who believe that one of their responsibilities is to ensure you have an enjoyable voyage.

There are all the traditional ocean-going pastimes of beef tea, the sun deck and swimming pool, deck games, films, discos, bingo, race nights, quizzes and many other ideas from the fertile minds of the Pursers and their staff. Sometimes there is even cricket!

There is plenty of time to do just what you wish. Lounge on the sun deck by the swimming pool with a cool drink and a book (the ship has a well-stocked library of books, videos and audio tapes). For the interested, RMS St conducts visits to the Bridge and these are organised by the bureau.

For the more energetic, the deck games; for the really dedicated or over indulgent, there is an exercise room.
Perhaps, most significant of all, the chance and time to meet new people, converse and make good friends.

The Royal Mail Ship St Helena was built in 1989 specifically to supply the island of St Helena, the British Overseas Territory deep in the tropical South Atlantic. She is British registered, 6,767 gross tonnes and has berths for a maximum of 128 passengers plus 56 officers and crew.
She has all the most modern facilities; stabilisers, air conditioning and for those who worry about being too remote from their normal humdrum existence, fax, telephone, email and satellite communications.
She also carries a doctor and has well equipped medical facilities. Classified as A1+ at Lloyds and sailing under the British flag means that RMS St Helena is subject to some of the most rigorous safety regulations in the world. Her repeatedly high classification in the Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships is a sure indication of the high quality of her facilities, crew and standards.

RMS St Helena Gone A Bit Green (However, for the RMS St Helena it’s quite normal !)”

The passenger/cargo liner RMS St. Helena operates in some of the cleanest, most pristine seas in the world. With voyages from Cape Town to the South Atlantic Islands of St. Helena and Ascension Island via Walvis Bay and, on to Europe. These voyages take her through waters containing some of the most delicate and undisturbed ecosystems on the planet, areas of natural aquatic beauty, teeming with ever interesting and intriguing marine wildlife. Even some the seabirds here are unique and can be found nowhere else. These are the trademarks of an environment well worth preserving.
Bearing all this in mind, the dedicated ship’s crew is always actively involved with protecting the environment for the benefit of all. Many of the everyday shipboard activities, which may appear routine enough, are all carried out with an Eco-friendly mindset. Our passengers are encouraged to see Mother Nature at her finest. Guided excursions with a ‘Green Flavour’ are offered in many of our destinations. All this seeks to increase everyone’s awareness of the Environment and what is currently being done to protect.

Sail to and from St Helena on the RMS St Helena
“An island of contrasts… from wind-eroded desert to lush pastures”

St Helena has a fascinating history – on the island, the evidence is all around you. Discovered in 1502 by the great Portuguese navigator, João da Nova, it changed hands a number of times and came finally under the control of the British in the middle of the sixteenth century. There is even a disputed theory that the island was the inspiration for Daniel Defoe’s story of Robinson Crusoe.
At one stage it was a busy and vital staging post for British East India Company ships on their long, slow voyages between England and the Far East.

But things change. The opening of the Suez canal dramatically reduced the island’s importance to world trade and, while the Union Castle liners on the South African run to Cape Town continued to call at the island until 1977, now it is a quiet backwater dreaming, perhaps, of a busy and exciting past.

Geographically, the island is a mere 47 square miles in area, situated about 1,500 miles north-west of Cape Town and well within the Tropic of Capricorn. The island has no natural harbour and no airport, though plans are afoot to build an airport by 2011-2012.

Because of its position, the weather is warm all year round, varying between 32°C (89°F) in April and May, to 21°C (70°F) in October and November. However, higher up in the centre of the island, it can get quite cool at night.

Geologically, it is an island of contrasts. In part, a wind-eroded desert with multi-hued ridges and 1,000 ft-high cliffs of bronze-coloured volcanic rock; part, green pastures and lush, vegetation filled valleys. There are a number of unique, endemic plants and wildlife and considerable efforts are being made to restore these to their former eminence in the face of imported species such as the New Zealand flax which the islanders once grew as a cash crop but is now a problematic weed.

The ‘Saints’ themselves are a happy mixture, descendants of the British East India Company workers, Boer prisoners of war, African and Chinese servants, amongst others. They are friendly, cheerful and helpful. They want to make your holiday a pleasure and you are always very welcome on their island. There are about 3,800 permanent residents but many Saints need – and wish – to work away from the island to make the most of the wider opportunities offered in the outside world. Many work in the UK and on Ascension Island but, although they may remain away for many years, they inevitably return to their home in the south Atlantic. Sailing aboard RMS St Helena ensures you will be travelling with them – and many tales they have to tell!