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Napoleon Tour
In the footsteps of Napoleon Bonaparte
Led by Christopher Danziger, lecturer at Oxford University and at the University of Cape Town Summer School, Christopher is a renowned expert of the Napoleonic era..
Basil George a St Helena islander and proprietor of Magma Way Tours will accompany the group on St Helena and will give a personal account of the island, the diversity of its landscape and the fascinating way of life for the people living there today.
St Helena remains a paradise, off the normal beaten tracks and visited by only a fortunate handful of visitors who are made most welcome by the friendly, welcoming islanders. You will arrive by sea, just as Napoleon did, on board , on one of the last Royal Mail Ships to ply the oceans.
The landscapes of St Helena reflect both the natural beauties of the unique environment, (with its endemic plants and famous Wirebird), and the cultural heritage of over five hundred years of settlement. This tour is designed to show you and insight into Napoleon's stay on the island as well as showing you both the natural and cultural landscapes of the island, to enable you to meet its people and become, for a while, part of the living life of this unique, welcoming and fascinating sub tropical island.
TOUR PROGRAMME ON BOARD THE RMS ST HELENA
24th October 2010 - 13th November 2010
24 October: Cape Town
25 October: Sail from Cape Town. Ordinary ship's activities as per Ocean Mail.
26 October:
- Members of the tour meet for coffee at 10.30 a.m. in the Main Lounge annexe for informal discussion.
- The discovery and settlement of St Helena. Main Lounge.
27 October: Illustrated talk entitled St Helena- Napoleon's Experience .
28 October: Ordinary ship's activities as per Ocean Mail
29 October: St Helena: people, society, economy and future prospects.
30 October: Land at St Helena.
Note. Members of the tour are welcome to participate in ship's activities as per the Ocean Mail, as well as to attend tour discussions and talks.
TOUR PROGRAMME ON ST HELENA
30 October: Arrival and settling in
31 October: Introduction, walk lower Jamestown, including seeing famous
Jacobs Ladder, St James Church, Court House, Castle, Castle Gardens. followed by morning coffee. Scenic tour of the Island, lunch stop at Sandy Bay SHAPE enterprise centre. Tea Farm Lodge, original home of East India Company official. [Basil George and Christopher Danziger].
1st November: The Fortress Island. Morning service in St James's Church, coffee break then drive to Sandy Bay to see fortifications, lime- kiln and site of sheers (where lime was loaded for sea transport to Jamestown). See where shell-rich sand was mined for use in the lime-kiln. Magnificent views of volcanic landforms. Those who are particularly energetic might like to walk towards ridge overlooking Lot's Wife's Ponds. Packed lunch at Sandy Bay. [Basil George and Christopher Danziger}.
2nd November: Napoleon and the island of exile. Drive to Longwood, visit Napoleon's residences en route and at Longwood, see the museum and garden at Longwood House, drive to Millennium Forest, view Prosperous Bay Plain to see site of proposed airport, plant endemic tree. Picnic lunch at Golf Club. Drive to Deadwood to see endemic wirebird, then return to Jamestown visiting Napoleon's Tomb, St Matthew's Church Hutt's Gate, and Halley's Observatory en route. [Basil George, Christopher Danziger, and National Trust for wirebird watch and Millennium Forest .
3rd November: Morning. Marine pleasures. Boat trip along lee coast to see the sheer cliffs, sea bird populations and coastal fortifications. One of the highlights is encountering dolphins though wild life sightings cannot be guaranteed. (Emma Bennett, Basil George Christopher Danziger, )
Evening event.
4th November: Free Day Gum woods and the new volcano. Talk on endemic flora by George Benjamin, and then drive to High Peak to see endemic plants in their natural environment. En route see proposed site of luxury hotel and golf course, visit Church of St Helena and the Cross. Picnic lunch at Islander home, Blue Hill. From Thompson's Hill, walk in the afternoon along track on rim of Sandy Bay basin, see island's volcanic origins and view Manati Bay and Speery Island, [Basil George, George Benjamin, Christopher Danziger)
5th November: Free Day or optional excursions. .The Colonial Landscape. Drive to Plantation House to see the residence of the Governor of St Helena and Dependencies and walk on the lawn where the famous tortoises ramble. Visit the Cathedral and Boer Graves possible. Visit Prince's Lodge and see the wonderful collection of topographical lithography depicting the island from soon after its discovery to almost the present day. Afternoon tea at Islander home, Half Tree Hollow. (Basil George)
6th November: Free day for optional excursions. Optional St Helena National Park. Drive to the foot of foot of the central Peaks and ascend on foot, packed lunch on summit. Free (late) afternoon. [Aaron Legg and Rebecca Cains-wicks).
7th November...Departure
12th November...Arrive Cape Town
13th November....Tour Ends
Note: the above itinerary might be modified due to weather or other conditions or due to ship's requirements.
RETURN ON BOARD
Members of the tour are invited to relax on the return passage and to join in the normal ship's activities. There will be one morning discussion on a day and time that will be announced in Ocean Mail, entitled Thoughts on St Helena. Tour members are invited to join the St Helena National Trust and the Friends of St Helena.
| Cabin | 4BO | 2BI | 2BO | 2BOS | 2BIW | T4 |
T4S | T3 | T2H | T2HS |
T2 | T2S |
T1 | T1S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1901 | £1952 | £1991 | £2027 |
£2039 | £2192 | £2230 | £2286 |
£3012 | £3176 |
£3338 | £3503 | £4466 | £4684 |
Price Includes
Return sea passage Cape Town/St Helena/Cape Town including all meals on board; 2 nights accommodation in Cape Town; Accommodation including breakfast in St Helena; programme of tours and events on St Helena; activities and talks on board the RMS St Helena.
Not included: International flights; entry permit to St Helena; items of a personal expenditure.
