Napoleon Tour

In the footsteps of Napoleon Bonaparte

Hailed as one of the most brilliant men in history, discover St Helena where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled until his death in 1821.

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 island has all the facilities one would expect of a British Overseas Territory. Everybody speaks English (a distinctive dialect), and you should enjoy a comfortable and happy, if rather unusual, holiday. Come and see the island for yourself and enjoy its varied landscapes and hospitable inhabitants. Sip coffee on the waterfront, looking out on the Bay, visit Napoleon’s tomb and Longwood House, walk through primeval forests, enter gracious houses, say a prayer in the island’s cathedral, do things that are different: walk through endemic gum woods, fill your lungs with fresh sea air, and enjoy the freedom of life on a tropical island that has not yet been discovered by the masses!

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 an 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

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 annex 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.

Please 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. Hosted by 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. Hosted by 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. Hosted by Basil George, Christopher Danziger, and the 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. Hosted by 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. Hosted by 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 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. Hosted by Basil George.

6th November
Free day for optional excursions. Optional St Helena National Park. Drive to the foot of the central Peaks and ascend on foot, packed lunch on summit. Free (late) afternoon. Hosted by Aaron Legg and Rebecca Cains-wicks.

7th November
Departure

12th November
Arrive Cape Town

13th November.
Tour Ends

Please 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.

Prices for Napoleon Tour

Cabin	4BO	2BI	2BO	2BOS	2BIW	T4	T4S
Price	£1901	£1952	£1991	£2027	£2039	£2192	£2230

Cabin	T3	T2H	T2HS	T2	T2S	T1	T1S
Price	£2286	£3012	£3176	£3338	£3503	£4466	£4684

Price Includes

Return sea passage Cape Town/St Helena/Cape Town including all meals on board; two 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 personal expenditure.