Day
01 WED: Depart Home city for Cairo
Day 02 THU: Arrive Cairo
Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome in Arabic. We are warmly received at
Cairo Airport and transferred to our hotel. Check in starts
from 1400 hrs.
Overnight: Safir Hotel, Cairo (2 nights)
Day 03 FRI: Cairo Pyramids
This is a day to go back in time, starting with a visit to the
most famous of the Egyptian sphinxes, the Great Sphinx of Giza,
followed by the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops). Completed around
2600 BC, this pyramid was 146m (478ft) high and consisted of
over 2 million limestone blocks weighing over 2 tons each. We
also examine the Chephren and Mycerinus Pyramids as well as
the Cheops wooden Solar boat. At over 4500 years old, this boat
is the most ancient vessel found in perfect condition anywhere
in the world and is one of the most important archaeological
finds in Egypt. Next we visit Memphis and the Saqqara Step Pyramid,
the world's first great stone structure before retiring for
the day after an indepth insight into one of the wonders of
the world. (B)
Day 04 SAT: Cairo / Aswan (Flight)
A short flight gets us to Aswan where we are warmly received
and transferred to our boat, home for the next four days.
Over the next few days we cruise the Nile and visit various
off shore sites. After lunch we visit the Aswan High Dam and
the romantic and majestic Philae Temple on the Island of Agilka
and the unfinished obelisk. An optional excursion to Abu Simbel
can be arranged in the morning before embarking the ship.
Overnight: Movenpick Radamis II Nile Cruiser (3 nights)
(B, L, D)
Day 05 SUN: Nile Cruise Aswan / Kom Ombo / Esna / Efu
Morning we will for Kom Ombo to visit the Temple of Kom Ombo,
dedicated to the crocodile-god Sobek. It stands at a bend
in the Nile where in ancient times sacred crocodiles basked
in the sun on the riverbank. After this visit we sail to Edfu
and visit the well-preserved Greek built Temple of Horus.
This temple, built during the reigns of six generations of
Ptolemy’s, is not only the best-preserved ancient temple
in Egypt, but also the second largest after Karnak.
(B, L, D)
Day 06 MON: Nile Cruise Edfu / Luxor
Morning we sail to the majestic city of Luxor. Afternoon we
visit the East Bank for the historical Karnak and Luxor Temples.
The ancient Egyptians knew the Temple of Karnak as Ipet-isut.
It is a city of temples built over 2000 years and dedicated
to the Theben triad of Amon, Mut and Khonsu. This derelict
place continues to overshadow many of the wonders of the modern
world. It is the mother of all religious buildings and a place
of pilgrimage for nearly 4,000 years. Luxor Temple was connected
to Karnak Temple by an avenue of sphinxes in ancient times.
Unlike Karnak, Luxor is mainly the work of one pharaoh - Amenhotep
III and was added to by Tutankhamun, Horemheb, Ramses II and
Alexander the Great. During Akhenaten’s all religion
other than worship of Aten was rejected and development at
Luxor stopped. When Akhenaten died, the old religions returned,
along with the priests so the temple began to expand again.
(B, L, D)
Day 07 TUE: Luxor
Morning we the West Bank of Luxor to explore the Valley of
the Kings, a vast City of the Dead where magnificent tombs
were carved into the desert rocks, richly decorated, and filled
with treasures for the afterlife by generations of pharaohs.
Our visit will also includes Queen Hatshepsut Temple and the
Colossi of Memnon. Afternoon we are transferred to our hotel.
Evening we visit the incredible Sound & Light show.
Overnight: Sonesta St. George Hotel, Luxor (1 night)
(B)
Day 08 WED: Luxor / Cairo
After our cruise and Luxor experience we are transferred to
the airport for our short flight to Cairo where we are met
and transferred to our hotel. A good opportunity to do some
bazaar hunting this evening.
Overnight: Safir Hotel (2 nights) (B)
Day 09 THU: Cairo
Our day at Cairo starts with a fascinating tour of 7,000 years
of Egyptian history with a visit to the Egyptian Museum of
Antiquities. The Museum houses the world's greatest collection
of Ancient Egyptian artifacts, including 12 rooms filled with
golden treasures from the world-famous tomb of the boy-king
Tutenkhamun. Next we start with the fascinating part of Islamic
Cairo, including the beautiful and graceful Mohamed Ali Mosque
and the ancient Citadel, a spectacular medieval fortress perched
on a hill above the city. Originally built by Salah El-Din
in 1176 to fortify the city against the Crusaders, the Citadel
was modified and enlarged over the centuries by subsequent
rulers and today is a complex of three mosques and four museums.
Our last stop is at the awesome Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, reputed
to be the largest bazaar in the Middle East. Originally founded
as a watering stop for caravanserai in the 14th century, the
bazaar has now grown to vast proportions. PM optional visit
to Al Azhar Park including dinner USD 85 per person (min 2
persons) (B)
Day 10: (SUN) - Cairo / Nairobi (by air)
Today we bid farewell to Egypt, best described as a heritage
site to the whole world, having gained an educational, historical
an enlightening cultural experience never to be forgotten.
After breakfast we have the whole day free to enjoy the colorful
bazaars of Cairo. Late evening we are transferred to the airport
for our overnight flight to Nairobi. (B)
Day
11: (MON) – Arrive Nairobi
Jambo Bwana and we are cordially welcomed as we arrive at
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and are transferred to
our hotel in Nairobi. Balance of the day is free. Optional
visit to the world famous Carnivore restaurant and get a feel
of the game before the game actually starts.
Overnight: Nairobi Safari Club (1 night) (B)
Day
12: (TUE) – Nairobi / Kilimanjaro / Amboseli (drive)
After a short pre-safari briefing and introduction to your
safari guide/driver, we take a photogenic drive over the Athi
Plains. Before we enter the Amboseli National Park we get
an outstanding view of the Kilimanjaro (subject to weather).
The Uhuru Peak at 19340 feet makes Kilimanjaro the highest
mountain in Africa. Lunch at the lodge followed by our first
afternoon game drive. Amboseli is famous for its vast herds
of elephants and stunning views of Kilimanjaro on clear days.
Overnight: Kilima Safari Camp (2 nights) (B, L, D)
Day 13: (WED)- Amboseli
Morning and afternoon game drives to view wildlife against
the backdrop of mt kilimanjaro. The park offers a wide variety
of wildlife but the principal attraction is its vast herds
of elephant within the park. The bull elephants here have
some of the largest tusks in kenya. Other game includes: zebra,
wildebeest, giraffe, impala, leopard, caracal and serval cat.
The park boasts a rich bird life such as ibis, egret, avocet,
common and saddle-billed stork, secretary bird, heron, vultures,
ducks, and geese. (B, L, D)
Day
14: (THU) – Amboseli / Lake Nakuru
We drive a short distance to the beautiful Lake Nakuru and
start with a morning game drive at the Lake Nakuru National
Park. It is a home to many animals including waterbuck, leopards
and Rothschild giraffe. The park is also a sanctuary for black
rhinos. Lunch at the lodge and afternoon is another game drive.
Overnight: Lake Nakuru Lodge (1 night) (B, L, D)
Day 15: (FRI) – Lake Nakuru / Great Rift Valley
/ Masi Mara (drive)
We traverse the Great Rift Valley and ascend its western rim
into the Masai land. Red-clad, with spear Masai warriors tend
their herds of cattle among the wildlife, admirably unmoved
by the presence of large predators. You find the Masai giraffe
in this park. Afternoon gamedrive in the Mara, famous for
the Wildebeest and Zebra migration and its abundance of wildlife.
Overnight: Mara Sopa Lodge (2 nights) (B, L, D)
Day 16: (SAT) – Masai Mara
Early Morning and afternoon game drives in the Maasai Mara
National Reserve, Kenya’s best and most scenic game
park. At the northern extremity of the unique Serengeti ecosystem,
blessed with a permanent water supply, the Maasai Mara has
a thriving, permanent population of plains game, augmented
in the dry season by the migration of two million gnus and
zebras from the vast, parched Serengeti plains. Of the hunter’s
"big five," elephant, buffalo, lion, and leopard
are quite common, while even the much rarer rhino might come
out of the thicket for you. Hyenas are plentiful and the cheetah,
a 60-miles-per-hour daytime hunter, is often seen. Besides
being the setting for the ancient and often tragic spectacle
of the Great Migration, other marvels of the Masai Mara include
giraffe, elephant, red-tailed monkeys and a host of antelope.
Twice-daily interpretive game-drives led by our highly trained
and experienced rangers, bird watching with resident guides
and naturalists reveal the wonders of the Mara . Optional
excursions at an additional cost include: Bush walks, Maasai
community visits and hot air ballooning. (B, L, D)
Day
17 (SUN): Masai Mara / Nairobi / Departure
After our Kenyan Safari we take a leisurely drive to Nairobi
where we get a day room at the hotel and time to rest. Evening,
before our departure flight we will be transferred to the
airport bidding farewell to Africa at it’s best. This
is an ideal opportunity to take an optional extension to the
wonderful island of Zanzibar. Please see our Zanzibar –
the Spice Island Tour. (B)
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