Nairobi to Cairo

Tour Itinerary 

Weeks 1 to 3:    Accommodation:      Kenya - Ethiopia

This tour departs from Nairobi and heads north to the East African Rift Valley. Stretching from the Dead Sea in Jordan down to Mozambique in Southern Africa, your first view is from the top of a steep escarpment. The valley floor seems to sweep on forever and is dotted with volcanic peaks, shimmering lakes and countless springs. This journey takes you into the heart of the Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha. Walk to Elsamere, the house of Joy Adamson - of Elsa the Lion and Born Free fame, and enjoy a film of her life. You can also hire mountain bikes and cycle or walk through Hells Gate National Park - the only game reserve in Kenya in which you are permitted  to do so. 

You visit the base of Mount Kenya and continue north through the Northern Frontier District of Kenya, a restricted area; semi arid with a spectacular diversity of people, wild game on the road side and a pleasant dry climate. Nomadic tribes people like the Rendille in Marsabit & the Samburu (cousins of the Maasai) still wear very distinctive and often elaborate dress.

Enter Ethiopia and climb the mountains into the highlands and follow the Rift Valley Lakes to Addis Ababa. Take boats to visit Bahir Dar Monasteries on islands on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, with hippos and crocs at the outflow of the river. Tissisat Falls is the source of the Blue Nile. Visit Gondar; a city of castles and churches. You can take a Landrover to visit the Simien Mountains where you can horse trek and see grazing Gelada Baboons.

Weeks 4 to 5:    Accommodation:      Sudan

Enter Sudan following the Blue Nile to Gedaref then Khartoum where the Blue & White Nile join; watch dervish dancing or even join in the Nubian wrestling. You can visit the Hamed al Nil Tomb or take a trip to the daily camel market or viewing the confluence of the two Niles are also an interesting ways to pass the time. Visit the Pharonic Pyramids of Meroe in an un-spoiled, little visited desert setting. These ancient Pyramids lie to the north of the capital Khartoum. The drive across the Nubian Desert will see you passing through sleepy Nubian villages, resting in tea rooms, pottering around the local souqs or experiencing total isolation in the middle of the desert - a unique journey along this not so well traveled route to Wadi Halfa. Drive across the Bauda Desert sands through friendly villages on the Nile.

From Wadi Halfa take a ferry across Lake Nasser to Aswan in Egypt. The ferry takes about a day and a night and is a supremely relaxing way to travel - and a great opportunity to mix and chat to local Egyptian and Sudanese people alike.

Weeks 6 to 8:    Accommodation:      Egypt

Arriving in Aswan, you will have the next 3 or 4  days to join a 2 or 3 day felucca boat cruise to Edfu and Kom Ombo. The opportunity to visit Abu Simbel - the massive stone monuments built by the greatest of all pharaohs, Ramses ll, is always a highlight before continuing to Luxor. In Aswan visit the High Dam & Philae Island Temple. 

Luxor, we visit Karnak Temple the Colossi of Memnon & Valley of the Kings & Tutankhamen's Tomb on donkeys.

From Luxor, we travel to Cairo where we spent a few days to look at the great pyramids in Giza and the immense collections of the Cairo Museum.

Cross the Sinai Peninsula to Dahab and a few days to relax on the beach of the Red Sea.  This is one of the best places to go scuba diving in the world. You will have time relax on the beach or try your hand at various water sports such as snorkeling, windsurfing or scuba diving in the cool clear blue waters.

Your final destination, Cairo is only a few hours away.

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