Cairo to Zanzibar

Welcome to Egypt, a country known for its historical sites and world wonders. We begin in Cairo, the sprawling capital of Egypt and the largest city in Africa. Home to many famous Egyptian landmarks, visitors will find it to be a fascinating and often bewildering mixture of old and new. Meet your fellow travellers tonight as we enjoy a group welcome dinner.

Optional Excursion: Islamic Cairo - Visit the Gayer Anderson Museum - two houses from the 16th & 17th century built with a unique architectural style & filled with antiques from all over the Middle East. Nearby is the Ibn Toulon Mosque, one of Cairo's biggest mosques, built in the 8th century with strong Persian design influences. The final stop is the El Sultan Hassan Mosque, built in the 13th century & considered one of the best examples of Islamic architecture from that era. 3 hours – from $65pp US.

Our touring in Egypt begins at the oldest structures in existence and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the amazing Great Pyramids of Giza. We'll visit the nearby Great Sphinx, with the body of a lion and the head of a king, often referred to as the national symbol of Egypt. Our tour will also take us to visit a weaving workshop, with an opportunity to purchase a locally made Egyptian carpet.

Special Experience: Take in the incredible views of the Great Pyramids of Giza while enjoying a delicious lunch at the 9 Pyramids Lounge

Special Experience: Tour the historic Serapeum of Sakkara, the burial place of the Apis bulls.

Optional Excursion: Coptic Cairo - Discover the ancient sites & culture of Coptic Christians throughout Old Cairo. Visit the Hanging Church, possibly the oldest Christian church in Egypt & Abu Serga, a place where the Holy Family rested after fleeing Israel from King Herod. See Ben Ezra Synagogue, one of the oldest synagogues in Egypt. 3 hours - from $55pp US.

Optional Excursion: Sound & Light Show at Giza - Taking place on the Giza plateau at the Great Pyramids, you will hear the story of Egypt as seen through the eyes of the Sphinx over the ages and see the breathtaking sight of the floodlit pyramids lit up under the stars. Please Note: you may not be permitted to use video cameras during this performance. 1 hour – from $55pp US.

Early this morning we farewell Cairo as we transfer to the airport for our flight to Luxor. Located on the east bank of the Nile River, the city surrounds two huge, surviving ancient monuments. Today we embark the Nile cruise ship and enjoy lunch on board before some sightseeing. Our sightseeing begins at the ancient Avenue of Sphinxes.

The 3-kilometre-long road connects the fascinating Karnak Temple, dedicated to the Pharaoh Amun and Luxor Temple. Approximately 30 pharaohs contributed to Karnak the Temple's structure over time, which explains its monumental size! Luxor Temple is home to a 25-metre-tall pink granite obelisk, which was part of a matching pair until the 1830s when one was given to France. It now stands in the centre of the Place de la Concorde in Paris. We'll visit a local gallery to appreciate the ancient artform of papyrus craft, with an opportunity to purchase the artwork to take home.

Optional Excursion: Sound & Light Show at Karnak - Experience the beauty of Karnak Temple illuminated against the night as the pharaohs of the New Kingdom take you on a journey into ancient Egypt. 1.5 hours – from $55pp US. Please Note: you may not be permitted to use video cameras during this performance.

On a half day tour of West Bank, our first destination is the Valley of the Kings, where we have entry to visit Tutankhamun's Tomb. Carved deep into the limestone rock, each tomb has a similar pattern of three corridors, an antechamber and a sarcophagus chamber. We'll be able to descend into the tomb to see examples of the elaborate and well-preserved hieroglyphic paintings. Next, we explore the Temple of Hatshepsut. Queen Hatshepsut was one of only a few women to be given the title of pharaoh.

We then visit the Colossi of Memnon, a historic landmark consisting of two massive statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III. We'll stop at a nearby alabaster workshop to learn how the locally quarried stone is carved and crafted and can purchase a souvenir piece to take home if so inclined. We then cruise onward to Edfu, travelling through Esna Lock. The afternoon is at leisure before a welcome dinner on board.

Optional Excursion: Hot Air Balloon Ride West Bank - Don't miss this opportunity for incomparable views of Luxor's famous temples! Enjoy a hot-air balloon ride directly over the Nile River's West Bank. Away from the crowds in the peaceful glow of dawn, your flight over Egypt's ancient monuments promises to be a highlight of your visit. Includes transport ex hotel. 1.5 hours – from $160pp US.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

Located on the west bank of the Nile River between Esna and Aswan you will find Edfu. The Egyptian city has a population of approximately sixty thousand people. It is famous for the Temple of Horus, dedicated to the Falcon God, the main attraction which we'll visit this morning. This beautiful ancient temple is one of the best-preserved in Egypt and the second largest after Karnak Temple. We'll then cruise to the riverside Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the gods Sobek and Haroeris, before continuing to Aswan this evening. Tonight, we enjoy a traditional Galabeya party on board.

An early start this morning as we cross the desert to Abu Simbel. Our destination is the incredible UNESCO listed twin temples of Abu Simbel. The temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC, as a monument to himself and his queen, Nefertari. We will spend a few hours exploring the temples before returning to our Nile cruise ship in Aswan. We'll enjoy lunch on board and the afternoon is at your leisure before a Nubian Show this evening.

This morning we disembark the Nile cruise ship and bid farewell to the crew. Today will be spent exploring the incredible sights of Aswan. On a half day tour, we visit the High Dam, the picturesque Philae Temple on Agilkia Island and the Unfinished Obelisk. We'll also visit a local store which produces an assortment of aromatic perfumes and oils, along with ornate accessories, all available for purchase.

Special Experience: Navigate the waterways of the Nile, to a Nubian village, visiting the local market and enjoy lunch with a Nubian family in their home.

Optional Excursion: Sound & Light Show at Philae - A magical experience visiting Philae Temple at night for the Sound & Light Show. Walk through the dramatically lit temple as its history is narrated. 1.5 hours – from $55pp US (minimum 10 participants) Please Note: you may not be permitted to use video cameras during this performance. We'll return to our hotel where the evening is at leisure.

We'll transfer to Aswan airport today for our flight back to Cairo.

Special Experience: Immerse yourself in the culinary delights of Middle Eastern cuisine as we take a local cooking class and enjoy our delicious creations for dinner.

This morning we will explore more of Cairo with a visit to the world-famous Egyptian Museum, the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East. The museum displays an extensive collection spanning from the Predynastic Period to the Greco-Roman Era. We'll then visit the 12th century Saladin Citadel of Cairo and the Mohammed Ali Mosque. Our last stop is the 14th century Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, a major souk in Cairo's Islamic District.

Famous for its handmade crafts, it's also the perfect place to enjoy a traditional Arabic coffee. There are no fixed prices here, so make sure you practice your haggling skills! We'll also visit a jewellery shop, that specialises in customised gold and silver cartouches, which will be available for purchase. We farewell Egypt tonight as we fly to the exotic island of Zanzibar.

Welcome to the alluring spice island of Zanzibar! Today we transfer to Stone Town, the old city and cultural heart of the island. Well known for its white sandy beaches and warm turquoise water, Zanzibar is the perfect place to relax and simply soak up the sun. Scenic fishing villages are scattered throughout the beaches of Zanzibar where the locals enjoy a simple way of life.

Our eyes are set on historic Stone Town, as we begin our exploration this morning. A city tour will acquaint us with a range of different sites, including the City Market, the Anglican Church of Christ, Africa House and Forodhani Park. We'll also visit the House of Wonders - the most significant structure on the seafront that was built in the 1880s as a ceremonial palace.

Originally used as the headquarters and administrative centre during the colonial period, it was later converted into a school and a museum. Lastly, we will explore the Sultan's Palace, the old museum and the old market where we can shop for various local fruits and spices. Afterwards we'll travel to our beautiful beachside resort, where we will spend the rest of the day at leisure.

The day is at leisure for you to relax and unwind in this tranquil setting or to explore more of this stunning island paradise. The choice is yours!

Today we will enjoy another day at leisure in paradise.

Today we fly across the sea to Nairobi, Kenya's urban capital city. Nairobi is the largest city between Cairo and Johannesburg. Although it is just south of the equator, it sports beautiful spring-like weather year round – warm during the day and cool at night. It is a modern city, yet its main avenues blaze with colour from tropical bushes and vines. Less than 100 years ago, there was a river in an empty wilderness where Nairobi now stands.

Despite health hazards and the ever-present danger of wild animals, Nairobi was established by 1907 and quickly grew. It also attracted world attention as the centre of big-game safaris for the rich and famous - perhaps the most famous was the safari of Teddy Roosevelt, who needed 500 porters to carry supplies.

On arrival we visit the AFEW Giraffe Centre, an important conservation initiative created by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife. Here we can get up close whilst feeding the giraffes from an elevated platform. Next we'll enjoy a visit to the Karen Blixen Museum - the former residence of famous novelist Karen Blixen. The house contains many of her original pieces along with some exhibits donated by the makers of the film, ‘Out of Africa'.

Today we visit one of Kenya's great conservation projects, Daphne Sheldrick's animal orphanage at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. For over 25 years, Kenyan-born Daphne Sheldrick lived and worked alongside her husband David, during which time they raised and successfully rehabilitating many wild species. Daphne Sheldrick's involvement with wildlife has spanned a lifetime.

She is now a recognised international authority on the rearing of wild creatures and is the first person to have perfected the milk formula and necessary husbandry for infant milk-dependent elephants and rhinos. Later we visit the Anselm Kitengela Hot Glass Studio and enjoy a glassblowing demonstration. Here we will see how expert Kenyan artisans create functional handmade objects from recycled glass and learn about the unique art of glassblowing.

Stunning scenery welcomes us as we drive north through rich farming areas. We cross the equator to the semi-arid landscape of Shaba National Reserve, famous for its spectacular game viewing. Shaba National Reserve is located by the banks of the Ewaso Ng'iro River in the northern part of Kenya.

The river attracts a lot of wildlife thanks to its shady trees, so the likelihood of seeing a diverse range of wildlife here is even higher! We arrive in time to enjoy lunch at our lodge. An afternoon game drive will introduce us to some of the unique animals in this area, including the reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra and the Somali ostrich.

An early start for our morning game drive across Shaba's beautiful, rugged landscape. We'll search for lion, buffalo, leopard and the famous 'red elephants of Samburu' - named for the red dust that coats their hides. We return to our lodge for breakfast and some downtime before enjoying another game drive this afternoon.

Aberdare National Park is our destination today. Consisting of an isolated volcanic range, the Aberdares is roughly 160 kilometres long, north of Nairobi and cover a vast 766 square kilometres. Forming part of the eastern rim the Great Rift Valley and with peaks soaring up almost 4,000 metres high, it is an amazing sight to behold.

Special Experience: Uncover a Samburu village, learning about ‘a day in the life' of a Samburu woman and her children. The UNITY village was formed to help them live in peace, creating a safe place to raise families and start new, independent lives that are free from oppression, abuse, and other inequities.

We'll also visit the Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers, where women are trained in the craft of spinning and weaving. Here they are empowered to earn a sustainable living.

Upon arrival at Aberdare National Park, we are transferred to our quirky ‘Ark' accommodation. Here, we'll enjoy the afternoon at leisure to gaze out over the floodlit waterhole, watching the wildlife bask in this beautiful setting.

Today we will travel to Lake Nakuru National Park, part of the UNESCO Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley. We will arrive at the national park in time for lunch, before an afternoon game drive, exploring the region. Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley's soda lakes and its abundance of algae attracts the huge numbers of flamingo that famously line its shore – providing a great photo opportunity if you are lucky enough to witness this natural spectacle.

This morning we'll leave a positive mark on the environment by participating in a special tree planting ceremony at our lodge. We then continue to Lake Naivasha, which is the highest and one of the most beautiful lakes that form part of the Great Rift Valley. Taking its name from the Maasai word En-aiposha, meaning ‘heaving' or ‘to and fro', the water is well-known to be turbulent in the afternoons. A popular spot for British flying boats of the 1930s, it was also the home of Joy Adamson, conservationist and the author of ‘Born Free'.

Before lunch we'll experience a boat safari on Lake Naivasha, in search of its residents which include over 400 bird species and numerous pods of hippo. We'll enjoy afternoon tea at the famous Elsamere Conservation Centre, located in Joy's former house. The museum contains a collection of her paintings and artefacts as well as memorabilia from the ‘Born Free' film, with photos documenting Joy and George Adamson's work. We then return to our lodge for dinner.

After an early breakfast, we depart for the Maasai Mara, one of the world's finest game reserves. The landscape of the Maasai Mara is characterised by wide open plains and rolling grasslands, dotted with the occasional tree. The Maasai Mara flows into the Serengeti, making it one of the biggest reserves in the world.

Special Experience: Enjoy a Swahili cooking class at Sarova Mara Game Camp, first exploring the in-house herb and vegetable garden. We'll then head out on a late afternoon game drive. Elephant, giraffe, eland, wildebeest, zebra and gazelle are plentiful here and commonly sighted. With a bit of luck, we may also spot a lion or cheetah.

An early start this morning for a game drive to enjoy this beautiful landscape as the sun rises over the savannah. We'll return to the lodge for breakfast and lunch, with some time to relax. Later we'll head out on one last safari before a special farewell bush dinner.

Optional Excursion: Maasai Mara Balloon Safari – This morning, enjoy an amazing experience as you take a balloon ride over the Maasai Mara. This is probably one of the most scenic views you will ever experience as you depart at dawn and float, suspended in a basket beneath a canopy while viewing the sights of the mighty Maasai Mara and its wildlife. On landing, you'll be provided with a delicious bubbly-style bush breakfast. 3 hours – from US $450pp.

Today marks the end of our spectacular African adventure. A light plane flight from the Maasai Mara will take us to Nairobi. We hope you leave with fantastic memories!