Sightseeing

Unlock the Mysteries of Egypt's Ancient Civilisation

• Explore Cairo including the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
• Enjoy lunch with a view at the 9 Pyramids Lounge
• Visit Memphis and the unique Step Pyramid of Sakkara
• Tour the Serapeum of Sakkara
• Spend 4 nights on board a luxury cruise ship and sail down the Nile River
• Discover the temples of Karnak and Luxor
• Explore the West Bank, including the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings (where we enter some of the tombs of the pharaohs) and the  massive Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• Entry into Tutankhamun’s Tomb
• Visit the Temple of Horus (the Falcon God) in Edfu and the Temple of Kom Ombo
• Enjoy a galabeya party onboard the Nile cruise
• Visit the temples of Ramses ll and Queen Nefertari at Abu Simbel
• Explore Aswan including the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Isis on Agilkia Island
• Travel to a Nubian village for lunch with a Nubian family
• Spend an afternoon on a traditional felucca sail boat
• Take a local Middle Eastern cooking class
• Visit the Mohammed Ali Mosque, Saladin Citadel of Cairo, the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar and The Egyptian Museum

Witness Kenya’s Amazing Wildlife and Spectacular Scenery

• Visit the Giraffe Centre
• Tour the Karen Blixen Museum
• Visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
• Tour the Anselm Kitengela Hot Glass Studio and enjoy a glassblowing demonstration
• Visit Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers, a women's self-help project
• Visit a Samburu Village for protected Samburu women and their children
• Explore Shaba National Reserve on game drives
• Visit freshwater Lake Naivasha
• Cruise Lake Naivasha on a boat safari
• Enjoy afternoon tea at Elsamere in Lake Naivasha
• Spend 2 nights in a luxury tent in the heart of the Maasai Mara
• Enjoy a Swahili cooking class at the Sarova Mara Game Camp
• Experience game drives in the Maasai Mara
• Enjoy a bush dinner under the Maasai Mara stars

Relax on the exotic spice island of Zanzibar

• Explore Stone Town and visit the Sultan’s Palace, the Old Museum, and the Old Market
• Spend 2 days on beaches of Zanzibar

Travel

• Return economy-class flights from Australia to Africa. Taxes included
• 4 economy-class flights within Africa
• 1 light plane flight within Kenya
• Nile River cruise
• Airport transfers on the first and last day of tour
• All touring in air-conditioned vehicles (excluding shared lodge safari 4WD)

Accommodation

• 7 nights in 4 star hotels
• 4 nights in an outside cabin on board a 5 star (Egyptian standard) luxury Nile River cruise
• 4 nights in 4 star African lodges
• 2 nights in a luxury tent in the heart of the Maasai Mara
• 2 nights at a Zanzibar beach resort

Properties include:

• Cairo Marriott Hotel, Cairo
• Mövenpick MS Royal Lily, Nile Cruise
• Mövenpick Resort, Aswan
• Tamarind Tree Hotel, Nairobi
• Sarova Shaba Game Lodge, Shaba National Reserve
• The Ark Lodge, Aberdare National Park
• Lake Naivasha Simba  Lodge, Lake Naivasha
• Sarova Mara Game Camp, Maasai Mara
• Tembo House Hotel & Apartments, Stone Town
• Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa, Kiwengwa Beach

 Hotels listed are an indication, and are subject to change without notice.

Meals

• 20 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 17 dinners, including group welcome and farewell dinners

Tour Guides

• English-speaking, university-qualified Egyptologist guides
• English-speaking locally based driver/guide in Kenya
• English-speaking locally based guide in Zanzibar

Porterage

• Porterage included where available

Entrance Fees

• Entrance fees to all national parks and reserves

Some things to note

Luggage Information

Egypt

• Ramadan is observed from 9 March to 8 April 2024.
• The luxury Nile cruise is not a private charter, and is shared with non-Bunnik passengers. Due to the limited space for docking along the Nile, ships bank together when stopped. Therefore in some cases, you may need to walk through as many as six ships to enter and exit our cruise ship. The Nile Cruises featured on all tourist itineraries to Egypt operate between the cities of Luxor and Aswan. These cities lie only 240 kilometres apart which means this distance could easily be covered in only 1 or 2 days without stops. However, due to logistical and scheduling reasons the cruises are offered only as 3, 4 and 7 night packages. This allows for extensive sightseeing along the way and, as such, much of the time is spent in port in Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo or Aswan. Each cruise itinerary will however, have an element of day-time cruising allowing us to relax and see life along the river.
• Please note that due to the high volume of river traffic all cruise itineraries are subject to change without notice. The order and timing of sightseeing may therefore change however all inclusions will remain the same.
• Travel through the Esna Lock is subject to river traffic and local conditions which means we may pass through the lock during the night or have an extended wait prior to entering the lock.
• Due to local laws and regulations, the only mode of transport available to visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu is by horse and carriage. You are welcome to explore Edfu independently or stay on board the cruise to enjoy the ship’s facilities if you would prefer

Kenya and Tanzania

• Both Tanzania and Kenya have enforced a total ban on single-use plastic bags. This includes garbage bags, carrier bags, shopping bags, and zip-lock bags that a lot of airlines require passengers to place their liquids within. Please ensure that before you either board a flight to Kenya and/or Tanzania, or arrive at a border entry point, that you have disposed of any plastic bags that may be within your checked or hand luggage. Failure to do so may result in a penalty.
• Whilst on safari, ensure you wear layers, it can be quite cool in the early hours but can warm up as the sun rises.
• Today you will need to pack an overnight bag for your stay at The Ark Lodge. Your main luggage will remain at the Aberdare Country Club until the following morning.
• Hot air balloon safaris will be done in lieu of the early morning game drive that is scheduled.
• The bush dinner experience may be undertaken at breakfast, lunch or dinner and is dependent on the weather forecast for the day. The final decision will be made by your guide and the lodge locally. Regardless, all meal inclusions will remain the same.
• You will be required to pay a local Zanzibar tourist tax direct to your hotels. This tax is approximately US $2 per person per night.

Optional Excursions

• All optional excursions are based on minimum participants and are subject to availability. The length of optional excursions advised is an approximate only. Optional excursions can be booked on tour directly with your Tour Director or guide. We recommend arranging the booking at the beginning of the tour to avoid disappointment. Please note some optional excursions may also be available on multiple or alternate days. Prices are a guide only and are subject to change without prior notice. Payment by cash is preferred as there are no guarantees that credit card facilities will be available. Please check with your Tour Director or guide locally for information relating to this. Credit card fees and exchange rates are at the discretion of your bank.