The African Pharaoh

A 17 day adventure in Kenya and Egypt with a Nile Safari

This African Safaris begins in Cairo, then sails between Luxor & Aswan and continues through the Heart of Africa . Add Hurgada ( el-gouna) on the Red Sea . Click here for the 12 day edition . Extend to Jordan and add Petra
Egypt & Tanzania . Add Victoria Falls , add Dubai and Jordan A La Indiana Jones

This is truly an experience for those who have been dreaming to see and enjoy the ultimate African Safari at an affordable price. This combination of cosmopolitan Cairo , a Nile Cruise and the Safari Adventure is a diverse itinerary offering an array of Egypt's & Kenya's finest travel experiences.

From the luxurious New Stanley in Nairobi, travel on safari to the Aberdare Mountains and spend an evening of all night game viewing at the world famous tree hotel - The Ark. Thereafter, experience luxury tented accommodations at Sweetwaters Tented Camp on the privately owned Ol Pejeta Ranch. These luxury tents with ensuite facilities have showers with plenty of hot water and modern flush toilets. Explore the flamingo-lined shores of Lake Nakuru from the unique Lion Hill Lodge. Finally, safari to the grand spectacle of East Africa -- the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The Sarova Mara Tented Camp is our base camp to venture out onto the rolling Savannah plains teeming with large populations of Africa's finest game. Join us on and experience Cairo & Kenya the way it was meant to be seen -- in the most affordable manner.
Remember because there is limited space on the safari vehicle, ONE medium sized bag (soft luggage preferred) is allowed on the safari vehicle per person, plus your carry on.

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

DAY 01 , Sunday / CAIRO - Weekly - Year Round
Arrive at Cairo Airport. Our ground staff will meet you at the airport. A welcome fruit basket with our compliments awaits you at your room at the hotel. Egyptian & Arabic sweets & Hot Tea or coffee. Hotel:
Grand Hyatt . Conrad. Semiramis Inter.Continental or Nile Hilton . Visa fee is included & issued upon arrival for the following passports : American, Australian, NZ , EU , Canadian, and Japanese. Your passport must be valid at least and in order l.

DAY 2 - CAIRO- Sailing on the Nile - Monday (cBLD)
Today we see Cairo's major sights: the Egyptian Museum, including the Mummies Room. We'll continue to Royal Manial Palace of former Crown Prince Mohamed Ali , on to the Coptic Museum, and the Church of Abu Sergha, and the Beni Ezra Synagogue. We'll see where,according to the legend, Moses was found along the banks of the Nile. We'll take our lunch at a local restaurant.
Enjoy a 30 minute felucca sailing on the Nile to see Cairo from a different angle before we head back to Khan El Khalili Bazaar district for a walking tour of 12-Century , old quarter

DAY 3 - Cairo Fayoum- Tuesday (BL)
On Desert Safari for the Day - Fayoum Oases - And you thought the Pyramids were old

The wilds of the desert begin right on the outskirts of Cairo, and continue for hundreds of miles to the east and west, through sands, rock, mountains, oases, and a surprising variety of scenery and inhabitants.

Join us for a day ranging across the desert like modern nomads. In place of camels, we’ll travel in comfortable, reliable four-by-four Toyota Land Cruisers. Your guide and drivers will meet you at your hotel, and soon you’ll leave bustling Cairo behind as you undertake the drive toward the Oasis of El Fayoum, 150 kilometers to the southwest. Hard as it is to believe, a great inland sea once covered these sands. It was a holy reserve of sacred crocodiles, symbolized by the god Sobek.

We’ll visit the temple of Kom Oshim, drive over ancient lake beds, and alongside the waters of today’s Fayoum Lake to reach the fishermen’s village of Chak Chouk. There we’ll stop for a lunch of fish caught fresh that morning. There will be time to wander the village lanes and discreetly watch the everyday activities of baking flatbread, irrigating crops from the lake’s waters, and bringing in the catch. We’ll also include the craft and pottery museum where the best works of local artisans are on display.

Then it’s into our four-by-fours again, for an off-road adventure! We’ll head alongside and across desert washes, between dunes, and over ancient lake beds for 35 kilometers to the Valley of the Whales ( In Arabic : Wadi-El-Hitan) . Incredibly, these great mammals once thrived - almost forty million years ago- in waters surrounded by sands. We’ll stop and gaze in amazement at their fossilized remains alongside smaller sea creatures that remain in stone.
This valley was discovered in 1936 , by the German geologist George Schweinfurth in the northwestern corner of Wadi El-Rayan.

The valley provides evidence of one of the major changes in this mammal evolution has been declared by the UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site. It is believed that these land based whales once had feet that may have helped them somewhat while ashore . A team from the University of Michigan discovered in the late 80's that these Zeuglodon whales did have rudimentary feet , this was a startling discovery , suggesting that whales of Wadi -El-Hitan had recently started living in water as well , these whales were not related to any of the whales we have today , rather a more slender body and may grow up to 75 feet long. Several skeletons of whales are exposed in the sand. George Schweinfurth named this extinct specie the Zeuglodon Isis Whales .

In the evening, you’ll return to your hotel in Cairo. Land transportation in air-conditioned four-wheel-drive Toyota Land Cruiser with the services of driver and English-speaking driver. Lunch is included

DAY 4 -Wednesday / ASWAN, Camel Caravan! (BLD)
After a very early breakfast at the hotel . We fly to Aswan around 6 AM and board our Nile cruiser to drop luggage , and off we go to tour the mighty Aswan dams , followed by a trip by motor launch to the Island temple of Philae , dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS :

The Mystery of Isis . Two millennia ago the Mediterranean world was enthralled by the mystery of Isis:

"I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath ever seen me unveiled."

Called Aset by the ancient Egyptians, the goddess was a Madonna in the Mediterranean tradition that stretches far, far back to the primitive Mother Goddess from Anatolia, home to some of the oldest human communities on earth.

Isis was the powerful and quick-witted protector of her son Horus, the Sun God. Ancient peoples throughout the Mediterranean regarded Isis and Horus as the perfect Madonna and Child. Another legend says she was
also the mother of the fertility god Min who, judging from the depiction of him on temple walls, needed no help from Viagra!

Because of her wisdom and skill at protection, she was admired as a good magician capable of healing the sick and protecting the dead in their journey to the Underworld.

Isis is portrayed regally, as a queen seated on a throne (which may be the meaning of her name), often holding her son Horus as a baby. Other images show her with broad, magnificent gilded wings able to protect the world.

Isis, the great Mother Goddess. Come explore her mystery in timeless Egypt when you Travel in Style!

Return to the cruise in time for a delicious lunch.
Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin.

In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely sail by graceful felucca on the Nile. Only for those who are interested: a short camel caravan & ride for almost half an hour to visit a local Nubian Village, and maybe enjoy a cup of tea with the local Nubians . You may wish to bring some pencils as give away to the children.

The Lounge on board the deluxe Movenpick Radamis Nile Cruise

DAY 5 - Thursday / ASWAN & KOM OMBO (BLD)
Sail downstream to Kom Ombo to visit its twin temples of Haroeris, the sun god, and Sobek, the crocodile god

DAY 6 - Friday / EDFU / ESNA Locks (BLD)
We moor in Edfu, climb aboard horse-drawn carriages, and clip-clop through the town to the Temple of Horus, Egypt's best-preserved temple. Re-embarking, we cruise to Esna Locks ( expect delays going through the locks ) . Evening finds us in Luxor.

DAY 7 - Saturday / LUXOR / Cairo (BLD)
After breakfast - we check-out - Luggage stored on board .
We proceed to explore the Pharaohs capital for 20 centuries

Today's tour include as well a visit to the Valley of the Kings including Tut-Ank-Amon's tomb , temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari, and Colossi of Memnon, returning to our Nile cruiser for lunch. Following lunch aboard, we visit the great Temple of Luxor, and the gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, returning to our vessel for lunch ( or served at one of the top deluxe hotels in Luxor), dinner is included at the hotel in Cairo .
Fly back to Cairo and your hotel . If you prefer to combine with Hurgada /El-Gouna on the Red Sea , please click here.

DAY 8 - SUNDAY / GIZA Memphis , Sakkara, Dahshour
Evening departure to Nairobi (aBLD)
American breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, we visit the majestic pyramids of Giza and the timeless Sphinx. You need to be in your best of health if you wish to wonder into the heart of the Great Pyramid , a complimentary ticket on the house to enter the King's Chamber in the heart of the Great Pyramid (sometimes it 's closed for repairs, lighting or ventilation systems, in which case you will enter the Kephren Pyramid), after lunch, we tour the Dahshour Pyramids field. Before heading back to the hotel for dinner. Evening transfer to the airport to board Egyptair ( free upgrade to Business class subject to availability) flight for Nairobi.

DAY 9 , MONDAY / ARRIVE NAIROBI
Morning arrival in Nairobi. Our tour manager will meet and transfer us to the elegant New Stanley Hotel, located in the heart of the city center. The remainder of the day is at leisure for shopping, relaxation or optional city tours. This evening, our safari briefing. New Stanley Hotel

DAY 10 , TUESDAY / ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK
Safari life begins as we head towards the highlands. After lunch at the Aberdare Country Club, we'll head deep into the Aberdare Mountains to The Ark which is situated in a fairyland forest. Stay up all night if you wish game viewing from the observation decks or underground bunker. Situated beside a floodlit water hole and natural salt lick, a constant parade of wildlife will visit throughout the night. There is absolutely no limit to the number of animals we'll see. Birds and bushbuck are joined by elephant, buffalo, rhino, hyena, forest hog or leopard. The Ark (BLD)

DAY 11 , WEDNESDAY / OL PEJETA RANCH
After breakfast we're off to the Ol Pejeta Ranch - an 110,000 acre private ranch which encompasses a rich terrain of plains, low hills and forest. Each of our luxury tents has a private verandah and overlooks a floodlit water hole. Many different species can be seen here, including the reticulated giraffe, buffalo, elephant, zebra, leopard, and oryx. Schedule optional visits to the chimpanzee sanctuary, camel rides or nature walks. This evening holds a special treat -- a night game drive to search for the elusive leopard and other night animals. Sweet waters Tented Camp (BLD)

DAY 12 , THURSDAY / LAKE NAKURU PARK
Today, we travel through serene farmlands to Thompson's Falls and then on to Lake Nakuru. This is one of the world's most important bird sanctuaries. Lake Nakuru is a shallow alkaline lake and boasts enormous flocks of pastel flamingos, as well as other bird species. Lake Nakuru National Park is a lush green park and home to many species including reedbuck, bushbuck, wart hog, leopard, and the rare Rothschild giraffe. It has also been designated a rhino sanctuary. Lion Hill Lodge (BLD)

DAY 13 , FRIDAY / MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE After breakfast, we drive to the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya's most spectacular wildlife sanctuary. This is big game country and our home for the next two nights. The Masai Mara has been long-famed as one of Africa's greatest concentrations of game. Staggering numbers of plains game are found here, which in turn support a tremendous predator population. During our afternoon game run, we have opportunities to see herds of impala, giraffe, elephant, topi, buffalo, wart hog, as well as lion, cheetah, and leopard. Mara Sarova Tented Camp (B,L,D)

DAY 14 , SATURDAY / MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE
Our schedule today includes pre-breakfast and late afternoon game drives. We shall travel across the rolling Savannah's to rendezvous with the Mara residents: herds of buffalo, wildebeest, hartebeest, impala, and gazelle. Near the riverain woodland, large numbers of giraffe and elephants are to be seen. Hippo and crocodile can be found in the rivers. Boasting Kenya's largest predator population, this reserve is renown for lion prides up to 20 strong. Mara Sarova Tented Camp (BLD)

DAY 15 , SUNDAY/NAIROBI, After breakfast, we shall return via the Great Rift Valley to Nairobi and transfer to our welcoming hotel. The balance of the afternoon is free to pursue our own interests. New Stanley Hotel (B)

DAY 16 , MONDAY / CAIRO :
It's Kwaheri from Africa (a Swahili good-bye) as we transfer to the airport, you will board Egyptair flight to Cairo this morning. Hotel "Meridien Downtown over looking the Nile. Remainder of the day at leisure. (B)

DAY 17 : TUESDAY ( ab)
American breakfast at the hotel. Early morning transfer, to Cairo Airport. Bon Voyage

Rates per person in USD $

Your tour includes:

• Air fare : CAIRO/ NAIROBI round-trip, including tax in economy class with free upgrade to business class subject to availability at the time you book .

• Deluxe accommodations as shown in itinerary.
  
  
• Five days deluxe Nile Cruise, with all meals & shore excursions.

What's not included:

• Air fare from / to your home country .
  
• Any airport taxes ( In Kenya /Nairobi : Its $20 payable upon leaving Kenya/ Nairobi Airport, please have exact change in US $ or Kenyan Shillings.
  
  
• Visa fees For KENYA .
• Travel insurance.
• Excess baggage charges, shipping charges, items of a personal nature such as gratuities to drivers/guides, beverages, telephone, telex or fax charges, laundry and services or meals not indicated in the itineraries.

   
  Radamis II
  The four-deck, 72.3 - meter (237- foot ) - long Radamis II operated by the Swiss Mövenpick hospitality experts has 80 luxurious staterooms (including six suites), swimming pool, gourmet restaurant, three bars, nightly music and dancing in the lounge/discotheque, onboard boutique,
  hairdresser

  

  The Ultra Deluxe Movenpick Radamis II Nile Cruise

  
  
  
  

  Other choices :
  

  • Back to Multi-Country Tour List
    
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  • A Grand tour of Egypt and Zambia:
    From North Africa to the Heart of Africa : Here's the best of Egypt and Zambia in 20 days
    
  • Terms and conditions as per our web site & our brochures.
    
  • More Safari Tips.
    
  • Compare with Botswana Edge of Eden 13-days

  
  
  
  

  Amarco
  The brand-new, ultra-luxurious Amarco, launched in late 2003, has 51 staterooms, all with large picture windows and Internet access. Four junior suites (well equipped for handicapped passengers), two Presidential suites and two Royal suites accommodate special guests.

  The Amarco is the only vessel on the Nile with a true mini-gym (not just an exercise room), and a mini-spa with two saunas, two massage rooms and steam rooms. Two elevators take guests (especially those who find stairs difficult) between decks.

  Clients of Travel In Style.com receive special consideration on these luxury cruises. If you reserve your Presidential or Royal Suite through Travel In Style.com , we will provide you with a private valet to take care of your personal and touring needs, and a private guide and Egyptologist to answer any questions you may have about the wonders around you. Two
  guests in each suite will be entitled to a 30-minute massage. Just for fun, we'll even engage a local fortune-teller, knowledgeable in the mystic secrets of ancient Egypt, to read the future in your palm or your coffee grounds! These special services are not available to other
  passengers, even those who reserve Presidential Suites by other means.
  You must reserve through Travel In Style.com to enjoy them.

  Though the Nile is timeless, life is short. You may only cruise the Nile once. Make it the voyage of a lifetime aboard one of the ultra-luxury vessels available  in North America through Travel in Style, Inc. (www.travelinstyle.com).