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South Africa & Egypt Safari (24 days)24 days duration
You are met on arrival at Cape Town Airport and transferred to your hotel for three nights' accommodation.
Today is at leisure. We recommend the following tours which are optional and at extra cost. (B)
1st Option: This morning you enjoy a city tour taking in all the highlights of Cape Town, which include the Castle of Good Hope from 1666, the Malay Quarter and the magnificent Table Mountain. Here you ascend to the top (weather permitting) by revolving cable car, where you are able to marvel at the birds-eye view of the city and its beaches far below. After descending from the mountain you return to your hotel.
2nd Option: You may wish to proceed to the harbour where you can board a ferry to Robben Island, formerly a political prison and now a museum and a National Monument. Here you view what was once Nelson Mandela's maximum-security prison cell during his 18 years of incarceration.
Today is at leisure. We recommend the following tour which is optional and at extra cost. (B)
Tour Option: Today's pleasant tour begins with a scenic drive along the Atlantic Coast, with its glorious views of the Twelve Apostles, part of the Table Mountain Range; the fishing village of Hout Bay, one of Cape Town's best-kept secrets; and then on to Cape Point in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. You then continue along the False Bay Coastline and returning to Cape Town by way of Simon's Town where you visit the Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach, Fishoek fishing village and the Muizenberg Mountain. Before your return, you stop at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens for a short walking tour of these beautiful gardens. The final leg of the tour takes you part the University of Cape Town, Rhodes Memorial and the Groote Schuur Hospital where the world's first successful human heart transplant was performed in 1967.
After breakfast, travel through the 'Little Karoo' and Montagu, a picturesque and historic spa town. En route, stop off inthe town of Barrydale, where you have the opportunity to visit a local farm school, interact with the children and teachers, spending time with them in the classroom learning more about the local farming community, before continuing to Oudtshoorn, the "ostrich feather capital" and centre of the world's Ostrich farming industry. (BD)
This morning you visit an Ostrich Farm for a guided tour, before visiting the spectacular limestone caverns of the Cango Caves, one of the world's great natural wonders, sculpted by nature through the ages. In the afternoon you continue to Knysna, known as the oyster box of South Africa, nestling on the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the Garden Route. (B)
After a leisurely breakfast you enjoy a lagoon cruise to the Featherbed Nature Reserve, where you can take a trailer ride to the top of the Western Head to enjoy panoramic views of the town and lagoon, returning for lunch under the milkwood trees. The afternoon is at leisure to further explore this charming town set around a natural harbour lagoon. (BL)
Head eastwards along the Garden Route, which follows the Indian Ocean coastline and is bordered inland by soaring mountain ranges and indigenous forests, to Port Elizabeth, known as the "friendly city". Arrive at your hotel in the late afternoon. (BD)
After breakfast, transfer to Port Elizabeth airport for the short northward flight to Durban, where you will be met by your representative and transferred to your hotel (flight not included in tour cost). Durban offers a long golden beach and a fascinating mix of cultures, from the downtown Zulu rickshaws, temples, mosques and the oriental bazaar to modern shopping malls. The remainder of the day is yours to explore the city or relax at your hotel. (B)
Today is at leisure. We recommend the following tour which is optional and at extra cost. (B)
Tour Option: This morning you undertake a City Sightseeing Tour which is a good introduction to the city.
After breakfast, travel past sugar cane fields, Eucalyptus plantations and Zulu Kraals to Zululand. Visit a traditional Zulu village to experience to local culture, dancing and enjoy a delicious ethnic lunch. Overnight in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi region. (BL)
Travel to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, which contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora and is particularly famous for its conservation of black and white rhino. Enjoy a morning game drive in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve before continuing to Swaziland, an independent Kingdom within the borders of South Africa, known for its lovely scenery, crafts and colourful indigenous culture.
In the afternoon the opportunity exists to visit a Swazi candle factory, where you can watch Swazi wax artists make beautiful candles. (B)
After breakfast travel to the Ngwenya glass factory, where visitors can watch talented glass blowers create a range of enchanting Africa animals, birds and fish, as well as tableware made from 100% recycled glass that is collected by the children of Swaziland. Continue north through Swaziland, before re-entering South Africa. Travel to your hotel situated outside the Kruger National Park, one of the world's greatest national parks, home to a stunning array of wildlife.
In the afternoon we depart on our Community visit to the Amazing Grace Children's Centre for a tour and a brief look into the lives of the children that are living there. This visit offers you the opportunity to understand more about the rural communities and their lifestyles and to interact with them in a secure and optimistic environment. Return to your hotel where night open-vehicle game drives are available (optional and at own expense). (B)
The day begins with early morning coffee or tea, followed by an open-vehicle game drive through the Kruger National Park with pre-packed breakfast. The park offers some good game viewing and wildlife opportunities and the visitor will soon appreciate the challenges of managing this unique reserve. Search for the "Big Five" - Rhino, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard and Elephant - as well as prolific birdlife and numerous other game. Return to the hotel to relax for the afternoon. Later afternoon or night open-vehicle game drives are available (optional and at own expense). (B)
This morning continue your journey through Mpumalanga Province, known as "Paradise Country". You drive along the spectacular "Panorama Route", offering views of amazing scenery including the 26 kilometre-long Blyde River Canyon and historic God's Window, a breathtaking view (weather permitting) of the edge of the escarpment taking in the Kruger National Park. Continue to your hotel for overnight. (B)
After a leisurely breakfast depart wild and scenic Mpumalanga and travel to Johannesburg Airport where you board your late night flight to Cairo. (B + Meals Inflight)
On arrival in Cairo you are met and taken to your conveniently located hotel where you have the remainder of the day at leisure to recover from your flights. (Meals Inflight)
This morning you are taken to the airport for your flight to Abu Simbel in Nubia, where you are met and taken to the famous Temples of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari. These temples are arguably the most impressive temples in Egypt. Following the visit you return to the airport for your short flight to Aswan. On arrival you board your Nile Cruise Boat. In the afternoon you sail by felucca to the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener's Island in the middle of the Nile. (BD)
Following breakfast you visit the Aswan High Dam and the Philae Complex, situated on a small island in the Nile River and dominated by the Temple of Isis. This is followed by a visit to view the unfinished Obelisk, located in the Northern Quarry where it has remained for centuries following a crack that formed in it at the time it was being fashioned.
After lunch your cruise boat sets sail to Kom Ombo, "City of Gold". Here you visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, which is actually made up of two identical temples. One was dedicated to the Crocodile God, Sobek, and the other to the Older Falcon Headed God, Haroeies. (BLD)
Today you visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu. Edfu was also known as the Greek City of Apollinopolis Magna and was a religious and commercial centre. The Temple of Horus, located on its outskirts, was dedicated to the Falcon Headed God and dates back to 237 BC.
After your visit you complete the final leg of your voyage to Luxor where you will be in port for the night. (BLD)
This morning you concentrate on the West Bank of the Nile, known in ancient times as "The Place of the Dead", where you visit the Valley of the Kings. Due to the Pharaohs' fearing that structures such as the Great Pyramid of Giza would be plundered, they changed their thinking and started hiding their tombs as they have done in the Valley of the Kings. Two of the most well known Pharaohs buried here are Rameses II and Tutankhamun. You also visit the labourers camp, Deir el Bahari, the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, dramatically overshadowed by the Peak of Thebes, as well the Colossi of Memnon, both facing the River Nile.
In the afternoon you undertake a visit to the impressive Karnak Temple. Karnak was constructed over a period spanning thirteen hundred years. It is the largest temple complex in the world and is made up of three main temples, some smaller enclosed ones and several outer temples. It was considered at the time to be "The Most Sacred of Places". The Luxor Temple was built as a setting for the Festival of Opet in which the king was transformed into a divine being. Luxor is sometimes called the "world's greatest open air museum". (BL)
After a leisurely start to the day you farewell your fellow travelers and the crew on the Nile Cruise Boat as you are taken to the airport for your flight to Cairo. On arrival you are met and taken to your hotel. (B)
After breakfast you are taken to the Giza Plateau where you visit the Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) as well as the Great Sphinx. Napoleon Bonaparte summed them up in the following statement to his troops before the Battle of Giza in 1798: "From atop these pyramids, forty centuries look down upon you". They are arguably the most recognisable landmarks known to man and in addition, is the only one of the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World" still standing today.
In the afternoon you will visit the Step Pyramid at Saqqara which pre-dates the Pyramids of Giza, but which also form part of the Memphis Necropolis. Memphis was founded around 3,100 BC by Menes, the king who united Upper and Lower Egypt. (BL)
After a leisurely morning you undertake a very interesting tour to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. Opened in 1902, it is world renowned for its Tutankhamun Gold Collection and the mummies of eleven of Ancient Egypt's Pharaohs or their wives, housed here. In addition, it has an impressive collection of large and small statues, jewels, coins and other artifacts.
Later this morning you pay a visit to the Citadel of Salah ad-Din with its prominent Mohamed Ali Mosque, also known as the "Alabaster Mosque". This will be followed by a visit to the Khan el-Khalili Market, founded in 1382 to control goods moving between the East and the West. Here we have an enjoyable lunch. We then have the opportunity to wander around this fascinating market. In the evening you will be taken to the Pyramids of Giza for dinner and a spectacular Sound & Light Show. (BLD)
Later this morning you are taken to the airport where your tour comes to an end. (B)
Inca Tours does not own any of the hotels, lodges or service providers utilised in making up the tours. As a result Inca Tours is only acting as an agent for the operators and as such does not accept responsibility for any negligence, omissions, errors or differences in standard experienced by passengers when utilising the operators' products or services. Please Note: for full booking terms and conditions please see the back of our booking form.
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