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Southern Africa & Egypt (17 days)17 days duration
On arrival in Cape Town you are met and taken to your hotel, strategically situated in the heart of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, where you are made welcome for a three-night stay. The Waterfront is undoubtedly Cape Town’s most visited attraction. You have the remainder of the afternoon at leisure.
This morning you enjoy 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 proceed to Cape Point in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.
Following the coast, you return via Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for a visit. Finally, you see Cape Town University and the Groote Schuur Hospital where the world’s first successful human heart-transplant was performed in 1967. (B)
Today’s pleasant city tour takes in 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 can marvel at the birds-eye view of the city and its beaches far below. Following this you are taken to Cape Town Airport for your flight to Johannesburg. On arrival you catch the shuttle to your airport hotel for the night. (B)
This morning catch the airport shuttle back to the airport to board your flight to Victoria Falls. On arrival you are taken to your hotel or lodge for two nights. (B)
Following breakfast you are taken on a tour of Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwean side. The views from Zimbabwe are better than from Zambia. You have the remainder of the day at leisure. There are a number of optional activities you may wish to consider.
Late this afternoon you undertake a cruise on the Upper Zambezi during which you may see elephant, crocodiles and hippos. (B)
On Botswana's far northern border lies the Kwando, Linyanti and Chobe River system forming a series of lakes, islands and floodplains. This area forms the Chobe National Park, famous for its large buffalo and elephant herds. In addition to a variety of predators, there is an abundance of wild game and bird life which decorate these beautiful waterways.
Following breakfast you are taken by road to your lodge located adjacent to Chobe. You have time to relax this afternoon before participating in one of the many activities organised for your enjoyment. (BLD)
Game viewing at Chobe National Park is a unique experience as it is the best place in the world to see the majestic African elephant, for Chobe is home to the world’s largest elephant population! Game drives into Chobe depart daily or alternatively, choose a cruise, led a local expert guide. Cruises along the Chobe River are a wonderful and somewhat different way of viewing the game. At dry season in particular, the wildlife congregate in their thousands at the water’s edge to quench their thirst. Not only is the game viewing spectacular, you can also enjoy just marvelling at the magnificent African sunsets, and enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. (BLD)
Following breakfast you are driven to Victoria Falls Airport to board your flight back to Johannesburg. On arrival you remain in transit until your flight to Cairo departs later tonight. (B)
On arrival in Cairo early this morning you are met and taken to your hotel for a two night stay. You have the remainder of the day at leisure to relax after last night's flight.
After breakfast you are taken to the Giza Plateau where you visit the Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) and the Great Sphinx. In 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte said: “From atop these pyramids, forty centuries look down upon you”. They are the most recognisable landmarks known to man and the only one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” still standing.
Later you visit the Step Pyramid at Saqqara which pre-dates the Pyramids of Giza, but which also forms part of the Memphis Necropolis. Memphis was founded around 3,100 BC by Menes, the king who united Upper and Lower Egypt. (BL)
This morning you are taken to the airport for your morning flight to Luxor, called the “world's greatest open air museum”. Here you visit the impressive Karnak Temple, the world's largest temple complex built over 13,000 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. You are then taken to your Nile Cruise boat.
Later you visit the West Bank, known in ancient times as “The Place of the Dead”. Here you visit the Valley of the Kings. Two of the most well known Pharaohs buried here are Ramesses II and Tutankhamun. (BLD)
Today you depart Luxor and sail to Esna. While travelling up the Nile you witness the locals farming the river banks as their ancestors have done for thousands of years. (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 was dedicated to the Falcon Headed God and dates back to 237 BC. Later you rejoin your cruise boat and sail to Kom Ombo, “City of Gold”. (BLD)
This morning you visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, actually made up of two identical temples! One was dedicated to Sobek, the Crocodile God and the other to the Older Falcon Headed God, Haroeies.
After your visit you complete the final leg of your voyage to Aswan where you are in port for tonight. On arrival you visit the Philae Complex, on an island in the Nile and dominated by the Temple of Isis. This is followed by a visit to the unfinished Obelisk in the Northern Quarry where it has remained for centuries following a crack that formed at the time of construction. Later you sail to the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener’s Island before returning to your cruise boat for the night. (BLD)
This morning you are taken to Aswan Airport for your short flight to Abu Simbel in Nubia. Abu Simbel is home to the famous Temples of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari. These temples are arguably the most impressive in Egypt! On arrival you undertake a tour to let you appreciate the enormity of the temples. Later you fly back to Cairo where you are met and taken to your hotel for a final two nights. (BLD)
This morning you undertake a 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 which are housed here. In addition, it has an impressive collection of large and small statues, jewels, coins and other artifacts.
This is followed by a visit to Khan el-Khalili Market, founded in 1382 to control goods moving between the East and the West. After lunch you will have the opportunity to wander around these fascinating markets. Tonight you are taken to the Giza Pyramids for dinner and a spectacular Sound & Light Show. (BLD)
Today you are taken to Cairo airport where your Southern Africa & Egypt Tour ends. (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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