Cairo to Cape Town Nile Trans

A day-by-day breakdown of what to expect and where you'll be staying.

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Day 1 to 7, Cairo to Luxor

Kick off this trip of a lifetime with a visit to the great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza and the Cairo Museum. The Western Desert is where we head next and the oases of Bahariyya, Farafra and Dhakla offer numerous opportunities for sight-seeing and taking some pics. On to Luxor where the Valley of Kings and Queens and Karnak and Luxor Temples will keep us busy exploring for a few more days.

Day 8 to 14, Luxor to Aswan

Luxor is great for souvenir shopping and haggling is expected. After wandering all the souqs in search of the ultimate bargain our next stop is Aswan where we sort out our Sudan visas and can take a visit to famous Abu Simbel - an early start but well worth the visit! A couple of days cruising the Nile on a Felucca is available so you can lay back and watch the world go by!

Day 15 to 21, Aswan to Khartoum

Crossing Lake Nasser bring us to Wadi Halfa in Northern Sudan and the doorway to the Nubian Desert. A unique desert-crossing experience awaits you along this not so travelled route that passes the ancient pyramids at Meroe before arriving in Khartoum.

Day 22 to 28, Khartoum

Our stay here is on the banks of the Nile at the quirky but interesting Blue Nile Sailing Club. With plenty to see and do in and around Khartoum the days will go quickly.

Day 29 to 35, Khartoum to Addis Ababa (via Axum)

Crossing into Ethiopia we slowly make our way towards some of the most historic religious sites in the world. We spend some time in Gondar and Bahir Dar and can visit Axum, the amazing rock churches at Lalibela, Lake Tana and the Blue Nile Falls before arriving in the bustling capital of Addis Ababa.

Day 36 to 42, Addis Ababa to Kampala (via Moyale)

Travelling through the gorgeous Rift Valley we head further south and west to Uganda, passing through some of the worlds most amazing natural scenery.

Day 43 to 49, Kampala to Kisoro (via Lake Bunyoni)

A free day in Kampala allows time to check out the local cafes and nightspots before we travel further west to the borders of DRC, Rwanda and Uganda - home base for Gorilla Trekking. Getting up close to these amazing creatures is a truly a once in a lifetime experience and one of the big highlights of the trip. Where we view the Gorilla's will depend on where they are currently roaming and what permits are available at that time. If time allows we also have the chance to relax at peaceful Lake Bunyoni.

Day 50 to 56, Kisoro to Nairobi (via Lake Nakuru National Park)

We back track to Kampala and stop near Jinja - Uganda's adventure playground. Go whitewater rafting or kayaking, quad biking , horse riding or a visit a local school. Re-entering Kenya we pass Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Naivasha and Hells Gate National Park on the way to Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

Day 57 to 61, Nairobi

Depending on how we are going for time we may spend up to a good few days in Nairobi to organise visas and permits for the rest of our trip. With plenty to see and do there is more than enough to keep us busy.

Day 62 to 70, Nairobi to Dar Es Salaam

An early start sees us leave Nairobi behind and continue south crossing into Tanzania. From Arusha we take a trip into the World Heritage Site of the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park for a Big 5 spotting experience. Moving on to Marangu you have the opportunity to trek the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro! After a dose of the highest mountain in Africa, a full days’ drive to Dar es Salaam lies ahead. Once there, we jump on a ferry to the white sandy beaches of Zanzibar - before returning to Dar es Salaam.

Day 71 to 77, Dar Es Salaam to Lake Malawi (via Iringa)

Further west sees us travelling some 'interesting' roads through mountainous central Tanzania before turning south again and crossing into Malawi. Picturesque Lake Malawi is where we spend the next few days as we drive along the western edge of this massive Lake. Plenty of good curios on offer here!

Day 78 to 86, Lake Malawi to Gweru

A couple of days are spent in Lilongwe so we can organise Mozambique visas before following the infamous 'Gun Run' Tete Corridor into Zimbabwe. After a quick stop in Harare we venture on to Chimanimani National Park or Vumba Gardens where you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a hiking adventure or spend the day enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the local village and market. After that, our journey continues on to a privately run horse and game ranch at Gweru. Not only is it one of the best campsites in Africa is it also a spot to where you can take a walk with Lion Cubs!

Day 87 to 93, Gweru to Victoria Falls (via Bulawayo)

The medieval city of Great Zimbabwe is worth a visit before we make our way to Bulawayo. The Black Rhino tour in Matobo National Park is well worth your time and the local guides are some of the best you will find in Africa. Adrenaline junkies paradise is next on our trip - Victoria Falls. With dozens of adventure, wildlife and nature activities to try you will find something for everyone. Keep in mind that to TRUELY appreciate the awesome power of Victoria Falls, you have to fly over them!

Day 94 to 100, Victoria Falls to Maun (via Chobe National Park)

Entering Botswana we spend the night on the outskirts of the Chobe National Park - famous for its hordes of Elephants. Cruise the Chobe River before we head south into the Kalahari Basin. The Okavango Delta is a must-do highlight of any trip to Botswana and being poled along in your hollowed out tree is a relaxing way to spend a couple of days.

Day 101 to 107, Maun to Swakopmund (via Spitzkoppe)

Another border crossing as we leave Bots and enter Namibia. Etosha National Park is where we will spend a couple of days game driving and checking out the amazing wildlife at the waterholes. From Etosha we visit a local Cheetah park and get up close to these amazing and endangered creatures before continuing on towards Spitzkoppe. If time allows we can visit the Cape Cross Seal Colony before arriving in the adventure capital of Namibia - Swakopmund.

Day 108 to 114, Swakopmund to Fish River Canyon (via Sesriem)

Our base for the next few days is Swakopmund and there is plenty to keep us busy. Spend a day deep sea fishing, quad biking, dune boarding or sky diving or chill out at a beachfront cafe. From here we enter the oldest desert in the world and the Namib-Naukluft National Park - home of massive, ancient sand dunes. Further south finds us at Fish River Canyon reputably the second biggest canyon in the world.

Day 115 to 117, Fish River Canyon to Cape Town

A short drive away we enter South Africa and cross the Orange River on our way to the gorgeous Cedarberg region. As the Natural Wonder of the World, Table Mountain, comes into view we know we have reached the cosmopolitan 'Mother City' of Cape Town and the end of our trip of a lifetime!  

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Highlights included in your tour cost

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There are 87 optional activities available on this trip.

Prices shown are approximate

• TBA Antelope Park Lion Breeding Program
• $8 Arba Minch Hot Springs
• $75 Arusha Camel Rides
• $25 Aswan High Dam
• $15 Axum Churches and Archaeological Sites
• TBA Bahir Dar Fishing
• $12 Cairo Antiquities Museum
• $90 Cape Winelands Wine Tour
• $40 Chobe National Park Game Drive
• $60 Chobe Sunset Boat Cruise
• $20 Crescent Island Wildlife Sanctuary
• $35 Dhow Fishing Trip - Zanzibar
• $10 Edfu Temple
• $15 Elsamere
• $18 Fasilidas Castle Tour
• TBA Fishing on the Dam
• TBA Game Fishing
• $75 Game Ride by Horseback
• TBA Gondar
• $20 Great Zimbabwe Ruins
• $130 Gweru Elephant Ride
• $40 Gweru Elephant Swim
• $50 Hells Gate National Park
• $105 Jet Boating on the Zambezi
• $15 Jinja Guided Village Walk
• $70 Jinja Quad Bike Safari
• $90 Kande Beach Horse Riding
• $45 Kande Beach Scuba Diving
• TBA Kande Beach Water Sports Equipment
• $15 Karen Blixen Museum
• $12 Karnak Temple
• $8 Kitchener Island Botanic Gardens
• $20 Lake Malawi Snorkelling Trip
• $130 Lake Malawi Water Skiing
• $35 Lake Tana Scenic Boat Cruise
• $15 Lalibela Coffee Ceremony
• $25 Lalibela Rock Churches
• $20 Langata Giraffe Centre Visit
• $10 Luxor Temple
• $15 Malawi Village Walk & Meal
• $70 Moped Hire - Zanzibar
• $85 Nairobi National Park
• $65 Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
• $40 Nile Felucca Excursion
• $8 Nubian Village Dinner
• $35 Nungwe Snorkel Trip
• $160 Okavango Delta Mokoro Excursion
• $85 Okavango Delta Scenic Flight
• $40 Orange River Canoeing
• $500 PADI Dive Course - Zanzibar
• $80 Paragliding
• $10 Philae Temple
• $50 Prison Island Excursion
• $25 Prison Island Snorkelling Trip
• $550 Serengeti National Park Hot Air Balloon Ride
• $15 Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Rhino Sanctuary
• $25 Simien Mountains Mountain Biking
• $8 Simien Mountains Mule Ride
• $25 Softpower Community Project
• $35 Sossusvlei Guided Walk
• $350 Sossusvlei Scenic Flight
• $45 Stone Town City Tour
• $25 Stone Town Spice Tour
• $85 Swakopmund Quadbiking
• $65 Swakopmund Sandboarding
• $350 Swakopmund Sky Diving
• $75 Swakopmund Township Tour
• $35 Swimming with Dolphins
• $10 Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• $34 Valley of the Kings & Queens Tour
• $140 Victoria Falls Adrenaline Day
• $105 Victoria Falls Bungee Jump
• $130 Victoria Falls Elephant Ride
• $120 Victoria Falls Flight of Angels
• $130 Victoria Falls Helicopter Flight
• $75 Victoria Falls Horse Rides
• $120 Victoria Falls Microlight Flight
• $30 Victoria Falls National Park
• $115 Victoria Falls Rhino Walk
• $75 Victoria Falls Scenic Flight
• $80 Walk with the Lions - Gweru
• $125 White Water Rafting on the Nile
• $130 White Water Rafting on the Zambezi River
• $65 Zambezi Gorge Swing
• $165 Zambezi River Rafting & Boarding Combo
• $80 Zambezi River Sunset Dinner Cruise
• TBA Zimbabwe Walking Safaris