The Grand African Tour
From Marrakech to Cairo and on to Cape Town

Experience the Best of Morocco, Egypt and South Africa
Fly Casablanca Cairo Johannesburg in business class
All in 18 days

Airfare is included from Casablanca to Cairo & Johannesburg .
Tour starts weekly on Wednesday in Casablanca , Year Round. Compare with the 20-Day version

Explore the three gems of Africa--Morocco, South Africa and Egypt--on this 18-day, tour to Casablanca, Marrakech. A bonus: journeys by train across the Moroccan countryside!
The best of Egypt , a good look at Cairo and a 5-day cruise along the Nile, then on to South Africa.
Then embark on thrilling game drives near Botswana's remote Limpopo River to South Africa's most cosmopolitan city on Table Bay, Cape Town, let us introduce you to the land…South of the Limpopo

This is truly an experience for those who have been dreaming to see and enjoy the ultimate African tour from Cairo all the way to Cape Town. This combination of cosmopolitan Cape Town , Victoria Falls, and the Safari Adventure in Botswana is a diverse itinerary offering an array of Southern Africa's finest travel experiences. Add Victoria Falls ?

Cost per person in USD $

Table Mountain , South Africa, Cape Town
Compare with Botswana : Edge of Eden 13-days

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

Day 1 - MARRAKECH- Wednesday
Our international flight arrives in Marrakech. After completing customs and immigration formalities. Our staff escorts us to our hotel, where we enjoy a welcome warm cup of mint tea, welcome fruit basket awaits you.
Subject to availability : your accommodation will be at one of Marrakech deluxe Riad ( Boutique hotels) or a five star hotel.

DAY 2 - MARRAKECH Thursday (BD)
We board a horse-drawn carriage for a clip-clop tour of this ancient royal capital, including the Kotoubia, a former royal palace, and of course the labyrinthine souks (bazaars).
An authentic Moroccan dinner is included tonight at a charming local restaurant.

Day 3 - MARRAKECH- Friday (BD)
Now that you've got your bearings, today is yours to explore the city on your own. If you prefer, join one of our optional tours (for an additional fee): one takes you to a nearby Berber village, another takes you into the souks for a shopping spree. Later today , your guide will call on you for a sunset horse drawn carriage ride throughout Marrakech . A complimentary dinner is included tonight with a local Moroccan family , this is not a "touristy thing " , it is meant to allow our guests to get to know and meet locals in each of our destinations where possible , if you prefer to have a quiet evening and not to join us in this family dinner , please let us know .

Day 4 - CASABLANCA - Saturday (BL)
"Getting there is half the fun!" We board the train for our return to Casablanca, cruising through the lovely countryside past green fields, fruit-laden orchards, traditional villages and modern towns, with the lofty Atlas Mountains soaring in the distance. Our tour escort points out interesting features, and fills us in on Moroccan life and culture. After arriving in Casablanca, we visit the majestic new Grand Mosque of King Hassan II, second only to the Great Mosque at Mecca in size. We continue on a panoramic tour of the city and its souks , we drive to the airport for our Royal Air Maroc night flight across North Africa to Egypt. Air fare is included in business class , tax included .

Day 5- CAIRO - Sunday (BL)
We arrive in Cairo with the dawn. Our representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel. Visa fee is included and will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for : Australian, NZ, American,Western European , Canadian & Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo.
We drive through the awakening city to our hotel for breakfast and a bracing cup of coffee or tea. Then it's on with your first full day in Egypt we show you the Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the Citadel of Saladin, and the Mohammed Ali Mosque, made of alabaster.

Sample Deluxe Hotels : City Stars Inter.continental . Nile Hilton ,Sonesta , J. W. Marriott Cairo Conrad or Grand Hyatt or similar

Visa will be issued upon arrival.
As you exit the gate, you will pass through a door or two , down some stairs , then walk for 2-5 minutes , until you pass the duty free shops, at the end of a wide corridor , you will see the security officers. There you will be met by a local representative, who will be holding a sign with the name you prefer to use for the sign .
Our local representative will then take your passport to obtain a stamp from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak with the passport officer. He will escort you through another last check on your passport as you exit the passport control, into customs area, he will assist you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs . After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel

Luxury Nile Cruises

DAY 6 - ASWAN ( or Luxor) , board your Nile Cruise , Camel Caravan! Monday (BLD)
We fly ( always in business class subject to availability at the time of booking ) to Aswan and board our Nile cruiser 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.

DAY 7 - ASWAN & KOM OMBO Tuesday (BLD)
First we tour new Nubian Museum then the awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to the island temples of Philae. Re-embarking on our Nile cruiser, we sail downstream to Kom Ombo to visit its twin temples.
One large bottle of water is provided daily in your cabin ( per person) , while you are on board the cruise

DAY 8 - EDFU & ESNA Wednesday (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 and its great temple dedicated to Khnum, the creator-god. Evening finds us in Luxor.
Cabin amenity tonight : Local Egyptian sweets or a cake for your special occasion.

DAY 9 - LUXOR Thursday (BLD)
We tour today : the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut, we stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the way back to our cruise.

Cabin amenity : Complimentary Galabya

DAY 10 - LUXOR - CAIRO Friday (B)
The gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor are our goals in the morning, followed by a return flight to Cairo. In the afternoon, wander through the city on your own, or do your last-minute shopping.

Day 11 - Saturday -- CAIRO - Johannesburg , South Africa
Our representative escorts you to the airport for your Egyptair flight very early in the morning .
Your flight is in business class , tax included .
Arrive Johannesburg in AM. You're transferred to Mount Grace Hotel, one of the finest country hotels in South Africa. Set in hills surrounding Rietpoort Valley, it is home to abundant bird life, cascading waterfall, stone-age relics, and a 400-year-old olive tree. Guests are welcomed with tasteful furnishings and impeccable service. Mount Grace Hotel or Melrose Arch Hotel (D)

Days 12 through 14, Sunday to TuesdayMashatu, Botswana
This morning, board your SAA Airlink flight to Polokwane Airport ( about 1 hour ) , upon arrival at Polokwane Airport you will board a charter flight to the Limpopo Valley Airfield where you will be met and transferred to the Mashatu Game Reserve. Very important to note that a 15 Kilogram luggage limit per person is strictly enforced for all safari flights , drive and camps . Your luggage must be soft bags . For guests who may need to sotre excess luggage , you may wish to do so at Johannesburg Airport , or better yet , travel light ) .
The Mashaty Main Camp is at the confluence of Limpopo and Shashe Rivers is Tuli Enclave, a diverse region ranging from savannas to forests to open plains.
In open four-wheel-drive land cruisers, experienced Tswana rangers and trackers provide guests with unequaled close-up game- viewing and photographic opportunities.
Night game drives dinners overlooking lighted watering hole offer unique views of bush life. Mashatu Main Camp (BLD)

Day 15 - Wednesday -- Cape Town
Board morning safari flight from Limpopo Valley Airfield to Polokwane Airport, where you connect with the scheduled Airlink flight to" OR Tambo " Johannesburg Airport and connect with onward flight to Cape Town. Very important to note that a 15 Kilogram luggage limit per person is strictly enforced for all safari flights , drive and camps . Your luggage must be soft bags . For guests who may need to store excess luggage , you may wish to do so at Johannesburg Airport , or better yet , travel light ) .

On arrival, you are transferred to the Radisson Hotel . The hotel is located next to Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. The five stars Radisson Hotel exudes a relaxed charm , it has the feel of a luxurious beach hotel . Cape Town is cradled by Table Mountain , has immense charm and history (B)

Cape Town Water Front

Day 16 - Thursday - Cape Point / Peninsula Tour - Group Tour

Travel coastal road that hugs the cold Atlantic Ocean to Hout Bay, a former fishing community that is a popular residential area. But it still retains charm of days past. Continue south to Cape Point in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where the Atlantic and the Indian oceans meet. Return along the Indian Ocean coast road. Visit a colony of penguins at Boulders Beach. Drive through Simonstown naval base to Kalk Bay. Visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, one of Africa's finest gardens. Radisson Granger Bay Hotel (BL)

Day 17 - Friday - Cape Town /Johannesburg
Fly back to Johannesburg - Hotel choices subject to availibility :
Mount Grace Hotel, Hilton Sandton or Melrose Arch Hotel. Transfers are always included (B)

Day 18 - Saturday - Departure :
Early morning transfer to JNB Airport . End of our service . Bon Voyage (B)

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

View of the Nile - Nubia/Aswan - Land of Gold , Egypt

INCLUDED:

• Airfare from Marrakech to Cairo to Johannesburg in business class , with tax included .
  
• All airfares within Egypt in business class , tax included .
  
• All transfers as per itinerary.
  
• Deluxe Hotel accommodation with tax & service charges.
  
• Visa fee for Egypt , visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for : American,Western European, Canadian & Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo.
  
• Deluxe Nile Cruise with all meals & shore excursions.
  
• Preset menu meals including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast) L = Lunch, D = Dinner

• Internal Airfare - Johannesburg - Mashatu - Johannesburg - Cape Town.
  
• Daily accommodations as shown in the itinerary & all hotel taxes and service charges
  
• All hotel /airport transfers as indicated
  
• Transportation in air-conditioned coaches
  
• Game drives in open 4-wheel drive safari vehicles, conducted by experienced Tswana rangers and trackers Spotlight game drives at night
  
• Game walks accompanied by experienced Tswana ranger and tracker
  
• All sightseeing, game viewing, entrance fees and park fees as indicated in the itinerary.

Safaris Highlights

• Overnight at the elegant Mount Grace Hotel
• 3 nights at luxurious Mashatu Main Camp, Mala Mala's sister property in Botswana on wildlife-rich Limpopo River
• Mashatu Game Reserve hosts the largest concentration of elephants in the world on private land , with more than 700 elephants.
• Tour Cape Town in relaxed style with 3 nights in a luxury oceanfront hotel.
• Beautiful scenic drive to Cape Point Cape Peninsula, where Indian and Atlantic oceans meet.
• View dramatic Cape of Good Hope, landmark for explorers of all sorts for more than three centuries.
• Visit world-renown Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens with a specialist guide.

NOT INCLUDED:

Any international airport departure taxes, passport and visa fees, travel insurance, excess baggage charges, shipping charges, and other items of a personal nature such as gratuities to drivers and guides, porters, telephone/telex/fax charges, laundry, and beverages.

• General info on : Airport departure taxes: ( P P = Per person )
• Botswana P45 per person , NB No US$100 notes accepted, South African Airport tax R34 p p for domestic departures, South African Airport for regional departures R77 p p, South African Airport tax for international departures R100 p p, South African Government tax for regional departures R50 p p, South African Government tax for international departures R100 pp, (these South African taxes should be included in the cost of your International ticket).
• Personal expenses including but not limited to beverages, laundry, communication costs, excess baggage fees (baggage is restricted to 26 lbs (Modify as required) per person in a soft sided bag where charter flights are included) ·
• Traveler's insurance (the purchase of travel insurance is required to protect your investment in case of unanticipated curtailment or cancellation of your tour).
• Medical expenses, medical insurance ( passenger must show proof of insurance or ask for the flyer to be mailed).

• Gratuities to drivers, guides or tour managers.
  
  
• Any sightseeing, safari activities, meals, or other activities not specified in the itinerary or indicated as optional.
  
  
• Please note that tipping is discretionary, however, the following guidelines are provided: $5-$10 per day for professional safari guides; $3-$5 per day for camp staff, e.g. waiters, housekeepers, which is a communal tip that is shared among the staff); porters - $1; driver/guides - $2-$5); restaurant waiters/waitresses - 10% of bill; hotel housekeeping - $2 per day.
  
  
• Excess baggage charges, shipping charges, items of a personal

• For an upgrade on the NILE CRUISE : to an ultra deluxe all suites Nile Cruise , please add
  350.00 per person in double . Some do offer suites with a private balcony
• Private touring on board the cruise: Please add $150 per person for the full cruise/shore excursions.
• For Christmas/New Year's week, add 10% to any of the above the rate.
• For Easter , please add %10 supplement to any of the listed rates.

Prices are subject to change due to currency fluctuations, increase in fuel prices, or other fees imposed by the government or tourism industry not within our control.
DEPARTURE DATES: Weekly departures year round . Terms and conditions as per our web site & our brochures. More Safari Tips.

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