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Grand
African Tour
From North To South Africa
Tour Egypt, Morocco, Botswana , South Africa and Tunisia
In
a Grand 32 Day African Tour
starts weekly . Year Round
We'll take you through North and South Africa, The Ancient Nile Kingdoms
of the mighty Pharaohs, Cairo , Giza, enjoy a 5 day Nile Cruise,
then its off to Carthage, capital of the legendary Hannibal, but there's
much more to this tour. You'll also Continue west on across North Africa
to Morocco. Marrakech, Fez & Casablanca . 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 Safaris.
a true diverse itinerary offering an array of Southern Africa's finest
travel experiences.
visit ancient cities, desert oases, curious troglodyte dwellings, Islamic
splendors, and Roman ruins in Africa ! Compare
with the : 25 day edition North African Tour including Alexandria and
a Nile Cruise
Add Turkey & Istanbul
. Compare
with Cairo to Cape version
DAY
1 - CAIRO Sunday - Weekly - Year Round
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 : American, British , Canadian and 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 .
Visa
for Egypt may 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 and
cashier / bank windows , please take your passport to obtain a stamp
from the cashier / bank window and you will pay $15 USD in cash or equivalent
, then please proceed to speak with the passport officer, you will then
go through another last check on your passport as you exit the passport
control, into customs area, after collecting your luggage and clearing
customs, you will exit to find our local representative waiting for
you holding a sign with your name will then escort you (private air-conditioned
vehicle) to you hotel .
Day
2 - Monday -- CAIRO- Johannesburg, South Africa (BD)
Our
representative escorts you to the airport for your Egyptair flight very
early in the morning.
Arrive in Johannesburg . Fly Cairo JNB , air fare is included in our
rate with tax included . Airport transfers are always on a private basis
. Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur .
Hotel choices : Mount Grace or Irene Country Lodge , please advise us
of your preference at the time of booking. Dinner is included at the
hotel .
Mount Grace Hotel and Spa , 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 .
A fusion of contemporary luxury and classic charm,
the Mount Grace Country House & Spa is an elegant countryside hideaway.
The picturesque hotel started life as a private residence and farmhouse
and has hosted a number of dignitaries and A-list visitors over the
years. Located on a hillside with un-spoilt views of the valley and
boasting some ten acres of manicured gardens as well as pristine bushveld,
the sprawling property is a balm for the city weary soul.
While at the Mount Grace indulge in good food, fine wines and relaxing
spa treatments in the award winning Mount Grace Spa.
The
Mount Grace Country House & Spa team prides itself on creating a
home away from home for all our guests, where time stands still, allowing
you to enjoy that rare opportunity of complete relaxation.
Winner
of:
-
World Luxury Hotel awards Country Winner: Best Luxury Day Spa
- South Africa’s Top 100 Restaurant
- Best Fine Dining Restaurant in the West Rand Tourism
- Best Conference Venue in West Rand Tourism
- Silver Spa Award West Rand Travel Awards
- Diamond Diners Club award
- Professional Beauty Best Resort/Hotel Spa award
Your
Honeymoon in Africa. Mount Grace Hotel and Spa in South Africa- Luxury
Travel and Vacation in North And South Africa
Irene Country
Lodge with
its proximity to shopping, the airport and a golf course as well as
the idyllic atmosphere, a lovely spa and access to the Irene Dairy,
if people are interested in taking a walk across. Nestled
in the historic village of Irene, centrally located between Johannesburg
and Pretoria, is the rustic charm of Irene Country Lodge.
All
seventy three en suite rooms have been decorated with a classical feel,
incorporating a theme that reflects the ambiance of the local dairy
farm and Irene area. Most rooms face onto the lake and offer amenities
such as twenty four hour room service, wireless internet access, DSTV
satellite television and mini bars. The fifteen rooms in the forest
are nestled amongst the trees and decorated in browns, oranges and greens.
The spacious rooms are tranquil and cool and filled with leather, pewter
and wood. These rooms were purposely designed to create the feeling
of being inside the forest. The Meadow Green Restaurant boasts culinary
creations carefully prepared by some of the country's finest chefs with
buffet lunches available on Sundays. Enjoy the Spa Café and Juice Bar
during a visit to Camdeboo Wellness Centre. After lunch guests can enjoy
a leisurely stroll down one of the country lanes and return to a traditional
afternoon tea at the lakeside or gazebo. The Meadow
Green Restaurant boasts culinary creations carefully prepared by some
of the country's finest chefs with buffet lunches available on Sundays.
Enjoy the Spa Café and Juice Bar during a visit to Camdeboo Wellness
Centre. After lunch guests can enjoy a leisurely stroll down one of
the country lanes and return to a traditional afternoon tea at the lakeside
or gazebo.
Days
3 - Fly to Mashatu Game Reserve - Botswana , Tuesday - Mashatu Main
Luxury Camp (BLD)
Mashatu , Botswana - This morning, board safari flight to Mashatu
Game Reserve. 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
At
09h30 you will be collected by our local rep. and taken back to the
airport to check in for a private flight to Mashatu. This
flight will be in a 6-seater Cessna 402 and will take about two hours.
You will be obliged to land and clear South African Immigration in Polokwane
-capital of the Limpopo province - en route. Estimated arrival time
at the Mashatu airfield of 13h00 ( always subject to change ) .
The private charter for the flight to Mashatu Main Luxury Camp
Please
note that even though this is a private charter, you will still be required
to travel with soft-sided bags that can easily be placed in the hold.
Large, solid bags do not fit into the hold and cannot easily
or safely be stowed in the aircraft itself.
A
representative from Botswana Immigrations will meet you on arrival at
the Mashatu airfield and stamp you into Botswana. ( For Americans and
other limited number of nationalities, Botswana doesn't require a visa
for this short stay with tourism as your purpose of entry into Botswana)
.
Spend
three nights Mashatu Main camp on full board basis ( all meals included)
including standard lodge game activities.
Day
4 - Wednesday Mashatu Main Luxury Camp , Botswana (BLD)
Mashatu Main Luxury Camp is ideal for the guest who is accustomed
to their creature comforts and will meet and exceed every expectation.
Everything about the camp is quietly elegant and the luxury rests easily
against the backdrop of the bush. Meals are a sumptuous celebration
of traditional African cuisine – flavourful but not ostentatious. Fresh
fruits, vegetables, home-made breads and pies, succulent meat dishes
and delicious desserts will appeal to any guest who appreciates home-cooking
at its best!
There
is a fully-stocked curio shop showcasing a variety of African crafts,
clothing and jewellery as well as keeping small extras that are often
forgotten such as batteries or sunscreen.
Your
Mashatu Luxury Camp in Botswana
Day
5 - Thursday - Mashatu Main Luxury Camp , Botswana (BLD)
There
are fourteen luxury suites lying, each designed to allow absolute privacy
and a communion with the bush and its inhabitants. The suites are all
air-conditioned suites and tastefully decorated. A double bed and an
extra-large single bed together with a seating area comprising a day
bed allows the suites to provide more than enough space to comfortably
accommodate families with younger children. The bathrooms are
spacious with both bath and shower facilities, his and hers washbasins
and a WC and there is also a separate loo . There is ample hanging and
shelf space and a small digital safe for valuables. The front of each
unit has large sliding doors as well a sliding screen door for those
guests wanting to sleep in luxury, but still allow the noises of the
bush into the bedroom. Spend
three nights Mashatu Main camp on full board basis ( all meals included)
including standard lodge game activities.
Your Luxury African Adventure at the Ultra Deluxe Mashatu Safaris Camp
Mashatu
Main Camp is ideal families. Children of all ages are accepted, but
families with children four (4) years and under are obliged to tale
a private vehicle. A large swimming pool is the most popular spot in
the camp to while away the hours on the hot days between game activities.
The Discovery Room is filled with animal specimens and relics that will
fascinate and educate visitors of all ages as will the resident crocodiles.
Day 6 - Friday -Botswana - Johannesburg
(B)
After
a morning Safari game and breakfast, you will be transferred back to
the Mashatu airfield to clear Botswana Immigrations
formalities before heading back to Johannesburg on a private charter
flight departing around 13h00.
You
will be met at the airstrip by an Immigrations official who will stamp
your passports for departure from the country . Clear Immigrations back
into South Africa at Polokwane Airport and then continue to Johannesburg
. On
arrival,our local rep. will be waiting for you to escort you and assist
with your luggage to settle across to the Intercontinental Hotel at
the airport .This deluxe hotel has drawn it's inspiration from the African
continent capturing the culture and spirit of Africa through the use
of simple shapes and symbolic artifacts to create an African environment
in a contemporary setting. The signature restaurant, Quills, is aptly
named after the unique 18-metre long porcupine quill mobile, which spans
the entire length of the restaurant. Guests will be treated to an entirely
new taste sensation " Aero African cuisine" a fusion of African
concepts incorporating flavours from around the world.
Other
relaxation facilities include a massage facility, a fully equipped gym
with steam baths as well as an indoor heated swimming pool, which has
a panoramic view across the Johannesburg skyline.
Overnight
at The Intercontinental O.R. Tambo Airport on a bed and breakfast basis.
 
The Intercontinental O.R. Tambo Airport. Johannesburg. South
Africa
Day
7 - Saturday - Fly to Livingstone -
Victoria Falls (BD)
After breakfast this morning check in for a flight
to Livingstone ( air fare is included in our rate ) On arrival in Livingstone
you will be met and transferred to The Zambezi Sun or The Royal Livingstone
Hotel ( please advise us of your preference at the time of booking )
.
The Zambezi Sun, spanning the banks of one of the greatest rivers in
Africa, is a favourite for fun-loving adventurers. This ethnic paradise
is both a sanctuary and a world of activity, and is the perfect location
for exciting and enriching getaways.
 
The
architecture echoes the stunning diversity of the African wilderness
whilst the rooms are open and airy and face outwards onto the surrounding
bush or inwards onto the cool landscaped pool. All rooms have spacious
bathrooms offering the luxury of a separate bath and shower . The ‘alfresco’
grill is located alongside the entertainment area at the pool and is
an ideal location for light lunches. Alternately there is also an indoor
buffet restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Zambezi
Sun offers sun, space, wildlife, and of course, The Victoria Falls themselves
.
If
you prefer , you may choose :The
Royal Livingstone is situated on the banks of the Zambezi
River, close
to the spectacular eastern cataract of the mighty Victoria Falls:
 
The
Royal Livingstone Hotel
When
and if you decide to stay at the Royal Livingstone , rest assured that
every detail has been lovingly crafted to create the impression of being
in another place in time, a time of romance and adventure. Each room
offers a quiet retreat from the ruggedness of Africa, with large shaded verandas and open spaces cooled
by swirling fans and tall shutters. The travellers bar and lounge is
a place where guests can relax under
thatched shade, decorated in harmonious greens, creams and ebony. The
Royal Livingstone on the banks of the Zambezi, and the mighty Victoria
Falls
High tea is served in the lounge and the a la carte restaurant offers
a range of exquisite delicacies from around the world . There is also
a superb bar right on the banks of the river where at certain times of
the year the water flows under the deck where you are sitting.
Spend
two nights Zambezi Sun or Royal Livingstone with breakfast and dinner
included daily .
Included while here: Tour of The Falls. A sundowner cruise on the Lady
Livingstone A visit to Mukuni village tour.
Tour
of The Falls.
Just over two hours long, this exciting and educational tour emphasizes
the story of the area , from the early days of the San Bushmen, to the
colonial presence and discovery of the Falls by Livingstone. The walk
is truly stunning and after you have seen The Falls and have been drenched
in the natural rain forest, you will be driven back to your hotel. Please
have small US$ or ZAR denominations with you for the hire of raincoats.
Day
7 - Sunday - Livingstone -
Victoria Falls (BD)
Victoria Falls : This
master work of nature--plunging into a massive ravine and sending up
a roar of spray sufficient to sustain a rainforest around its edge--needs
little introduction. Our exciting program includes all of the town's
"musts": two nights luxury accommodations; a guided tour of
the falls and nearby artisan village and a Sundowner cruise on the Zambezi
River.
A
visit to Mukuni village tour.
Mukuni's Village is a Royal village which was founded around the 13th
Century. It is home to about 7,000 Leya people. The chief has invited
visitors into his village to get a glimpse of how his people have lived
for generations and to learn a little about their traditional customs
and beliefs. The Chief’s guides and the people of the village
are more than happy to show visitors their huts and take you inside,
explain how they are built and decorated, introduce you to various craftsmen
and women at work and ask you to taste some traditional foods and beer.
This is a working village, not a purpose built tourist attraction, and
it is a privilege to be welcomed into their lifestyle
Tours last for 2 hours and may be booked in the morning or the afternoon.
This tour may be combined with other historical or cultural tours to
make a full morning or day out with a very good lunch.
Departure from lodging place at the clients’ convenience but pick
up is usually at 08h00 or 15h00. Tours include the services of a qualified
guide and bottled mineral water.
A
sundowner cruise on the Lady Livingstone
The Lady Livingstone was built in 2008 to run in conjunction with the
then newly built David Livingstone Safari Lodge and Spa; she is moored
on a private jetty off to one side of the hotel. Lavishly decked out
with every thought to a guest’s personal comfort, the Lady Livingstone
is a one hundred and forty four seater, three-decker river cruiser designed
to accommodate groups and individuals. The lower deck accommodates 92,
middle deck accommodates 40 and the upper exclusive deck accommodates
12 in private luxury. In summer, September to April, the cruise departs
at 16.30 from the David Livingstone Safari Lodge jetty and returns at
18.30. Guest will be collected from their accommodation about half an
hour before departure.
Day
8 - Monday - Cape Town
Fly back to Johannesburg and connect to Cape Town and on to Cape
Grace Hotel, one of the finest country hotels in South Africa.
Air fare is included between in economy class (B)
The
Cape Grace Hotel :
Cape
Grace boutique hotel delivers all the creature comforts you'd expect
from world class luxury accommodation in Cape Town and lots of little
extras too. Backed by iconic Table Mountain and perfectly positioned
on our own private quay in the centre of Cape Town's vibrant V&A
Waterfront, Cape Grace epitomizes style and sophistication in an atmosphere
alive with genuine warmth and hospitality. Surrounded by water on three
sides, The Cape Grace enjoys one of Cape Town’s most sought after locations.
Only minutes away from the city centre and within walking distance of
The Waterfront’s thriving activity, the hotel is reminiscent of the
elegance of the old city and the French historical influence of the
Cape . French doors in all of the one hundred and four spacious rooms
and suites open onto unrivalled views of Table Mountain and the international
yacht basin or working harbour. Other hotel facilities include; private
guest library, swimming pool, day-use rooms and 24 hour room service.
 
The
hotel has a spa on the top floor as well as an excellent restaurant
and a bar which is a popular meeting place. This is a superb five star
hotel with all attendant services and facilities. Guests should note
that parts of The Waterfront are still being developed and that this
development may be seen from some of the rooms.
A
Romantic Escapade at the Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town- South Africa
Spend
three nights at the Cape Grace Hotel in a luxury room on a bed and breakfast
basis.
Day
9 - Tuesday - Cape Town (BL)
Private Peninsular Tour : 09h00 – 17h00
Breakfast is included at the hotel. Lunch is included at a charming
local restaurant.
At 09h00 you will be met by our local rep. and start your full day private
Peninsular Explorer guided tour. This tour includes a spectacular coastal
journey through to Cape Point stopping en route at various highlights
such as:
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens . Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope
. Boulders Beach . Penguin Colony . Hout Bay . Fynbos vegetation
Please be aware that while this tour does include a trip up
Table Mountain BUT this is weather dependent.
Day
10 - Wednesday - Cape Town (B)
Full day at leisure in Cape
Town to explore this charming city as you wish or ask us for available
optional tours.
Day
12 - Thursday - Departure Back to Cairo (B)
Early
morning transfer to the airport and fly back to JNB air fare is always
included within S. Africa , and on to board flight to Cairo on Egyptair
, again this air fare as well JNB Cairo is included in our rate .
Upon arrival in Cairo , our local rep. will escort you to your hotel
in Cairo . Visa
for Egypt may 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 and
cashier / bank windows, please take your passport to obtain a stamp
from the cashier / bank window and you will pay $15 USD in cash or equivalent.
, then please proceed to speak with the passport officer, you will then
go through another last check on your passport as you exit the passport
control, into customs area, after collecting your luggage and clearing
customs, you will exit to find our local representative waiting for
you holding a sign with your name will then escort you (private air-conditioned
vehicle) to you hotel .
DAY
13 - CAIRO - Friday (BL)
On your first full day in Egypt we show you the Egyptian Museum,
including the Mummies Pavilion and King Tut's Gold Treasure Pavilion
, the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the Citadel of
Saladin, and the Mohammed Ali Mosque, made of alabaster.
Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant
DAY
14 - ASWAN ( or Luxor ) , Camel Caravan! Board your Nile Cruise - Saturday
(BLD)
We fly to Aswan and board our Nile cruiser in time for a delicious
lunch. Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in ear 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
15 - ASWAN and KOM OMBO - On Board Your Nile Cruise - Sunday
(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.
DAY
16 - EDFU & ESNA - Monday- On Board Your Nile Cruise
(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. Afternoon tea is served
on deck. Evening finds us in Luxor.
DAY
17- LUXOR - On Board Your Nile Cruise
The Workers Village , the first known workers strike in history
Tuesday
(BLD)
We tour the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings and
the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut, we stop at the Colossi of Memnon
before we l
continue on Luxor's west bank to get a totally different perspective
on ancient Egyptian life, at the ancient workers' settlement of Deir
el-Medinah.
While most of the imposing stone monuments and sites of Egypt honor
the lives and after-lives of royalty, Deir el-Medinah gives us unique
and surprising insights into the ordinary citizens who constructed and
decorated the tombs.
Here
we'll see the excavated homes shared by laborers with their domestic
animals. These quarters were surprisingly large, with three good-sized
rooms, courtyard, kitchen, and even storage cellars. While ancient Egypt
might not have been a workers' paradise, we'll see that artisans and
builders were highly regarded in their community. We are proud to be
the only operator to offer regular visits to this singular ancient settlement
in its tour and cruise programs.
Back
to your cruise in time for lunch. Afternoon tea is served on deck. The
gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple
of Luxor are our goals in the afternoon
DAY
18 - LUXOR - CAIRO - Wednesday (B)
Breakfast, check-out and a return flight to Cairo. All transfers
are included in our rate . In the afternoon, wander through the city
on your own, or do your last-minute shopping.
DAY 19 - TUNIS - Thursday (B)
Board your flight heading west for Tunis.
Our local staff will meet you upon arrival at Tunis Carthage International
Airport. You'll be assisted with the formalities, and escorted to your
hotel . There will be time to relax and recuperate from your journey,
and enjoy the excellent facilities. If you wish, you can adventure into
the center of Tunis to start your exploration of the winding alleys
of the souk, filled with treasures of beaten brass and basketry and
carpets, and merchants who will welcome you with traditional mint tea.
DAY 20 - HAMMAMET, SOUSSE, MONASTIR,
EL DJEM, SFAX - Friday (BLD)
After a leisurely breakfast, we'll set off to explore! Our first stop
is Hammamat, a cosmopolitan port where sun-worshippers from all over
happily coexist with fishermen and traditional ways. We'll stop at the
port of El Kantaoui, and then proceed back into time to venerable Sousse,
once the Phoenician City called Hadrumatum. We'll stroll through the
medina, the old quarter, cooled by sea breezes, and visit the museum
as well as the Ribat, a stronghold of the warriors of Islam. Then we'll
continue to Monastir, where we'll stop for lunch, and visit its own
notable ribat, as well as the Bourguiba Mosque, dedicated to the hero
of Tunisia's independence. Lunch will be served at a comfortable four-star
hotel. In El Djem, we'll marvel at an ancient amphitheater, before continuing
to stop for the night in four-star lodgings in the bustling coastal
city of Sfax.
DAY 21 - SFAX, DJERBA, GABES, MATMATA
- Saturday (BLD)
Our busy day starts with a drive to the coastal city of Gabes, a Roman
outpost of old and a traditional market center where, for centuries,
goods from across the sea and across the desert have changed hands.
We'll visit the oasis, where palm groves and gardens flourish. We'll
then cross to Djerba, an island where Ulysses once encountered the legendary
Lotus-Eaters. You'll have time to explore the old quarters, including
the synagogue of Hara Sghira, Hara Kebira with its modern Jewish community,
and Guellala, with its craft stalls, and to see the waterfront and fishing
fleet, and the lively town of Houmt Souk.
After a lunch stop, we'll cross back to the mainland. Our route takes
us through terrain of increasingly sparse grasses and shrubs, into the
desert to Matmata.
We'll stop to look in on a community of miniature underground houses,
where the earliest settlers sheltered from the extremes of the desert
above -- as do the Berbers of today. We'll settle in to comfortable
lodgings and dinner at a four-star hotel.
DAY 22 - MATMATA, KEBILI, DOUZ, TOZEUR - Sunday (BLD)
We'll enjoy a full day of desert adventure, today.
First we'll visit the village of Kebili, largest of a cluster of oases,
islands of life in a harsh landscape, then proceed to Douz, fabled as
the Gateway to the Sahara. There, a special treats waits, the opportunity
to sample a caravan trek! This close encounter with a camel is entirely
at your option! Afterwards, we set off across the Chott El Djerid, a
great dry salt lake, for Tozeur. Here, we'll wonder at the ancient irrigation
works, and visit the zoo. Our lodgings for the next two nights will
be at the comfortable, four-star Hotel Ramla.
DAY 23 - TOZEUR, NEFTA - Monday
(BLD)
We'll learn more about oases this morning. Despite the dryness of its
surface, great aquifers underlie the Sahara. Where they spill their
riches out in springs, they create the green havens of Tunisia's oases.
We'll see a dramatic example, as we explore the irrigated fields around
Tozeur and motor overland to the great palm groves at Nefta. Nefta is
also an important religious center, with notable mosques, and a town
of craftsmen, especially basket weavers. We'll return to Tozeur for
lunch at our hotel, after which you're free until dinner. You can choose
to enjoy the unique desert resort comforts at your hotel. Or, you might
decide to wander the streets of Tozeur, look in on daily life, admire
the classic North African houses built around patios on terraces above
a river fed by springs, and shop for baskets and capes of camel hair.
DAY 24 - TOZEUR, GAFSA, SBEITLA, KAIROUAN,
TUNIS - Tuesday (BL)
We'll delve more into Tunisia's rich and varied past today, as we motor
overland through pleasant, rolling coastal lands. At Gafsa, we'll see
the Roman pools of Capsa, the ancient crossroads between desert oases
and the cultivated coastal lands. We'll wonder at the Roman ruins of
Suffetula, as well as the great mosque. Later in the day, we'll reach
Kairouan, an ancient, holy, and vibrant city noted for its historic
mosques and centers of learning. We'll lunch at the five-star Hotel
La Kasbah. Kairouan also is noted for its souk, and the crafting of
carpets and leather goods. Of course, there will be time to check out
these wares, before we depart to Tunis, where a night's rest await us
.
DAY 25 - TUNIS, CARTHAGE, SIDI BOU SAID
- Wednesday (BL)
On our last full day, we'll marvel at the ruins of Carthage, a true
metropolis of the ancient world, as evidenced by its theater, circus,
baths, port installations, and extensive urban plan. We'll lunch at
a fine local restaurant, then speed forward in time to the middle ages,
as we visit the picture-perfect Moorish village of Sidi Bou Said. With
its whitewashed walls and narrow laneways, it's the perfect setting
as we stop for traditional mint tea. Back in Tunis, we'll stop at the
Bardo Museum, to view the most extensive Roman mosaics in the world.
We'll then head for the Medina, the old quarter of the city, with its
warrens of shops filled with wares ranging from humdrum to exotic. After
a break to freshen up, we'll meet up at our hotel .
DAY 26 - Morocco - Thursday (B)
After breakfast, our local personnel will escort you to the international
airport, where you'll board your flight to Marrakech ( Via Casablanca).
Upon arrival we escort you to your hotel. Mint Tea & welcome local
pastries & fruit awaits you at your hotel room.
DAY 27 - MARRAKECH - Friday (B)
OWN ACTIVITIES. You design your own program.
There is much to see in this great city which Winston Churchill called
"the most beautiful place in the world at sunset." Grab your
guidebook and explore! The top sights include the stately Koutoubia
Minaret, the hidden tombs of the Saadian dynasty, the Menara
pavilion and gardens, the ruins of sprawling Badi Palace,
the Bahia Palace Museum, the Ben Yousef medersa, and the
Koubba (chapel) of el-Ba'adiyn. If you'd like an orientation
tour (optional at extra cost), just contact our local representative,
who will be happy to make your reservation.
DAY
28 - MARRAKECH - Home Hosted Dinner - Saturday (BD)
Why not devote today to Marrakech's fabulous medieval souk (bazaar)?
Penetrating the labyrinthine souk, you'll see some of the age-old guilds
at work, including the dyers and tanners. Save an hour--and bring your
camera--for famous Djemaa el-Fna square with its fun circus atmosphere
of itinerant dancers, jugglers, acrobats, storytellers, soothsayers,
snake charmers, medicine men and public scribes. Find a cozy bistro
for lunch.
A
complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals,
you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family (
T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This
evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right
into the homes of some of the people of Marrakech l! You'll be invited
to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties,
you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way
of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your
new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background.
Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that
you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may
enjoy dinner in a quiet restaurant with your travel companions, by letting
us know your preferences.
DAY
29 - MARRAKECH TO CASABLANCA BY TRAIN - Sunday (B)
Today you board the Marrakech Express bound for Casablanca! (train
ticket/first class is included ,issued & delivered in Morocco).
Roll across the beautiful Moroccan countryside, admiring the towering
Atlas Mountains in the distance, and the timeless scenes of North
African village and town life right beside the rails. When you arrive
in Casablanca, our staff meets your train and embank on a panoramic
tour of the city including the great mosque of Hassan II before
escorting you to your hotel. Once you're settled in, take out your guidebook
and explore Morocco's commercial capital.
DAY 30 - CASABLANCA TO FEZ - Monday
(B)
After breakfast, board your first-class train to Fez (train ticket
included) , another of Morocco's four royal cities. When you arrive
in Fez, our staff will escort you to your hotel, and the city is yours
to explore, guidebook in hand. The Lonely Planet guide includes all
the important things to see, and recommendations for restaurants in
all price ranges, so you'll never be at a loss for advice.
DAY
31 - FEZ - Tuesday (B)
Oldest of Morocco's four Imperial Cities, Fez is endlessly fascinating,
and today we have included in our rate a full day covering the
top sights include the medina (old city), the 15-century Borj
Nord Arms Museum, the gateway of the royal palace, the fortifications
of the Kasbah, the 9th-century Karaouine Mosque and University,
the medersas (theological seminaries) of Bou Inania and Attarine,
the shrine of the city's founder Moulay Idris II, the Nejjarine
Fountain, the monumental gateway of Bab Boujelloud, the old
harem gardens, Dar Batha Museum, and the artisans'
guilds in the souks.
DAY
32 - DEPARTURE - Wednesday (B)
Our
local rep. escorts you to the airport for your flight back homeward
, please advise us in advance if you are flying out of Fez or Casablanca
.
Bon Voyage
.
Cruise
the Nile as the Pharaohs did: Compare with the 25 day edition including
Alexandria and a Nile Cruise . Add
Turkey and Istanbul .
Rates
per person in us $
| |
Deluxe* |
First Class |
|
In Triple occupancy |
US$
19,960. |
US$
17,551. |
|
In Double occupancy |
US$
19,163. |
US$
17,658. |
|
In Single occupancy |
US$
24,270. |
US$
21,240. |
|
All Regional air fare |
Business
Class |
Economy
Class |
Deluxe
applies to hotels in Egypt , Morocco as well as in Tunis but 4 stars
in the rest of Tunisia in the smaller towns/cities outside of the city
of Tunis
Inclusions:
- Airfare
from CAIRO to Johannesburg and back to Cairo in economy class with
tax included ( but in business class when booking
deluxe hotel category) .
-
Air
fare within South Africa , economy class, tax included. This applies
to all categories : Deluxe hotels and first class hotels .
- All
airfare within Egypt in economy class with tax included.
(
but in business class when booking deluxe hotel category)
.
-
Round-trip transportation between airport and hotels, always on a
private basis, private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
- Air
fare Cairo / Tunis / Marrakech, all in economy class , tax included
(
but in business class when booking deluxe hotel category)
.
- Hotel
Accommodations as mentioned in itinerary, with tax and breakfast daily
- Meals
as indicated from preset menu (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner).
-
Guided sightseeing as indicated in air-conditioned vehicle , including
all admission fees.
- One-way
first-class train transportation Marrakech-Casablanca and Casablanca-Fez,
or vice-versa.
- A
complimentary home hosted family dinner in Marrakech
- Five
days Nile Cruise including
all shore excursions and all meals , as well as :
Bottled
water ( one per person) delivered to your cabin daily while you are
on board the Nile cruise.
Tea or coffee /bottled water with each meal while on board the Nile
cruise.
Victoria
Falls info :
In
some month such as October / Nov , the Zambezi River is very low and
as the channel on the Zimbabwean side is deeper than that on the Zambian
side, the falls may actually not have any water flowing over them at
all from the Zambian side while the falls from the Zimbabwean side always
have water! Once again this is very limited to very short periods of
times , depending on weather and other factors which no one can control.
Of course one can stay on the Zambian side as the program states and
do a day trip across to Zimbabwe, this will require a dual entry visa
for Zambia and single entry visa for Zimbabwe.
Yellow
Fever Vaccination - Zambia :
Yellow Fever Vaccinations are required for entry into Zambia and re-entry
in South Africa.
Not
Included:
- International
air transportation from/to your home country
- Optional
excursions,
- Any
meal not specifically mentioned beverages, and personal expenses.
- Gratuities
for local personnel.
- Travel
insurance .
-
Airport taxes.
- Passport
and visa fees for South Africa
- 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.
- Egyptian
Visa fee , visa may be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a
limited number of citizens such as : American, Australian, NZ, EU
, Canadian and 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. Please pay in cash for the visa fee : $15 , of course
you may wish to secure the visa prior to leaving home and by contacting
the Egyptian Consulate nearest you .
Please
note that tipping is at your discretion however, the following guidelines
are provided:
- Guide
: $10 per day for full day touring or full day safaris .
- Camp
Staff : $3-$5 per day for camp staff, e.g. waiters, housekeepers,
which is a communal tip that is shared among the staff).
- Hotel-
Camp Porters $1 per bag
- Driver
: $5 per person per day .
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.
General
Hotel Listing - Sample Hotels or similar :
| |
First Class Hotels
|
Deluxe
Hotels |
| Nile
Cruise |
Presidential
Nile Cruises
Lady Diana Nile Cruise |
Movenpick
Nile Cruises
Royal Lotus Nile Cruise
Royal Lilly Nile Cruise |
| Cairo |
Novotel
El Borg
Shepheard Hotel Cairo
Ramses Hilton
|
Semiramis
Intercontinental Hotel
Cairo Marriott |
| Casablanca
- Morocco |
Farah
hotel Casablanca |
Hyatt
Hotel - Casablanca |
| Fes
- Fez - Morocco |
La
Perle de la Medina Riad |
Riad
Fes |
| Marrakech
- Morocco |
Riad
Karma |
La
Maison Arab Riad |
| Matmata
- Tunisia |
Hotel
Diar EL Barbar Matmata
|
Hotel
Diar EL Barbar Matmata
There is no 5 stars deluxe hotels in Matmata |
| Safx
- Tunisia |
Hotel
Sangho Syphax |
Hotel
Les Oliviers Palace |
| Tozeur
- Tunisia |
Hotel
El Mouradi Tozeur |
Hotel
El Mouradi Tozeur
There
is no 5 stars deluxe hotels in Tozeur |
| Tunis-
Tunisia |
Hotel
Tunisia Palace |
Hotel
Le Royale Hammamet
Hotel
Movenpick Gammarth |
-
Jacquie
Kennedy & Abu Simbel Temples in Egypt :
All Americans alive during the 1960s remember President John F
Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Most Americans
from that time also remember Abu Simbel, the dramatic, ancient
pharaonic temple
threatened by the rising waters blocked by the new Aswan High
Dam. It’s worth remembering that it was Jacquie Kennedy
who provided crucial support for the mammoth rescue project. Without
her help, Abu Simbel might have been lost. Ask us about details
on how to add Abu Simbel Temples tour .
Read More .
-
-
Compare with Tunisia/Morocco/Egypt/ Nile Cruise : 26 day edition
including a Nile Cruise and Alexandria ,
or the 21 day version
- Add
Jordan - Petra , Jerusalem - Israel and Palestine
- In
the Footsteps of Hannibal Tour - Tunisia
in 8 days
We'll take you through Carthage, capital of the legendary Hannibal,
but there's much more to this tour. You'll also visit ancient
cities, desert oases, curious troglodyte dwellings, Islamic splendors,
a Roman amphitheater, a medieval synagogue, and unspoiled beaches.
You'll appreciate the breathtaking beauty of a land that has drawn
wanderers and conquerors over the centuries, with ease and comfort
never experienced by the ancients .
- The
Mediterranean resorts of Europe are wonderful, but they can be
crowded and expensive. So where do discerning Europeans go to
find the perfect laid-back, affordable Mediterranean vacation?
Why, they go to Tunisia, of
course! The
clear blue water, the shimmering sun, the white sand beaches are
all the same in Tunisia, the southern shore of the Mediterranean,
just across the sea from Sicily and Sardinia. The prices are lower,
the pace is more relaxed, and the cuisine and service in this
former French colony are French-inspired. (Everyone speaks French
as well as Arabic, and many people in hotels, restaurants and
other tourist spots speak some English, too.) Tunisia's
history has always been linked to Europe's. Hannibal of Carthage
crossed from Tunisia to Europe with 30,000 men and a few dozen
elephants and humbled the Roman legions. Rome ultimately triumphed,
however, and Tunisia became the Roman province of Africa. Today
the picturesque ruins of great Roman cities are spread throughout
the Tunisian countryside. Be
sure to see Tunisia's African side as well: its legacy of Umayyad,
Abbasid and Ottoman culture and cuisine, its picture-perfect desert
oases shaded by date palms, its markets filled with handicrafts
and exotic spices. Want
a
Mediterranean vacation like the Europeans enjoy
? Go to Tunisia!
|
