VICTORIA FALLS - SERENGETI - CAIRO
A cultural tour & safari to Zimbabwe, Tanzania & Egypt

An artistically designed holiday that covers the best of the three regions of Africa. We start off with the majestic Victoria Falls – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then we are off to the jungles of Tanzania where on our 4 x 4’s we experience the best game safari in the national parks of Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti. From the wildlife to the cradle of civilisation where we see over 5000 years of history in Egypt. Enjoy a four nights deluxe cruise on the River Nile before culminating our memorable African experience.

Day 01: (SAT) Depart home city for Victoria Falls

Day 02: (SUN) In transit on air

Day 03: (MON) Arrive Victoria Falls (ZIMBABWE)
Upon arrival at VFA airport in Zimbabwe we are met and transferred to our hotel.
Afternoon is free to enjoy the town and it’s many attractions. Optional tour to the African Spectacular tribal dancing.
Overnight: Ilala Lodge (2 nights)

Day 04: (TUE) Victoria Falls
After breakfast, a guided tour of Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. This walking safari takes one through tar magnificent rain forest to view the Cataracts, Livingstone’s statue and a wide variety of birds and plants. Afternoon sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. (B)

Day 05: (WED) Victoria Falls / Johannesburg
After breakfast transfer to the Airport for flight to Johannesburg Airport. Transit at Johannesburg for our overnight flight to Kilimanjaro airport in Tanzania. (B)

Day 06: (THU) Johannesburg / Kilmanjaro Aiport, Arusha (TANZANIA)
Jambo Bwana and we are cordially welcomed as we arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and are transferred to our hotel in Arusha. Balance of the day is free. Arusha is the exact centre between Cairo and Cape Town and is the gateway to the safari game parks of Northern Tanzania. 
Overnight Serena Mountain Village (1 night) (B)
 
Day 07: (FRI) Arusha to Lake Manyara
Our Tanzanian safari starts as we drive from Arusha to Lake Manyara with a picnic lunch en route. We enter the majestic Lake Manyara Game Park and embark on the first of the six Tanzanian safaris. This small park is sandwiched between the Rift Valley escarpment and the large sodiforous Lake Manyara. It is a pretty location, with a good range of game, including giraffe, elephant, baboon and the rarely seen tree-climbing lion.
Overnight: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge or Kirurumu Tented Lodge (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 08: (SAT) Lake Manyara / Serengeti National Park
We depart for the famous Olduvai Gorge where the Africanthorpus skull was found. Olduvai Gorge is an archaeological site located in the eastern Serengeti Plains. The gorge is a very steep sided ravine roughly 30 miles long and 295 ft. deep. Exposed deposits show rich fossil fauna, many hominid remains and items belonging to the one of the oldest stone tool technologies, called Olduwan. The time span of the objects recovered date from 2,100,000 to 15,000 years ago. Optional visit to a Masai Village and then proceed to Serengeti National Park in time to be able to enjoy our 2nd game safari.
Overnight: Serengeti Serena Lodge/ Bilila Lodge Kempenski (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 09: (SUN) Serengeti National Park.
The Serengeti National Park is most famous for its annual migration of over one million and a half white bearded (or brindled) wildebeest and 250,000 zebra. Serengeti National Park is widely regarded as the best wildlife reserve in Africa due to its density of predators and prey. Early morning is an optional balloon safari (see +++below for details).   Today is full day game drive with either a hot lunch at the lodge or picnic lunch. (B, L, D)

Day 10: (MON) Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast we have yet another game drive before proceeding to the next highlight of our Tanzanian safari – the incredible Ngorongoro Crater. We will use the Malanja Depression route allowing us to see many Masia villages enroute.
Overnight: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge/Ngornongoro Farm House(1 night) (B, L, D) 

Day 11: (TUE) Ngorongoro Crater / Lake Manayara
After breakfast we travel to Ngorongoro Crater for a 6 hour game drive. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is a conservation area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site The jewel in Ngorongoro's crown is a deep, volcanic crater, the largest un flooded and unbroken caldera in the world. About 20kms across, 600 meters deep and 300 sq kms in area, the Ngorongoro Crater is a breathtaking natural wonder. The rich pasture and permanent water of the Crater floor supports a large resident population of wildlife of up to 25,000 predominantly grazing animals. These include wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, buffalo, eland, kongoni and warthogs. After the safari here it is followed by visiting Masai Villages before proceeding to Lake Manyara for our overnight stay.
Overnight: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge or Kirurumu Tented Lodge (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 12: (WED) Ngornogoro / Arusha / Cairo
After breakfast travel by road to Arusha via the Great Rift Valley and African village of Mto wa Mbu. Arrival Arusha and we are transferred to the airport for our overnight flight to Cairo. (B) 

Day 13: (THU) Arrive Cairo (EGYPT)
Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome in Arabic. We are warmly received at Cairo Airport and transferred to our hotel.
Overnight: Safir Hotel, Cairo (2 nights)

Day 14: (FRI) Cairo / Pyramids (drive)
This is a day to go back in time, starting with a visit to the most famous of the Egyptian sphinxes, the Great Sphinx of Gizah, followed by the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops).  Completed around 2600 BC, this pyramid was 146m (478ft) high and consisted of over 2 million limestone blocks weighing over 2 tons each. We also examine the Chephren and Mycerinus Pyramids as well as the Cheops wooden boat. At over 4500 years old, this boat is the most ancient vessel found in perfect condition anywhere in the world and is one of the most important archaeological finds in Egypt.  Next we visit Memphis and the Saqqara Step Pyramid, the world's first great stone structure. Evening, an ideal opportunity to join in our optional viewing of the spectacular Sound and Light Show at the foot of the Great Pyramids. (B)

Day 15: (SAT) Cairo / Luxor (Flight)
A short flight gets us to Luxor where we are warmly received and transferred to the boat, home for the next four nights. Over the next few days we cruise the Nile and visit various offshore sites.
Overnight: M/S Sherry Boat / Presidential Nile Cruise (4 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 16: (SUN) Nile Cruise Luxor
This afternoon we visit the Karnak and Luxor Temples. The ancient Egyptians knew the Temple of Karnak as Ipet-isut. It is a city of temples built over 2000 years and dedicated to the Theben triad of Amon, Mut and Khonsu. This derelict place continues to overshadow many of the wonders of the modern world. It is the mother of all religious buildings and a place of pilgrimage for nearly 4,000 years. Luxor Temple was connected to Karnak Temple by an avenue of sphinxes in ancient times. Unlike Karnak, Luxor is mainly the work of one pharaoh - Amenhotep III and was added to by Tutankhamun, Horemheb, Ramses II and Alexander the Great. During Akhenaten’s all religion, other than worship of Aten, was rejected and the development at Luxor stopped. When Akhenaten died, the old religions returned, along with the priests, so the temple began to expand again.  (B, L, D)

Day 17: (MON) - Nile Cruise Luxor / Esna / Edfu
We begin our day with a visit to the West Bank of Luxor to explore the Valley of the Kings, a vast City of the Dead where magnificent tombs were carved into the desert rocks, richly decorated, and filled with treasures for the afterlife by generations of pharaohs. Our visit will also includes Queen Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon.  Sail to Esna, cross the lock then continue on to Edfu. (B, L, D)

Day 18: (TUE) Nile Cruise Edfu / Kom Ombo / Aswan
Morning we will be visiting the well-preserved Greek built Temple of Horus. This temple, built during the reigns of six generations of Ptolemy’s, is not only the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt, but also the second largest after Karnak.   Afternoon sail for Kom Ombo to visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile-god Sobek.  It stands at a bend in the Nile where in ancient times sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank. (B, L, D)

Day 19: (WED) Aswan / Cairo (Train) or Air
Disembark after breakfast.  Visits in Aswan include the famous and monumental Aswan High Dam and the romantic and majestic Philae Temple on the Island of Agilka.  This afternoon, we take a ride on a felucca, a typical Egyptian sailboat, around Elephantine Island. This is also a day for those who may want to take an optional flight excursion to Abu Simbel+ to see the temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari. Evening we are transferred to the railway station at Aswan for our comfortable overnight train to Cairo or take the optional flight to Cairo with overnight at the hotel (see “optionals” below)             
Overnight: Sleeper Train (1 night) (B, D)

Day 20: (THU) Arrive Cairo
We arrive in the morning and are welcomed at Cairo Railways Station. Our day starts with a fascinating tour of 7,000 years of Egyptian history with a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. The Museum houses the world's greatest collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts, including 12 rooms filled with golden treasures from the world-famous tomb of the boy-king Tutenkhamun.  Next we are off to the fascinating part of Islamic Cairo, including the beautiful and graceful Mohamed Ali Mosque and the ancient Citadel, a spectacular medieval fortress perched on a hill above the city. Originally built by Salah El-Din in 1176 to fortify the city against the Crusaders, the Citadel was modified and enlarged over the centuries by subsequent rulers and today is a complex of three mosques and four museums.  Our last stop is at the awesome Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, reputed to be the largest bazaar in the Middle East. Originally founded as a watering stop for caravanserai in the 14th century, the bazaar has now grown to vast proportions.
Overnight: Safir Hotel, Cairo (1 night) (B)

Day 21: (FRI) Cairo / departure
Today we bid farewell to Africa after visiting three of its most popular and attractive regions. We are transferred to the airport for our flight back home. Optional extension within Egypt like Alexandria or Sharm-el-Sheikh available. (B)

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Departure Dates
2012 English Speaking Departures Jan 28, May 12, Aug 04, Nov 03, Dec 08
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include International airfare. Please see note below* Airport taxes (approx $ 680) Accommodation and cruise as mentioned or similar Insurance / Visa fees 36 Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Tips / Gratuities to local guides and drivers All game drives and transfers by jeeps Entrance fees to special chambers inside the Pyramids, Tout Ankh Amoun Tomb in the Valley of Kings, Mummies room at the Egyptian Museum, Solar Boat Museum. Entrance fees to outside chambers, where applicable, are included Road taxes, parking fees, drivers overnight wages   Services of local English speaking guides/drivers   Entrance fees at all Museums, Parks & Sites   Domestic air tickets: Cairo / Luxor and train tickets Aswan / Cairo
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departures Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement Jan 28, 2012 US $ 7695 US $ 880 May 12, 2012 US $ 6680 US $ 660 Aug 04, 2012 US $ 7950 US $ 880 Nov 03, 2012 US $ 7390 US $ 880 Dec 08, 2012 US $ 7590 US $ 880 Optional Tours +Day 09 – Balloon Safari at Serengeti US$ 525 per person ++Day 19 – Abu Simbel Excursion US $ 365 (includes airfare Aswan/Abu Simbel/Aswan) +++Day 19 If you take the flight Aswan/Cairo instead of train please add US$ 165 per person
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is included in this tour
Canada - West Coast N/A USA - West Coast N/A Canada - East Coast N/A USA - East Coast N/A
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 07 participants.
Notes
* Airfare ex NYC included in the tour cost is valued at US$ 2230 for all departures except Aug 04 which is at $ 2530. International airfare cost includes: NYC/JNB/JRO/CAI/NYC For departures from other cities please add US$ 350 per person. If you decide to do your own international air you may deduct this amount from the tour cost. Air ticket JNB/VFA/JNB and CAI/LXR are part of the land cost. Airport taxes extras.
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.