Itinerary | Nairobi to Cairo Nile Expedition 9 Weeks

What’s it like?  

As we will be camping and travelling for an extended period of time, you must be prepared for an adventurous challenge. It can be hot and dusty, and will sometimes be out of contact with the rest of the world. This means no telephones, shops or any other mod cons. We need you to participate and work with all members of the expedition. For the Nile Expedition we use sturdy purpose-built vehicles for rugged off-road conditions.

Due to the nature of the trip, the day-to-day itinerary is flexible.

Week 1: Northern Kenya

Mt Kenya 

Mt Kenya sits almost in the geographical centre of Kenya. It’s the highest mountain in Kenya, at just about 5,200 meters (so some two thirds the height of Mount Everest, but 400 meters higher than Mont Blanc) and the second highest in Africa; Kilimanjaro being slightly taller. To reach the two highest peaks is a technical climb, so most visitors are happy to get to Point Lenana at just under 5,000 meters.

A great mountain to walk, or scramble up. Two to three nights in the park, or three to four days trekking, are the minimum one needs to reach Point Lenana. The track passes clearly defined vegetation types which quickly change as you ascend.

Starting in the fertile farmland of the Kikuyu, walk through; jungle forest, bamboo, heath, alpine moorland, desert tundra and high mountain glaciers to the rocky peaks.

Trekking on the mountain for a week is a rewarding experience. From the peaks, on a clear day, you can see Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, on the horizon to the south.

We visit the base of Mount Kenya and continue north through the Northern Frontier District of Kenya, a restricted area; semi arid with a spectacular diversity of people, wild game on the road side and a warm dry climate

Northern Kenya – the NFD Northern Frontier District

Coming off the slopes of Mount Kenya and heading north out of the East African highlands and cross the wide open dry hot rocky plains of the NFD – the frontier district between Kenya and Ethiopia. This savage and beautiful land, some 600 north to south, kept the peoples of the Kenyan and Ethiopian Highlands separated for millennia.

Before roads were pushed through this area, the only way travel here was by camel, and with the tribes of the region; the Turkana, Rendille, the Gabbra, the Samburu, the Borana and others. All these peoples are semi nomadic pastoralists who have survived in a harsh land herding  their sheep, cattle, goats and camels. Their style of living, colour, form and traditions are strikingly beautiful.

Mount Marsabit

In the middle of this dry barren landscape is an old shield volcano – Mount Marsabit it sits 1,000 metres above the surrounding desert. The hills have their own insulated eco-system. There is evidence or recent lava flow throughout the hills, with enormous crater lakes and old volcanic cones dotting the landscape.

Week 2-3: Ethiopia

In Ethiopia we climb the mountains into the highlands

We follow the Rift Valley Lakes to the capital; Addis Ababa. In Ethiopia the roads we travel on are often in mountainous areas, travel is slow. Ethiopia has a lot more visual & indigenous history than any other sub Saharan country.

Into the Omo Valley

This region is home to some of the most colourful ethnic groups in Ethiopia. The friendly Hamar people are noted for their ornate, interesting hairstyles and the Mursi people are famous for the clay lip plates and earlobe decorations. An optional day tour will take you into the Omo National Park.

We spend a few days in the capital Addis Ababa

Here we have the chance to indulge in some authentic Ethiopian coffee or explore ‘El Mercato’ – one of East Africa’s largest open air markets. 

Awash National Park. Here you can take safari to see antelope, monkeys and baboons which can be seen near the river.

Harar city is a fascinating, colourful and vibrant city, awarded the ‘City of Peace’ price by UNESCO, and has its over 100 mosques and 102 shrines. It is often considered the fourth-holiest city in Islam and known as the ‘City of Saints’ in Arabic. It has been the centre of trade between the Arabian Peninsular and Africa for centuries and this is reflected in the busy markets, and the wide mix of different people religions and languages found there. The city is also famous for the wild hyenas that roam outside the city walls, which locals feed by hand.

Week 4-5: Somaliland and Djibouti

We visit Somaliland and the capital Hargeisa, with friendly locals and visit the livestock and central markets. Near the coast, we see Laas Geel and ancient cave formations – colourfully depicting cows, human figures and wild animals.

At the coast, and the beautiful beaches around the port town of Berbera on the Gulf of Aden. Swimming and snorkelling in the sea here can be a fantastic feeling after our many weeks of travel inland. The fresh seafood restaurants are also a very welcome change.

We’ll then have a few remote and challenging driving days through the hills and desert towards the Djibouti border.

Week 6-7: Ethiopia and the Danakil

We cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Semera from where optional 2 night excursions are available to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, and of the lowest places on the African continent, locally arranged tours can take you to see the large Giulietti salt lake, and the salt flats with men cutting sat blocks and walking their camels between the mines and the nearest market. You’ll also see the Dallol, a huge geothermal field with yellow sulphur lakes, bubbling springs and geysers, and the active Erta Ale Volcano with its bubbling lava explosions. This  trip is super hot – take lots of water, sun shade and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.

We return to Addis Ababa to fly to Egypt

Week 8-9: Egypt – Abu Simbel

We enter Egypt in Caira and travel to Aswan to see Abu Simbel – one of the ultimate destinations on our expedition. We arrive into the small village of Abu Simbel. The massive stone monuments built by the greatest of all pharaohs, Ramses ll, after spending the night we return to the city of Aswan.

You will notice one of the many cultural changes on this trip. The Nubian people lead a more relaxed and less hectic pace of life than their Egyptian countrymen, while more urban than their Sudanese counterparts.

Aswan High Dam & Philae Island Temple

Take an evening boat cruise to a Nubian village and a walk through the colourful souk, is a great way to spend your days here. Above Aswan between the Aswan Dam and the High Dam is a lake with an island and the  The Ancient Egyptians built a beautiful and magnificent Temple on this island for the Goddess Isis. It was submerged after the first Aswan Dam was built in 1906. To save the temple they had to wait until 1971, and the completion of the High Dam, which stabilised the level of the water.

You can also take a 2 day felucca boat cruise to Edfu and Kom Ombo to Luxor.

Luxor

Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Valley of the Kings, Tutankhamen’s Tomb

Luxor, we visit Karnack Temple the Colossi of Memnon and the Valley Saveof the Kings with Tutankhamen’s Tomb. We do a big day trip to the monuments on friendly happy donkeys. They tend to walk off home alone after we arrive at the Valley of the Kings leaving us free to do the rest of the day in a bus.  

Visit the Valley of Kings and Queens. Here, the remarkably well preserved tombs of the ancient rulers -namely Ramses ll and Tutankhamun, with coloured paintings and hieroglyphics – fresh even after 3000 years. Karnak and Luxor Temples are both in easy walking distance from our camp – as is the local souq where you can pick up the last of your souvenirs.

The Red Sea Coast

The following day we drive out towards the Red Sea Coast. You will have time relax on the beach for a couple of days or try your hand at various watersports such as snorkelling, windsurfing or scuba diving in the cool clear blue waters.

Cairo, Pyramids & Sphinx, Mohamed Ali Mosque, Old Cairo

Cairo is only a day drive away. Visiting the great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx with an Egyptologist guide, Egyptian Museum, the best mosque in the Middle East, a fortress citadel and Old Cairo

Alexandria on the Nile Delta & the Mediterranean Sea

We cross the desert to Alexandria on the Delta of the Nile and the Mediterranean Sea, originally a Greek city founded by Alexander of Macedon. Not over visited by tourists, it has some great sites to visit; including its city beaches. Other must sees are; the rebuilt library of Alexandria, Fort Qaitbey, a Mamluk fortress on the harbour,  Montaza Palace gardens and many museums.

El Alamein WW2 Battle Fields

Just one hundred kilometers west of the Alex is the railway halt of El Alamein. In the WW2 this was the site of two decisive battles between Commonwealth and Axis forces. It is considered to be the turning point of WW2.

We return to Cairo, the end of our trip.

For an updated dossier and information on visas, vaccinations, spending money, optional excursions and other useful information please contact us.

Of all the trips we run this is the most likely to have a change of route due to local conditions and visa requirements.

Africa is an unpredictable continent. We do not have a fixed itinerary so please treat the information given as a guideline only. Although our information is written in good faith at the time of printing, our route may vary at any time due to weather, politics or road conditions.