Nairobi To Cairo (62 Days) Nile Trans
Nairobi To Cairo (62 Days) Nile Trans
Nairobi To Cairo (62 Days) Nile Trans
62 Days Starting in Nairobi, Kenya and ending in Cairo, Egypt
Visiting: Nairobi, Marsabit, Aswan, Luxor
Tour operator:
Tour code:
435
Specialist Group:
Singles Solo
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 10
Age range:
18-80
Special diets catered:
Please advise requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an extraordinary 62-day adventure from Nairobi to Cairo with the Nile Trans tour. Experience the thrill of camping by Lake Naivasha, where hippos roam, and navigate Africa's largest open-air market, Merkato. Discover Ethiopia's stunning rock-hewn churches and monasteries, relax on Somaliland's pristine beaches, and marvel at the salt lakes and rock formations of Djibouti's Lac Assal and Lac Abbe. Witness the dramatic landscapes of the Danakil Depression and Erta Ale Volcano, hike the Simien Mountains, and camp under the stars in Sudan's Nubian Desert. Conclude your journey with a sunset at the Pyramids of Meroe and a traditional felucca sail down the iconic Nile River. This tour offers a unique blend of natural wonders, cultural experiences, and unforgettable memories.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Nairobi To Jinka
Location: Nairobi
Accommodation Name: Camp near Lake Naivasha
Departing Nairobi with any new travellers joining us here, we head to nearby Lake Naivasha. We camp near the lake shore where Hippos sometimes feed at night! Here you can walk to Elsamere, the house of Joy Adamson - of Elsa the Lion and Born Free fame, and enjoy a film of her life - and cream teas! You can also hire mountain bikes and cycle or walk through Hells Gate National Park - the only game reserve in Kenya in which you are permitted to do so. Or for a less active but equally enjoyable game viewing experience - visit the Crater Lake Game Sanctuary. Both offer excellent scenery and opportunities to spot hyrax, abundant bird and plant life along with several types of gazelle, impala and eland.
Travelling further, we travel around the foothills of Mount Kenya to Samburu National Park which offers some of the best sightings of leopards in Kenya and is home to 5 particularly special other animals, the reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk and Beisa oryx.
Note: If we restricted with our route options in northern Ethiopia and Sudan, we may stay longer here, providing the opportunity to do a 4-day hike up Mount Kenya
Further north we access the remoteness of northern Kenya. Nomadic tribes people like the Rendille in Marsabit & the Samburu (cousins of the Maasai) still wear very distinctive and often elaborate dress.
As we cross into Ethiopia - the roads we travel on are often in mountainous areas, so travel is slow. Ethiopia has a lot more visual & indigenous history than any other sub - Saharan country.
We continue our journey north heading 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.
Note: Our routing for the next few weeks is flexible and will be finalised closer to departure or even during the trip, subject to the current security situation in northern Ethiopia and Sudan.
Day 2 :
We will stop at Arba Minch and the brown Langano Lake on our way to Addis Ababa where we have the chance to indulge in some authentic Ethiopian coffee or explore 'El Mercato' - one of East Africa's largest open air markets. We also spend the next few days organising visas before visiting Awash National Park. Here safaris are available where you should see various different antelope species and other wildlife.
Harar 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 with sticks of meat.
Day 3 :
Location: Marsabit
Further north we access the remoteness of northern Kenya. Nomadic tribes people like the Rendille in Marsabit & the Samburu (cousins of the Maasai) still wear very distinctive and often elaborate dress.
Day 4 :
As we cross into Ethiopia - the roads we travel on are often in mountainous areas, so travel is slow. Ethiopia has a lot more visual & indigenous history than any other sub - Saharan country.
Day 5 :
We continue our journey north heading 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.
Day 6 :
Note: Our routing for the next few weeks is flexible and will be finalised closer to departure or even during the trip, subject to the current security situation in northern Ethiopia and Sudan.
Day 7 :
We will stop at Arba Minch and the brown Langano Lake on our way to Addis Ababa where we have the chance to indulge in some authentic Ethiopian coffee or explore 'El Mercato' - one of East Africa's largest open air markets. We also spend the next few days organising visas before visiting Awash National Park. Here safaris are available where you should see various different antelope species and other wildlife.
Day 9 : Jinka To Harar
We will stop at Arba Minch and the brown Langano Lake on our way to Addis Ababa where we have the chance to indulge in some authentic Ethiopian coffee or explore 'El Mercato' - one of East Africa's largest open air markets. We also spend the next few days organising visas before visiting Awash National Park. Here safaris are available where you should see various different antelope species and other wildlife.
Harar 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 with sticks of meat.
Day 10 :
We will stop at Arba Minch and the brown Langano Lake on our way to Addis Ababa where we have the chance to indulge in some authentic Ethiopian coffee or explore 'El Mercato' - one of East Africa's largest open air markets. We also spend the next few days organising visas before visiting Awash National Park. Here safaris are available where you should see various different antelope species and other wildlife.
Harar 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 with sticks of meat.
Day 11 :
We will stop at Arba Minch and the brown Langano Lake on our way to Addis Ababa where we have the chance to indulge in some authentic Ethiopian coffee or explore 'El Mercato' - one of East Africa's largest open air markets. We also spend the next few days organising visas before visiting Awash National Park. Here safaris are available where you should see various different antelope species and other wildlife.
Harar 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 with sticks of meat.
Day 12 :
We will stop at Arba Minch and the brown Langano Lake on our way to Addis Ababa where we have the chance to indulge in some authentic Ethiopian coffee or explore 'El Mercato' - one of East Africa's largest open air markets. We also spend the next few days organising visas before visiting Awash National Park. Here safaris are available where you should see various different antelope species and other wildlife.
Harar 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 with sticks of meat.
Day 13 : Jinka To Harar
We will stop at Arba Minch and the brown Langano Lake on our way to Addis Ababa where we have the chance to indulge in some authentic Ethiopian coffee or explore 'El Mercato' - one of East Africa's largest open air markets. We also spend the next few days organising visas before visiting Awash National Park. Here safaris are available where you should see various different antelope species and other wildlife.
Day 14 : Jinka To Harar
Harar 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 with sticks of meat.
Day 17 : Harar To Djibouti City
We will leave Ethiopia now and cross into Somaliland, visiting the capital Hargeisa, where we’ll mingle with the friendly locals and visit the livestock and central markets. On the way towards the coast, we will stop at Laas Geel to see the ancient cave formations which contain numerous important examples of some of the earliest known rock art paintings in the region, colourfully depicting cows, human figures and wild animals.
Next, we arrive 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 is a fantastic feeling after our many weeks of travel inland. The fresh seafood restaurants are also a very welcome change.
After some time relaxing, we leave Somaliland and cross into Djibouti, heading to the capital, Djibouti City. This is a busy port city and we have a few days to explore, including the option to take a day trip by boat to the Maskali and Moucha islands to enjoy snorkelling, swimming and exploring the mangrove forest.
Note: If we cannot travel through northern Ethiopia or Sudan we may visit Lac Assal & Lac Abbe and then fly to Cairo from here.
Day 18 : Harar To Djibouti City
We will leave Ethiopia now and cross into Somaliland, visiting the capital Hargeisa, where we’ll mingle with the friendly locals and visit the livestock and central markets. On the way towards the coast, we will stop at Laas Geel to see the ancient cave formations which contain numerous important examples of some of the earliest known rock art paintings in the region, colourfully depicting cows, human figures and wild animals.
Next, we arrive 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 is a fantastic feeling after our many weeks of travel inland. The fresh seafood restaurants are also a very welcome change.
After some time relaxing, we leave Somaliland and cross into Djibouti, heading to the capital, Djibouti City. This is a busy port city and we have a few days to explore, including the option to take a day trip by boat to the Maskali and Moucha islands to enjoy snorkelling, swimming and exploring the mangrove forest.
Note: If we cannot travel through northern Ethiopia or Sudan we may visit Lac Assal & Lac Abbe and then fly to Cairo from here.
Day 19 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 20 : Gondar To Aswan
Location: Aswan
If we can travel through Sudan, then the border crossing is not far north from Gondar and the first towns we reach after crossing the border are Gedaref & Wadi Medani.
Note: If we can’t go through Sudan then we will return to Addis Ababa where we will leave the truck and fly to Cairo (flight at your cost) before taking a train south to Aswan.
The hospitality in Sudan can be surprising - but very genuine. For such a poor country with so many recent problems - Sudanese people are often too willing to invite you for a meal or a cup of 'Sudanese whisky' - better known as tea! Khartoum is our next stop and it has a fantastic setting on the confluence of the Blue and White Niles. For such a large city, before the recent conflict, Khartoum felt quite laid back and we would visit the Hamed al Nil Tomb or take a trip to the daily camel market.
The ancient Pyramids at Meroe lie to the north of the capital Khartoum. Our drive across the Nubian Desert will see us either hugging the banks of Nile as it snakes its way north or possibly experiencing the vast open desert plains which is dissected by the main train line from Khartoum - making this our only real point of reference. Whether passing through sleepy Nubian villages, resting in tea rooms, pottering around the local souqs or experiencing total isolation in the middle of the desert - a unique experience awaits you along this not so travelled route to Wadi Halfa.
Upon reaching Lake Nasser and Wadi Halfa in Northern Sudan, we enter Egypt and board the ferry to Abu Simbel, one of the highlights of the whole trip. Here you will notice one of the many cultural changes on this trip - the darker Nubian people lead a more relaxed and less hectic pace of life than their Egyptian countrymen. You have the opportunity to visit Abu Simbel temple - the massive stone monuments carved into the rock by the greatest of all pharaohs, Ramses ll. These temples were meticulously dismantled and rebuilt higher up the hillside after Lake Nasser was flooded. After spending the night we will travel to the city of Aswan. Here, visits to the Philae temple, Nubian museum, an evening boat cruise to a Nubian village and walking through the colourful souk, are great ways to spend your days here.
Day 21 : Aswan To Cairo
Location: Luxor
We leave Aswan and take an overnight felucca boat cruise to Kom Ombo before arriving into Luxor. Spending days and nights on a felucca sailboat with their friendly Nubian crews is a wonderfully relaxing way to spend time on the River Nile.
You will be kept busy exploring in Luxor, considered the largest outdoor museum in the world. Here we visit the Valley of Kings and Queens. Here, the remarkably well preserved tombs of the ancient rulers, including Ramses ll and Tutankhamun, have coloured paintings and hieroglyphics that still seem 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 some more souvenirs. The following day we drive out towards the Red Sea Coast at Hurghada. You will have time relax on the beach or try your hand at various watersports such as snorkelling, windsurfing or scuba diving in the cool clear blue waters.
Our final destination, Cairo is only a days drive away. Visiting the great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza with our Egyptologist guide and also the world famous Egyptian Museum in the afternoon is definitely a fitting way to end this amazing expedition.
Note: As noted in the itinerary, we may not be able to travel through parts of northern Ethiopia or through Sudan. The itinerary above should therefore be considered as a guide only and the schedule for the final few weeks of the trip may be adjusted, potentially flying to Egypt from Addis Ababa or Djibouti City (flight at your cost). If the trip is cut short due to the time missed in these areas then a partial refund of the Local Payment portion of the trip price will be made.
Day 23 : Harar To Djibouti City
We will leave Ethiopia now and cross into Somaliland, visiting the capital Hargeisa, where we’ll mingle with the friendly locals and visit the livestock and central markets. On the way towards the coast, we will stop at Laas Geel to see the ancient cave formations which contain numerous important examples of some of the earliest known rock art paintings in the region, colourfully depicting cows, human figures and wild animals.
Next, we arrive 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 is a fantastic feeling after our many weeks of travel inland. The fresh seafood restaurants are also a very welcome change.
After some time relaxing, we leave Somaliland and cross into Djibouti, heading to the capital, Djibouti City. This is a busy port city and we have a few days to explore, including the option to take a day trip by boat to the Maskali and Moucha islands to enjoy snorkelling, swimming and exploring the mangrove forest.
Note: If we cannot travel through northern Ethiopia or Sudan we may visit Lac Assal & Lac Abbe and then fly to Cairo from here.
Day 24 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 25 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 26 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 27 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 28 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 29 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 30 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 31 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 32 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 33 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 34 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 35 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 36 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 37 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 38 : Djibouti City To Gondar
Not far from Djibouti City is our next stop, Lac Assal. More than 150m below sea level, this is the lowest point in Africa and a dramatic place with white salt beds, dormant volcanoes, black lava rocks and extremely salty emerald waters. Another fascinating landscape comes next as we visit Lac Abbe, another salt lake but not nearly so inviting-looking, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, many with vents steaming hot sulphuric gases. Two truly incredible natural phenomena that hardly any tourists will ever visit.
We leave Djibouti now and cross into Ethiopia again, driving to the town of Lalibela which is known for its eleven 12th & 13th century rock cut churches which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians and are sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world. Our route continues north to Mekele which is the gateway to the Danakil Depression. Here, in one the world’s most inhospitable places, 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 is not a trip for the fainthearted so if you go, make sure to take lots of water, sun protection and protect yourself against the fumes from the volcano.
Our preferred route then takes us east through Aksum, once a major empire of the ancient world and home of the Queen of Sheba. There are many monuments, tombs, obelisks and ruined palaces to see here. We then climb into the Simien Mountains National Park, where the landscape hugely contrasts our previous weeks with spectacular jagged mountain peaks, waterfalls and forested hills. The scenery here is considered to rival the Grand Canyon in the USA and this is a wonderful place to do some hiking.
We descend from the mountains to Gondar, a former capital of Ethiopia with the remains of castles and palaces built by a series of emperors. The island monasteries dating back up to 900 years on Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls are well worth a visit on a day trip from here.
Day 42 : Gondar To Aswan
Location: Aswan
If we can travel through Sudan, then the border crossing is not far north from Gondar and the first towns we reach after crossing the border are Gedaref & Wadi Medani.
Note: If we can’t go through Sudan then we will return to Addis Ababa where we will leave the truck and fly to Cairo (flight at your cost) before taking a train south to Aswan.
The hospitality in Sudan can be surprising - but very genuine. For such a poor country with so many recent problems - Sudanese people are often too willing to invite you for a meal or a cup of 'Sudanese whisky' - better known as tea! Khartoum is our next stop and it has a fantastic setting on the confluence of the Blue and White Niles. For such a large city, before the recent conflict, Khartoum felt quite laid back and we would visit the Hamed al Nil Tomb or take a trip to the daily camel market.
The ancient Pyramids at Meroe lie to the north of the capital Khartoum. Our drive across the Nubian Desert will see us either hugging the banks of Nile as it snakes its way north or possibly experiencing the vast open desert plains which is dissected by the main train line from Khartoum - making this our only real point of reference. Whether passing through sleepy Nubian villages, resting in tea rooms, pottering around the local souqs or experiencing total isolation in the middle of the desert - a unique experience awaits you along this not so travelled route to Wadi Halfa.
Upon reaching Lake Nasser and Wadi Halfa in Northern Sudan, we enter Egypt and board the ferry to Abu Simbel, one of the highlights of the whole trip. Here you will notice one of the many cultural changes on this trip - the darker Nubian people lead a more relaxed and less hectic pace of life than their Egyptian countrymen. You have the opportunity to visit Abu Simbel temple - the massive stone monuments carved into the rock by the greatest of all pharaohs, Ramses ll. These temples were meticulously dismantled and rebuilt higher up the hillside after Lake Nasser was flooded. After spending the night we will travel to the city of Aswan. Here, visits to the Philae temple, Nubian museum, an evening boat cruise to a Nubian village and walking through the colourful souk, are great ways to spend your days here.
Day 43 : Gondar To Aswan
Location: Aswan
If we can travel through Sudan, then the border crossing is not far north from Gondar and the first towns we reach after crossing the border are Gedaref & Wadi Medani.
Note: If we can’t go through Sudan then we will return to Addis Ababa where we will leave the truck and fly to Cairo (flight at your cost) before taking a train south to Aswan.
The hospitality in Sudan can be surprising - but very genuine. For such a poor country with so many recent problems - Sudanese people are often too willing to invite you for a meal or a cup of 'Sudanese whisky' - better known as tea! Khartoum is our next stop and it has a fantastic setting on the confluence of the Blue and White Niles. For such a large city, before the recent conflict, Khartoum felt quite laid back and we would visit the Hamed al Nil Tomb or take a trip to the daily camel market.
The ancient Pyramids at Meroe lie to the north of the capital Khartoum. Our drive across the Nubian Desert will see us either hugging the banks of Nile as it snakes its way north or possibly experiencing the vast open desert plains which is dissected by the main train line from Khartoum - making this our only real point of reference. Whether passing through sleepy Nubian villages, resting in tea rooms, pottering around the local souqs or experiencing total isolation in the middle of the desert - a unique experience awaits you along this not so travelled route to Wadi Halfa.
Upon reaching Lake Nasser and Wadi Halfa in Northern Sudan, we enter Egypt and board the ferry to Abu Simbel, one of the highlights of the whole trip. Here you will notice one of the many cultural changes on this trip - the darker Nubian people lead a more relaxed and less hectic pace of life than their Egyptian countrymen. You have the opportunity to visit Abu Simbel temple - the massive stone monuments carved into the rock by the greatest of all pharaohs, Ramses ll. These temples were meticulously dismantled and rebuilt higher up the hillside after Lake Nasser was flooded. After spending the night we will travel to the city of Aswan. Here, visits to the Philae temple, Nubian museum, an evening boat cruise to a Nubian village and walking through the colourful souk, are great ways to spend your days here.
Day 44 : Gondar To Aswan
Location: Aswan
If we can travel through Sudan, then the border crossing is not far north from Gondar and the first towns we reach after crossing the border are Gedaref & Wadi Medani.
Note: If we can’t go through Sudan then we will return to Addis Ababa where we will leave the truck and fly to Cairo (flight at your cost) before taking a train south to Aswan.
The hospitality in Sudan can be surprising - but very genuine. For such a poor country with so many recent problems - Sudanese people are often too willing to invite you for a meal or a cup of 'Sudanese whisky' - better known as tea! Khartoum is our next stop and it has a fantastic setting on the confluence of the Blue and White Niles. For such a large city, before the recent conflict, Khartoum felt quite laid back and we would visit the Hamed al Nil Tomb or take a trip to the daily camel market.
The ancient Pyramids at Meroe lie to the north of the capital Khartoum. Our drive across the Nubian Desert will see us either hugging the banks of Nile as it snakes its way north or possibly experiencing the vast open desert plains which is dissected by the main train line from Khartoum - making this our only real point of reference. Whether passing through sleepy Nubian villages, resting in tea rooms, pottering around the local souqs or experiencing total isolation in the middle of the desert - a unique experience awaits you along this not so travelled route to Wadi Halfa.
Upon reaching Lake Nasser and Wadi Halfa in Northern Sudan, we enter Egypt and board the ferry to Abu Simbel, one of the highlights of the whole trip. Here you will notice one of the many cultural changes on this trip - the darker Nubian people lead a more relaxed and less hectic pace of life than their Egyptian countrymen. You have the opportunity to visit Abu Simbel temple - the massive stone monuments carved into the rock by the greatest of all pharaohs, Ramses ll. These temples were meticulously dismantled and rebuilt higher up the hillside after Lake Nasser was flooded. After spending the night we will travel to the city of Aswan. Here, visits to the Philae temple, Nubian museum, an evening boat cruise to a Nubian village and walking through the colourful souk, are great ways to spend your days here.
Day 45 : Gondar To Aswan
Location: Aswan
If we can travel through Sudan, then the border crossing is not far north from Gondar and the first towns we reach after crossing the border are Gedaref & Wadi Medani.
Note: If we can’t go through Sudan then we will return to Addis Ababa where we will leave the truck and fly to Cairo (flight at your cost) before taking a train south to Aswan.
The hospitality in Sudan can be surprising - but very genuine. For such a poor country with so many recent problems - Sudanese people are often too willing to invite you for a meal or a cup of 'Sudanese whisky' - better known as tea! Khartoum is our next stop and it has a fantastic setting on the confluence of the Blue and White Niles. For such a large city, before the recent conflict, Khartoum felt quite laid back and we would visit the Hamed al Nil Tomb or take a trip to the daily camel market.
The ancient Pyramids at Meroe lie to the north of the capital Khartoum. Our drive across the Nubian Desert will see us either hugging the banks of Nile as it snakes its way north or possibly experiencing the vast open desert plains which is dissected by the main train line from Khartoum - making this our only real point of reference. Whether passing through sleepy Nubian villages, resting in tea rooms, pottering around the local souqs or experiencing total isolation in the middle of the desert - a unique experience awaits you along this not so travelled route to Wadi Halfa.
Upon reaching Lake Nasser and Wadi Halfa in Northern Sudan, we enter Egypt and board the ferry to Abu Simbel, one of the highlights of the whole trip. Here you will notice one of the many cultural changes on this trip - the darker Nubian people lead a more relaxed and less hectic pace of life than their Egyptian countrymen. You have the opportunity to visit Abu Simbel temple - the massive stone monuments carved into the rock by the greatest of all pharaohs, Ramses ll. These temples were meticulously dismantled and rebuilt higher up the hillside after Lake Nasser was flooded. After spending the night we will travel to the city of Aswan. Here, visits to the Philae temple, Nubian museum, an evening boat cruise to a Nubian village and walking through the colourful souk, are great ways to spend your days here.
Day 46 : Gondar To Aswan
Location: Aswan
If we can travel through Sudan, then the border crossing is not far north from Gondar and the first towns we reach after crossing the border are Gedaref & Wadi Medani.
Note: If we can’t go through Sudan then we will return to Addis Ababa where we will leave the truck and fly to Cairo (flight at your cost) before taking a train south to Aswan.
The hospitality in Sudan can be surprising - but very genuine. For such a poor country with so many recent problems - Sudanese people are often too willing to invite you for a meal or a cup of 'Sudanese whisky' - better known as tea! Khartoum is our next stop and it has a fantastic setting on the confluence of the Blue and White Niles. For such a large city, before the recent conflict, Khartoum felt quite laid back and we would visit the Hamed al Nil Tomb or take a trip to the daily camel market.
The ancient Pyramids at Meroe lie to the north of the capital Khartoum. Our drive across the Nubian Desert will see us either hugging the banks of Nile as it snakes its way north or possibly experiencing the vast open desert plains which is dissected by the main train line from Khartoum - making this our only real point of reference. Whether passing through sleepy Nubian villages, resting in tea rooms, pottering around the local souqs or experiencing total isolation in the middle of the desert - a unique experience awaits you along this not so travelled route to Wadi Halfa.
Upon reaching Lake Nasser and Wadi Halfa in Northern Sudan, we enter Egypt and board the ferry to Abu Simbel, one of the highlights of the whole trip. Here you will notice one of the many cultural changes on this trip - the darker Nubian people lead a more relaxed and less hectic pace of life than their Egyptian countrymen. You have the opportunity to visit Abu Simbel temple - the massive stone monuments carved into the rock by the greatest of all pharaohs, Ramses ll. These temples were meticulously dismantled and rebuilt higher up the hillside after Lake Nasser was flooded. After spending the night we will travel to the city of Aswan. Here, visits to the Philae temple, Nubian museum, an evening boat cruise to a Nubian village and walking through the colourful souk, are great ways to spend your days here.
Day 47 : Gondar To Aswan
Location: Aswan
If we can travel through Sudan, then the border crossing is not far north from Gondar and the first towns we reach after crossing the border are Gedaref & Wadi Medani.
Note: If we can’t go through Sudan then we will return to Addis Ababa where we will leave the truck and fly to Cairo (flight at your cost) before taking a train south to Aswan.
The hospitality in Sudan can be surprising - but very genuine. For such a poor country with so many recent problems - Sudanese people are often too willing to invite you for a meal or a cup of 'Sudanese whisky' - better known as tea! Khartoum is our next stop and it has a fantastic setting on the confluence of the Blue and White Niles. For such a large city, before the recent conflict, Khartoum felt quite laid back and we would visit the Hamed al Nil Tomb or take a trip to the daily camel market.
The ancient Pyramids at Meroe lie to the north of the capital Khartoum. Our drive across the Nubian Desert will see us either hugging the banks of Nile as it snakes its way north or possibly experiencing the vast open desert plains which is dissected by the main train line from Khartoum - making this our only real point of reference. Whether passing through sleepy Nubian villages, resting in tea rooms, pottering around the local souqs or experiencing total isolation in the middle of the desert - a unique experience awaits you along this not so travelled route to Wadi Halfa.
Upon reaching Lake Nasser and Wadi Halfa in Northern Sudan, we enter Egypt and board the ferry to Abu Simbel, one of the highlights of the whole trip. Here you will notice one of the many cultural changes on this trip - the darker Nubian people lead a more relaxed and less hectic pace of life than their Egyptian countrymen. You have the opportunity to visit Abu Simbel temple - the massive stone monuments carved into the rock by the greatest of all pharaohs, Ramses ll. These temples were meticulously dismantled and rebuilt higher up the hillside after Lake Nasser was flooded. After spending the night we will travel to the city of Aswan. Here, visits to the Philae temple, Nubian museum, an evening boat cruise to a Nubian village and walking through the colourful souk, are great ways to spend your days here.
Day 48 : Gondar To Aswan
Location: Aswan
If we can travel through Sudan, then the border crossing is not far north from Gondar and the first towns we reach after crossing the border are Gedaref & Wadi Medani.
Note: If we can’t go through Sudan then we will return to Addis Ababa where we will leave the truck and fly to Cairo (flight at your cost) before taking a train south to Aswan.
The hospitality in Sudan can be surprising - but very genuine. For such a poor country with so many recent problems - Sudanese people are often too willing to invite you for a meal or a cup of 'Sudanese whisky' - better known as tea! Khartoum is our next stop and it has a fantastic setting on the confluence of the Blue and White Niles. For such a large city, before the recent conflict, Khartoum felt quite laid back and we would visit the Hamed al Nil Tomb or take a trip to the daily camel market.
The ancient Pyramids at Meroe lie to the north of the capital Khartoum. Our drive across the Nubian Desert will see us either hugging the banks of Nile as it snakes its way north or possibly experiencing the vast open desert plains which is dissected by the main train line from Khartoum - making this our only real point of reference. Whether passing through sleepy Nubian villages, resting in tea rooms, pottering around the local souqs or experiencing total isolation in the middle of the desert - a unique experience awaits you along this not so travelled route to Wadi Halfa.
Upon reaching Lake Nasser and Wadi Halfa in Northern Sudan, we enter Egypt and board the ferry to Abu Simbel, one of the highlights of the whole trip. Here you will notice one of the many cultural changes on this trip - the darker Nubian people lead a more relaxed and less hectic pace of life than their Egyptian countrymen. You have the opportunity to visit Abu Simbel temple - the massive stone monuments carved into the rock by the greatest of all pharaohs, Ramses ll. These temples were meticulously dismantled and rebuilt higher up the hillside after Lake Nasser was flooded. After spending the night we will travel to the city of Aswan. Here, visits to the Philae temple, Nubian museum, an evening boat cruise to a Nubian village and walking through the colourful souk, are great ways to spend your days here.
Day 49 : Aswan To Cairo
Location: Luxor
We leave Aswan and take an overnight felucca boat cruise to Kom Ombo before arriving into Luxor. Spending days and nights on a felucca sailboat with their friendly Nubian crews is a wonderfully relaxing way to spend time on the River Nile.
You will be kept busy exploring in Luxor, considered the largest outdoor museum in the world. Here we visit the Valley of Kings and Queens. Here, the remarkably well preserved tombs of the ancient rulers, including Ramses ll and Tutankhamun, have coloured paintings and hieroglyphics that still seem 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 some more souvenirs. The following day we drive out towards the Red Sea Coast at Hurghada. You will have time relax on the beach or try your hand at various watersports such as snorkelling, windsurfing or scuba diving in the cool clear blue waters.
Our final destination, Cairo is only a days drive away. Visiting the great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza with our Egyptologist guide and also the world famous Egyptian Museum in the afternoon is definitely a fitting way to end this amazing expedition.
Note: As noted in the itinerary, we may not be able to travel through parts of northern Ethiopia or through Sudan. The itinerary above should therefore be considered as a guide only and the schedule for the final few weeks of the trip may be adjusted, potentially flying to Egypt from Addis Ababa or Djibouti City (flight at your cost). If the trip is cut short due to the time missed in these areas then a partial refund of the Local Payment portion of the trip price will be made.
Day 50 : Aswan To Cairo
Location: Luxor
We leave Aswan and take an overnight felucca boat cruise to Kom Ombo before arriving into Luxor. Spending days and nights on a felucca sailboat with their friendly Nubian crews is a wonderfully relaxing way to spend time on the River Nile.
You will be kept busy exploring in Luxor, considered the largest outdoor museum in the world. Here we visit the Valley of Kings and Queens. Here, the remarkably well preserved tombs of the ancient rulers, including Ramses ll and Tutankhamun, have coloured paintings and hieroglyphics that still seem 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 some more souvenirs. The following day we drive out towards the Red Sea Coast at Hurghada. You will have time relax on the beach or try your hand at various watersports such as snorkelling, windsurfing or scuba diving in the cool clear blue waters.
Our final destination, Cairo is only a days drive away. Visiting the great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza with our Egyptologist guide and also the world famous Egyptian Museum in the afternoon is definitely a fitting way to end this amazing expedition.
Note: As noted in the itinerary, we may not be able to travel through parts of northern Ethiopia or through Sudan. The itinerary above should therefore be considered as a guide only and the schedule for the final few weeks of the trip may be adjusted, potentially flying to Egypt from Addis Ababa or Djibouti City (flight at your cost). If the trip is cut short due to the time missed in these areas then a partial refund of the Local Payment portion of the trip price will be made.
Day 51 : Aswan To Cairo
Location: Luxor
We leave Aswan and take an overnight felucca boat cruise to Kom Ombo before arriving into Luxor. Spending days and nights on a felucca sailboat with their friendly Nubian crews is a wonderfully relaxing way to spend time on the River Nile.
You will be kept busy exploring in Luxor, considered the largest outdoor museum in the world. Here we visit the Valley of Kings and Queens. Here, the remarkably well preserved tombs of the ancient rulers, including Ramses ll and Tutankhamun, have coloured paintings and hieroglyphics that still seem 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 some more souvenirs. The following day we drive out towards the Red Sea Coast at Hurghada. You will have time relax on the beach or try your hand at various watersports such as snorkelling, windsurfing or scuba diving in the cool clear blue waters.
Our final destination, Cairo is only a days drive away. Visiting the great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza with our Egyptologist guide and also the world famous Egyptian Museum in the afternoon is definitely a fitting way to end this amazing expedition.
Note: As noted in the itinerary, we may not be able to travel through parts of northern Ethiopia or through Sudan. The itinerary above should therefore be considered as a guide only and the schedule for the final few weeks of the trip may be adjusted, potentially flying to Egypt from Addis Ababa or Djibouti City (flight at your cost). If the trip is cut short due to the time missed in these areas then a partial refund of the Local Payment portion of the trip price will be made.
Day 58 : Aswan To Cairo
Location: Luxor
We leave Aswan and take an overnight felucca boat cruise to Kom Ombo before arriving into Luxor. Spending days and nights on a felucca sailboat with their friendly Nubian crews is a wonderfully relaxing way to spend time on the River Nile.
You will be kept busy exploring in Luxor, considered the largest outdoor museum in the world. Here we visit the Valley of Kings and Queens. Here, the remarkably well preserved tombs of the ancient rulers, including Ramses ll and Tutankhamun, have coloured paintings and hieroglyphics that still seem 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 some more souvenirs. The following day we drive out towards the Red Sea Coast at Hurghada. You will have time relax on the beach or try your hand at various watersports such as snorkelling, windsurfing or scuba diving in the cool clear blue waters.
Our final destination, Cairo is only a days drive away. Visiting the great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza with our Egyptologist guide and also the world famous Egyptian Museum in the afternoon is definitely a fitting way to end this amazing expedition.
Note: As noted in the itinerary, we may not be able to travel through parts of northern Ethiopia or through Sudan. The itinerary above should therefore be considered as a guide only and the schedule for the final few weeks of the trip may be adjusted, potentially flying to Egypt from Addis Ababa or Djibouti City (flight at your cost). If the trip is cut short due to the time missed in these areas then a partial refund of the Local Payment portion of the trip price will be made.
Day 59 : Aswan To Cairo
Location: Luxor
We leave Aswan and take an overnight felucca boat cruise to Kom Ombo before arriving into Luxor. Spending days and nights on a felucca sailboat with their friendly Nubian crews is a wonderfully relaxing way to spend time on the River Nile.
You will be kept busy exploring in Luxor, considered the largest outdoor museum in the world. Here we visit the Valley of Kings and Queens. Here, the remarkably well preserved tombs of the ancient rulers, including Ramses ll and Tutankhamun, have coloured paintings and hieroglyphics that still seem 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 some more souvenirs. The following day we drive out towards the Red Sea Coast at Hurghada. You will have time relax on the beach or try your hand at various watersports such as snorkelling, windsurfing or scuba diving in the cool clear blue waters.
Our final destination, Cairo is only a days drive away. Visiting the great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza with our Egyptologist guide and also the world famous Egyptian Museum in the afternoon is definitely a fitting way to end this amazing expedition.
Note: As noted in the itinerary, we may not be able to travel through parts of northern Ethiopia or through Sudan. The itinerary above should therefore be considered as a guide only and the schedule for the final few weeks of the trip may be adjusted, potentially flying to Egypt from Addis Ababa or Djibouti City (flight at your cost). If the trip is cut short due to the time missed in these areas then a partial refund of the Local Payment portion of the trip price will be made.
Day 60 : Aswan To Cairo
Location: Luxor
We leave Aswan and take an overnight felucca boat cruise to Kom Ombo before arriving into Luxor. Spending days and nights on a felucca sailboat with their friendly Nubian crews is a wonderfully relaxing way to spend time on the River Nile.
You will be kept busy exploring in Luxor, considered the largest outdoor museum in the world. Here we visit the Valley of Kings and Queens. Here, the remarkably well preserved tombs of the ancient rulers, including Ramses ll and Tutankhamun, have coloured paintings and hieroglyphics that still seem 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 some more souvenirs. The following day we drive out towards the Red Sea Coast at Hurghada. You will have time relax on the beach or try your hand at various watersports such as snorkelling, windsurfing or scuba diving in the cool clear blue waters.
Our final destination, Cairo is only a days drive away. Visiting the great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza with our Egyptologist guide and also the world famous Egyptian Museum in the afternoon is definitely a fitting way to end this amazing expedition.
Note: As noted in the itinerary, we may not be able to travel through parts of northern Ethiopia or through Sudan. The itinerary above should therefore be considered as a guide only and the schedule for the final few weeks of the trip may be adjusted, potentially flying to Egypt from Addis Ababa or Djibouti City (flight at your cost). If the trip is cut short due to the time missed in these areas then a partial refund of the Local Payment portion of the trip price will be made.
Day 61 : Aswan To Cairo
Location: Luxor
We leave Aswan and take an overnight felucca boat cruise to Kom Ombo before arriving into Luxor. Spending days and nights on a felucca sailboat with their friendly Nubian crews is a wonderfully relaxing way to spend time on the River Nile.
You will be kept busy exploring in Luxor, considered the largest outdoor museum in the world. Here we visit the Valley of Kings and Queens. Here, the remarkably well preserved tombs of the ancient rulers, including Ramses ll and Tutankhamun, have coloured paintings and hieroglyphics that still seem 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 some more souvenirs. The following day we drive out towards the Red Sea Coast at Hurghada. You will have time relax on the beach or try your hand at various watersports such as snorkelling, windsurfing or scuba diving in the cool clear blue waters.
Our final destination, Cairo is only a days drive away. Visiting the great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza with our Egyptologist guide and also the world famous Egyptian Museum in the afternoon is definitely a fitting way to end this amazing expedition.
Note: As noted in the itinerary, we may not be able to travel through parts of northern Ethiopia or through Sudan. The itinerary above should therefore be considered as a guide only and the schedule for the final few weeks of the trip may be adjusted, potentially flying to Egypt from Addis Ababa or Djibouti City (flight at your cost). If the trip is cut short due to the time missed in these areas then a partial refund of the Local Payment portion of the trip price will be made.
Day 62 : Aswan To Cairo
Location: Luxor
We leave Aswan and take an overnight felucca boat cruise to Kom Ombo before arriving into Luxor. Spending days and nights on a felucca sailboat with their friendly Nubian crews is a wonderfully relaxing way to spend time on the River Nile.
You will be kept busy exploring in Luxor, considered the largest outdoor museum in the world. Here we visit the Valley of Kings and Queens. Here, the remarkably well preserved tombs of the ancient rulers, including Ramses ll and Tutankhamun, have coloured paintings and hieroglyphics that still seem 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 some more souvenirs. The following day we drive out towards the Red Sea Coast at Hurghada. You will have time relax on the beach or try your hand at various watersports such as snorkelling, windsurfing or scuba diving in the cool clear blue waters.
Our final destination, Cairo is only a days drive away. Visiting the great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza with our Egyptologist guide and also the world famous Egyptian Museum in the afternoon is definitely a fitting way to end this amazing expedition.
Note: As noted in the itinerary, we may not be able to travel through parts of northern Ethiopia or through Sudan. The itinerary above should therefore be considered as a guide only and the schedule for the final few weeks of the trip may be adjusted, potentially flying to Egypt from Addis Ababa or Djibouti City (flight at your cost). If the trip is cut short due to the time missed in these areas then a partial refund of the Local Payment portion of the trip price will be made.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Accommodation includes approximately 90% camping and 10% simple hostels/hotels.
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Entry into Meroe Pyramids
Entry into the Meroe Pyramids is included.
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Lake Nasser Ferry
The ferry ride across Lake Nasser is included.
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Overnight Felucca Sailboat Trip
An overnight trip on a traditional felucca sailboat is included.
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Pyramids & Sphinx Day Tour & Guide
A day tour of the Pyramids and Sphinx with a guide is included.
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Meals
Approximately 60% of meals are included.
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All Transport on Oasis Expedition Truck
All transport on the Oasis Expedition Truck is included.
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Camping and Cooking Equipment
Camping and cooking equipment are provided.
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Services of Oasis Crew
The services of the Oasis Crew are included.
What's Not Included
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Visas
Visas are not included and must be arranged separately.
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Local Payment
A local payment of USD 1200 (2025), 1300 (2026), 1400 (2027) is required at the start of the trip.
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Optional Excursions
Optional excursions as listed in the Pre-Departure Information are not included.
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Flights
Flights to and from the starting and ending locations are not included.
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Airport Taxes & Transfers
Airport taxes and transfers are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and must be purchased separately.
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Meals
Approximately 40% of meals are not included.
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Drinks
Drinks are not included.
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Tips
Tips for guides, drivers, and other service providers are not included.
More Info
An expedition through the heart of Africa from days of old. From crossing deserts, rivers and mountains and overcoming a multitude of challenges this continent can throw at you, inter-twined with stunning National Parks, adventure activity play grounds and UNESCO World Heritage sites, this is a trip that will linger in the memory long after you finish.
Mode of Transport
For most of your trip the Oasis expedition truck will be your new home - giving you a comfortable & secure base with which to experience your trip. We use purpose built truck's which have been converted especially for this expedition, which pass through all types of terrains from soft sand, mud, rock and potholed roads to tarseal. It is reassuring to know that these vehicles can handle the tough conditions that they are put through. The truck is equipped with all the equipment we may need en route, including a professionally compiled expedition Medical Kit, large water & fuel carrying capacities, an extensive range of spare parts and the kitchen sink, (well almost!) so all you need is your sleeping bag, a roll mat and your own personal gear! Seatbelts All Oasis Overland trucks are fitted with seatbelts. For your own safety and security we recommend that travellers wear these at all times whilst the vehicle is moving. Our overland trucks in Africa also have a ‘beach area’ which is a chill out zone to be used when the truck is not moving.
Accommodation
Oasis uses roomy three-person tents but only for two people. They are specially made for us to meet the tougher conditions of an overland trip and have mosquito netting sewn into the door and windows. Tents are shared (between two people of the same sex from your group unless you are a couple). We spend some nights bush or desert camping and the rest of the time in campsites. Facilities and standards at campsites vary, some are well equipped and managed and some are very basic. At bush camps you will be living off the truck, so there will be no showers or en-suite facilities! At certain campsites there is the opportunity to upgrade to a private room at your own expense if you are missing your bed.
Check out our Q&As
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What type of accommodation will be provided during the tour?
The tour primarily involves camping, with approximately 90% of the nights spent in roomy three-person tents shared between two people. The remaining 10% of the nights will be in simple hostels or hotels. Some nights will be spent bush or desert camping, where there will be no showers or en-suite facilities.
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What kind of transport will be used during the tour?
For most of the trip, you will travel in an Oasis expedition truck, which is purpose-built for this type of expedition. The truck is equipped with all necessary equipment, including a professionally compiled expedition medical kit, large water and fuel carrying capacities, an extensive range of spare parts, and cooking equipment. The truck also has seatbelts and a 'beach area' for relaxing when the vehicle is not moving.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Approximately 60% of the meals are included in the tour package. The remaining 40% of the meals are not included and will need to be covered by the participants.
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What are some of the key highlights of the tour?
Some key highlights include listening out for the groans of hippos while camping on Lake Naivasha, navigating Merkato, the largest open-air market in Africa, visiting the magnificent monasteries and rock-hewn churches in Ethiopia, enjoying beaches and seafood in Somaliland, exploring salt lakes and rock formations at Lac Assal and Lac Abbe in Djibouti, hiking in the Simien Mountains, camping under the stars in the Nubian Desert in Sudan, and setting sail down the Nile on a traditional felucca.
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What should I bring for the camping portion of the tour?
You will need to bring your own sleeping bag, a roll mat, and your personal gear. The truck is equipped with camping and cooking equipment, so you won't need to bring those.
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Is there an option to upgrade to private rooms during the tour?
Yes, at certain campsites, there is the opportunity to upgrade to a private room at your own expense if you are missing your bed.
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What is the policy on wearing seatbelts in the expedition truck?
All Oasis Overland trucks are fitted with seatbelts, and for your own safety and security, it is recommended that travelers wear these at all times while the vehicle is moving.
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What are some of the optional activities available during the tour?
Optional activities include hiring mountain bikes and cycling or walking through Hells Gate National Park, visiting the Crater Lake Game Sanctuary, taking safaris in Awash National Park, exploring the Maskali and Moucha islands, and visiting the Danakil Depression and Erta Ale Volcano.
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What are the visa requirements for this tour?
Visas are not included in the tour package and will need to be arranged separately by the participants. The tour will pass through multiple countries, so you will need to check the visa requirements for each country visited.
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What happens if the tour route through northern Ethiopia or Sudan is not possible?
If the tour route through northern Ethiopia or Sudan is not possible due to security situations, the itinerary may be adjusted. This could include flying to Egypt from Addis Ababa or Djibouti City at your own cost. If the trip is cut short due to time missed in these areas, a partial refund of the Local Payment portion of the trip price will be made.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes, if you are travelling solo. On our Overland Adventures and Ultimate Expeditions, we will pair you up with a tent buddy of the same sex when we camp and the same goes for twin & shared rooms in hostels, so there is no need to go it alone! If you specifically would like to request your own single room whilst on the trip, this may be requested subject to availability and additional fee.
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How many people do you take on your Trips?
On most of our Overland Adventures and Ultimate Expeditions our vehicles can carry a maximum of 24 travellers, the average however is around 16-20 on any one trip. Our Small Group Adventures have a maximum of 18 people per Tour Leader, although again the average is around 10-14 people.
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Wednesday - Monday
Jul 23, 2025 - Sep 22, 2025Wednesday - Monday
Jul 22, 2026 - Sep 21, 2026Thursday - Tuesday
Jul 22, 2027 - Sep 21, 2027Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Oasis Overland requires a minimum deposit of 400 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of oasis overland charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 65% of booking price.
At 39 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.