16 Days South Africa and Egypt Trip

Upon arrival at O. R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg—the heart of South Africa—the trip begins. Upon arrival, you will be met by your tour assistant, who will facilitate the collection of your luggage and guide you into a private, air-conditioned vehicle right away.

Once you have checked in, have a shower and some relaxation, as you are healing from the long hours of flight. Take pleasure in being the guest of the dinner at a nearby restaurant, where you will get a taste of South African cuisine. During this outing, you will also have the opportunity of meeting your co-travelers and tour guide, who will brief you on what exciting experiences you will receive over the next few days.

After breakfast, prepare yourself for an exploration of Soweto, the most famous township of South Africa and a place of immense historical significance. Soweto saw the heart of the anti-apartheid struggle; today it is a witness of real grit and culture.

First stop will be the Nelson Mandela Family Museum, where you will be shown into the former home of Nelson Mandela before he was kicked into prison for 27 years. You will wander through the rooms as Mandela once did, with a few belongings that were once his and stories validating his battles for freedom.

Lunch, which is very much recommended, is an authentic menu from a local shebeen—an informal tavern that is popular in South African townships. On your plate are authentic South African dishes as you get to listen to the stories of Soweto by your hosts.

After lunch, visit Regina Mundi Catholic Church, which has played a significant role as a meeting place for activists during the struggle against apartheid. The church shelters the famous Black Madonna—a rare depiction of the Virgin Mary with African features, symbolizing hope for the people of South Africa.

This morning is set aside for a visit to Old Fort Prison, also known as Constitution Hill, and boasts as one of the most important historical sites South Africa has to offer. In the past, this prison complex held many respected political prisoners, such as Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and others who were some serious anti-apartheid activists.

As you walk through the prison cells once used by key figures of historical importance, you will observe the fears and wants of each character in history as they are told through several exhibits and stories. As the guide will elaborate on, this big attraction turned into a place of horror and now has transformed into a symbol of democracy, housing the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

This particular experience is so immersive; thus, there is a formation of a lot of real information along the voyage.

Adventure is the order of the day! After enjoying your breakfast, take on an all-day safari experience in one of the famous wildlife reserves in South Africa. With an expert guide who knows the way, you will have a great chance of meeting the famous Big Five—lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo—and giraffes, zebras, and various bird species.

The day of the safari finds you deep inside the African bush to see animals in their own setting. Your guide will give you interesting insights into the ecosystem of the region and discuss the various forms of conservation in place to shield South African wildlife.

Enjoy lunch in the reserve before continuing your game drive in the afternoon. Keep your camera ready—you never know what incredible sightings await!

You will be transferred to Johannesburg Airport after breakfast, where you catch a flight to Cape Town. The scenic landscapes, impressive landmarks, and vibrant cultures await you. Upon arrival, you will be driven privately to your hotel.

Enjoy the summer evening with a leisurely walk down the famous V&A Waterfront, well-lit to create a perfect atmosphere, frequented by live street performances, boutique shops, and outstanding restaurants, giving a surreal view of Table Mountain.

Start your day with a cable car trip up Table Mountain, where you will be offered breathtaking bird’s-eye views that are the must-see sights of Cape Town and, during clear days, of the ocean and surrounding mountains. Later, take some time to walk the trails and embrace the atmosphere before making your way back down.

Then, get on a ferry headed to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 18 years. As you are guided by former political prisoners through the prison, they tell stories and share personal experiences as they affected the island and Mandela’s incarceration.

Before sunset, go to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, where you can buy a few souvenirs, have a meal, or just enjoy some peaceful time by the water.

You are going to travel through one of Africa's most scenic views, the Cape Peninsula. Your first stop will be the Cape of Good Hope, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. A hike from there to the old lighthouse will give you panoramic views before continuing to Boulders Beach to see a colony of African penguins.

Created by the Gods themselves, these funny birds can be seen waddling along the sand and swimming through the clear waters. You can also take a little rest on the lovely beach before returning to Cape Town.

Join a scenic drive to the Wine Valley, where they get a wide array of the world's best wineries. Visit two leading wine farms of this region, where you could be treated to wine-tasting while learning about the history of South African winemaking.

Later in the afternoon, lunch will be served in a vineyard along with being perfectly paired with local wine to make it even more luxurious and delectable before returning back to Cape Town.

The South Africa trip is over today. After breakfast, your private driver is going to drive you to the Cape Town International Airport, from where you will fly to Cairo. Soon upon arrival at the Cairo International Airport, you would be met by a guide from Around Egypt Tours, who would help with immigration and then accompany you to your hotel via private air-conditioned transportation.

After settling in a bit and getting jewels from the Nile, you will sit down to a welcome dinner. Get a bit of history and culture about Egypt from an initial presentation. An optional Sound and Light show of the Pyramids at night could be your first day off your tour in Egypt, where the Great Pyramid and Sphinx are lighted to display an ancient Egyptian story so learned.

Following a hearty breakfast, a learned guide, well-versed in Egyptian antiquities and history, takes you to the iconic Giza plateau. Walk and marvel at the Great Pyramid of Khufu, followed by the Pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure.

After the pyramids have been properly enjoyed, proceed to the curious Great Sphinx, the guardian of the Giza Necropolis, and the Valley Temple, where the mummification rituals were performed.

Go for a 15-minute pyramids of giza camel ride at no additional cost, a bonus participation that offers a very worthwhile experience. The whole landscape of the desert serves as an impressive backdrop to the Giza Plateau.

Once this is over, lunch in a clean, high-quality local Egyptian restaurant—offering a taste of Egyptian food. The next stop is the ancient world-renowned Egyptian Museum, where you will admire a massive array of ancient treasures, among which are the King Tutankhamun treasures, dedicated to the world's most famous pharaoh.

After breakfast, proceed to the Cairo Airport. Fly to Luxor, famously known as the biggest open-air museum in the world. On arrival, you will be welcomed by a representative of the luxury cruise gracing the Nile River for the next four nights.

Lunch will be served on board and excursions on the site of the East Bank of Luxor begin. The first stop will be Karnak Temple—an expansive site with massive columns, statues, and the awe-inspiring Hypostyle Hall.

Continue to the Luxor Temple, which is a magnificent structure dedicated to the god Amun; inside the temple areas are tons of statues and carvings, which date back thousands of years.

Return to your ship for a dinner cruise with beautiful views of the Nile

In the morning cross the Nile to the West Bank of Luxor, home to some of Egypt's most impressive archaeological sites.

Begin by visiting the Valley of the Kings, where 64 tombs of Pharaohs have been discovered, one of which was that of King Tutankhamun. Step inside some gorgeously decorated tombs where the ancient hieroglyphics still narrate stories of the past.

Then, on to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, an architectural gem constructed for Egypt's most powerful female monarch. Let us stop for a look at the Colossi of Memnon, which consists of two giant statues once guarding the entrance of a magnificent mortuary temple.

After lunch, sail for Edfu, allowing you to relax on the deck and watch the magnificent scenery on the Nile.

After breakfast, you are going to take a carriage ride to the temple of Horus. The temple dedicated to the falcon god was the grandest in Egypt and showed grand reliefs and massive columns.

After arriving at Kom Ombo, visit the Temple of Sobek and Haroeris. This unique temple is a double temple and dedicated to two gods—Sobek, the god of the crocodile, and the god Haroeris, or the falcon god.

In the evening, on board the boat, you will have the time of your life with a fun evening out as the boat inches closer to Aswan.

Today, visit Philae Temple in its splendor; the temple is dedicated to Isis, the goddess of love and magic. To protect this temple from inundation due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam, it was relocated to Agilkia Island.

Head to Elephantine Island on a traditional Felucca ride with a fantastic Nile view while passing by Shij, the Agha Khan Mausoleum.

Return to your cruise ship for a leisurely evening and your one last night onboard.

Check out from your Nile cruise after breakfast and head to the Aswan airport for your return flight to Cairo. Upon arrival in Cairo, transfer to your hotel for a day of relaxation and leisure.

For people who have more explorative desires, these people may opt for tours to see Memphis and Saqqara, where one can see Egypt's oldest pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Djoser.

Enjoy one last breakfast before transferring to Cairo International Airport for your departure flight. Take with you unforgettable memories of South Africa’s wildlife and history, combined with Egypt’s ancient wonders.