Itinerary | Nairobi to Cairo Nile Expedition 9 Weeks
What’s it like?
As we will be camping and travelling for an extended period of time, you must be prepared for an adventurous challenge. It can be hot and dusty, and will sometimes be out of contact with the rest of the world. This means no telephones, shops or any other mod cons. We need you to participate and work with all members of the expedition. For the Nile Expedition we use sturdy purpose-built vehicles for rugged off-road conditions.
Due to the nature of the trip, the day-to-day itinerary is flexible.
Week 1-2: Kenya
Northern Kenya – the NFD Northern Frontier District
From Nairobi, we travel northeast around the foothills of Mount Kenya – to the Northern Frontier District of Kenya, a restricted area; semi-arid with a spectacular diversity of people, wild game on the roadside and a warm dry climate.
In this wild frontier district which is 600k kilometres north to south, between Kenya and Ethiopia, this savage and beautiful land, kept the peoples of the Kenyan and Ethiopian Highlands separated for thousands of years.
Before roads were pushed through this area, the only way travel here was by camel, and with the tribes of the region; the Turkana, Rendille, the Gabbra, the Samburu, the Borana and others. All these peoples are semi nomadic pastoralists who have survived in a harsh land herding sheep, cattle, goats and camels. Their style of living, colour, form and traditions are strikingly beautiful.
Mount Marsabit
In the middle of this dry barren landscape is an old shield volcano – Mount Marsabit it sits 1,000 metres above the surrounding desert. The hills have their own insulated ecosystem. There is evidence of recent lava flow throughout the hills, with crater lakes and old volcanic cones dotting the landscape.
Week 3-5: Ethiopia
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region
We climb the mountains into the highlands and descend into the Omo Valley and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region. 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 Omo National Park.
We pass through the capital Addis Ababa
We follow the Rift Valley Lakes to the capital; Addis Ababa. In Ethiopia the roads we in mountainous areas, and travel is slow as we share the road with horse-drawn carts, which have right of way on the roads. Drink coffee where it was first made, in a traditional coffee ceremony, and explore ‘El Mercato’ – one of East Africa’s largest open-air markets. We also spend the next few days organizing our Sudanese and Egyptian visas.
Bahir Dar & Blue Nile Gorge & Blue Nile Falls
Bahir Dar is based on the southern edge of Lake Tana – you can organise boat trips to some of the small islands which have Monasteries dating back up to 900 years, and which are still looked after by monks who live from subsistence farming, or take a trip to Blue Nile Falls. Lalibela, famous for its 11 monolithic rock-hewn churches is our next destination where you have the option of a guided tour of one of Ethiopia’s holiest cities.
Gondar
Gondar was the capital of Ethiopia from 1632 until 1868. There are seven Emperor’s castles In Gondar. We spend a few days where we can organise overnight trips to the Simien Mountains National Park, home to the Gelada Baboon. Hikes are available in the area. You can visit the holy city of Axum dating from the 12th Century. They have been kept alive by generations of dedicated priests who guard their precious religious icons.
Note: This is a new itinerary from 2025, including Somaliland and Djibouti.
Considering the Sudan troubles, we overfly from Addis Ababa [or Djibouti] to Cairo to finish the Egyptian section of the trip (flight at your cost).
Week 6-7
Harar to Djibouti. We leave Ethiopia now and cross into Somaliland, to 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 with 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 and fresh fish cooked locally.
From Somaliland we 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.
Djibouti City to Gondar. Near Djibouti City we visit Lac Assal. Some 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, with thousands of huge limestone chimneys dotting the area, venting sulphuric gas.
OVERFLY
Week 5: Sudan
Blue Nile and White Nile
From Gondar we cross to Sudan to Gedaref, then Wadi Medani on the Blue Nile, which we follow to Khartoum. Which is our next stop in a fantastic setting on the confluence of the Blue and White Niles. Our stay here is on the banks of the Nile at the Blue Nile Sailing Club. It houses one of General Kitchener’s old gunboats, a relic from the British military campaign against the Mahdi over a century ago. For such a large city, Khartoum feels quite laid back. Here you can visit the Hamed al Nil Tomb, or take a trip to the daily camel market or viewing the joining of the two Niles, are an interesting ways to pass the time.
The ancient Pyramids at Meroe
The pyramids are to the north of the capital Khartoum. Our drive across the Nubian Desert will see us either hugging the banks of the Nile as it winds its way north, or crossing the vast open desert plains. Whether passing through sleepy Nubian villages, resting in tea rooms, wandering 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.
Week 8-9: Egypt
Abu Simbel
We enter Egypt and board the ferry across the Nile to Abu Simbel –The massive stone monuments built by the greatest of all pharaohs, Ramses ll, after spending the night we will travel on to Aswan.
Aswan High Dam & Philae Island Temple
Take an evening boat cruise to a Nubian village and a walk through the colourful souk, is a great way to spend your days here. Above Aswan between the Aswan Dam and the High Dam is a lake with an island where the ancient Egyptians built a temple to the goddess Isis.
Three day felucca sailing boat Aswan 200 km to Luxor
Today felucca cruises offer travellers a slow meander through history; the chance to travel the River Nile as people would have in the time of the Pharaohs, to visit the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo. It’s an open-decked boat, unchanged since the time of the Pharaohs, and covered in colourful cushions and pillows for comfort, complete with canvas shelters to block the desert sun. You sleep and eat on the deck under cover on the deck of the boat itself. When it’s hot – cool down with a swim on the Nile
Sights while sailing on the Nile
Kom Ombo
The Temple of Sobek, the crocodile god, is perched on a picturesque bluff on the Nile, this Ptolemaic temple was completed under Roman rule, and is dedicated to both Sobek and Horus – the sun god.
Edfu Temple
The Temple of Horus at Edfu is the most impressive and complete of all of the Pharaonic Nile pylon style temples. It’s a Greco-Roman Period late construction, partially built by Cleopatra’s father.
Luxor
Temples, Colossi of Memnon, Valley of the Kings, Tutankhamen’s Tomb
We visit Karnack Temple the Colossi of Memnon and the Valley of the Kings with Tutankhamen’s Tomb. We do a big day trip to the monuments on friendly happy donkeys. They tend to walk off home alone after we arrive at the Valley of the Kings leaving us free to do the rest of the day in a bus.
Visit the Valley of Kings and Queens, with well preserved tombs of the ancient rulers of Ramses ll and Tutankhamun, with coloured paintings and hieroglyphics. The walls of the tombs are fresh after 3,000 years. Karnak and Luxor Temples are both in easy walking distance from our camp – as is the local souq where you can pick up the last of your souvenirs.
The Red Sea Coast
We drive out to the Red Sea Coast to relax on the beach for a couple of days; go snorkelling, windsurfing or scuba diving in the cool clear blue waters of the best coral reefs in the world.
Cairo, Pyramids & Sphinx, The Cairo Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque, Old Cairo
We reach Cairo on the Nile a massive and ancient city. We visit the great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx with an Egyptologist guide, Egyptian Museum, Mohamed Ali Mosque – the best mosque in the Middle East, in a fortress citadel and Old Cairo
Africa is an unpredictable continent. We do not have a fixed itinerary so please treat the information given as a guideline only. Although our information is written in good faith at the time of printing, our route may vary at any time due to weather, politics or road conditions.