raingirl

Hi, this is my first time posting on this forum. Researching on the site has been great, thank you! My husband and I are doing a private tour of Kenya and Egypt next year (first trip to Africa) and I was hoping to get some feedback on our itinerary before we book it. I hope you will be able to help!

Day 1: Arrive Nairobi and overnight
2-4: Drive to Samburu and overnight 2 nights at Serena lodge
4: Drive to Sweetwaters, overnight at tented camp.
5: Drive to Lake Nakuru, overnight at Sarova Lodge
6-9: Fly to Masai Mara, overnight at Mara Serena for 3 nights.
9-11: Fly to Nairobi for flight to Cairo. Visit pyramids, egyptian museum etc.. overnight 2 nights in Cairo.
11: Cairo, and overnight sleeping train to Aswan
12: Aswan and overnight
13-16: Abu simbel day trip, then board Nile cruise for 3 nights.
16-19: Fly to Sharm El-Sheikh in the morning and drive to Dahab, overnight 3 nights.
Day 19-21: Drive to Petra, overnight 2 nights
Day 21: Drive to Dead Sea, overnight in Madaba
Day 22: Back to Cairo for flight home.

Any thoughts or comments?
1. We are trying to decide whether to add Mt Sinai (climbing at night to see sunrise) and/or St Katherine's Monastery to our itinerary?
2. What is the overnight camping at the Wadi Rum camps like? Is it pretty much roughin it, or are they fairly nice? I'm guessing they would be far from luxury? For those who have done it, would you recommend it, or would a couple hours of jeep safari thru the desert suffice?
3. We are also thinking (if we can extend our vacation by a few days), of adding another place to our itinerary. I thought about a stopover in Dubai, or even a quick stop in Jerusalem/Bethlehem, though I do worry about safety issues there. Any thoughts on what I've mentioned, or any other ideas?

Sorry this is so long.. and thank you!!

bushperson

Hello Raingirl,

I can only comment on the Kenya portion of the trip. You selected good lodges and Sweetwaters will give you a nice experience of a permanent tented camp. Assuming you are travelling during our summer months? (July through even October), staying in Masai Mara Serena will expose you to fantastic Migration sightings. Hopefully others will comment on the rest of your well planned and interesting itinerary.

Enjoy the anticipation.....

sf7307

And I can only comment on the Egypt part! I think your itinerary is perfect. We were there in August --3 day/2 nights in Cairo, sleeper train to Aswan, 1 day/overnight in Aswan, 2 days/2 nights Luxor (we didn't do the Nile Cruise), then the divers flew to Sharm El Sheikh (the non-divers left for Madrid!!). We were also on a customized private tour and this worked out great, becuase we could stop/start at will (ex. we chose to move up one temple visit in Luxor, so we could have some extra pool time the next day; also, it was nice to be able to stop whenever and whereever we wanted for food and drink, and stay as long as we liked at the various sites). Do you know where you'll be staying? Be aware (and I assume September is cooler, but not by much, than August) -- we were there in mid to late August and it was pretty much the hottest I've ever been (hotter than Phoenix in July LOL!). Sounds like a great trip.

sandi

Itinerary looks good.

Depending on when traveling you might find way different weather in Kenya vs Egypt.

The Jul-Oct period which is ideal (mild daytime temps 60s [maybe lo-70s], and cool to cold nights/mornings) in Kenya for the Migration in the Masai Mara, will be very very very hot in Egypt, often in the hi-90s into 100s, especially the farther south you travel.

Just to be aware when packing.

atravelynn

Kenya looks good. I know nothing of Egypt. Have a nice trip.

raingirl

Thanks to all who gave me your feedback! Thank you for the warning about the potential temperature at that time of year. We will be in Egypt/Jordan late sept, but mainly the first week and a half of oct. Not sure how much we'd enjoy Wadi Rum in the sweltering desert heat.

Does anyone have any recommendations or thoughts on doing a short side trip to Jerusalem? The current travel advisories don't have much "positive" to say.. and would a day trip from Jordan be too short?

Also, since we have a driver/guide the whole time, and we're staying in hotels/lodges, would you suggest bringing a backpack or would a rolling suitcase be fine?

sf7307

RE luggage - we never once handled our own luggage - the driver and tour rep/guide took care of everything, everywhere. It was great!!

Elizabeth_S

Re the Egypt portion - we did a similar trip earlier this year (ex Sharm) and your itinerary looks good - I wonder why you're taking the overnight train to Aswan, though? There have been several grim descriptions of the journey on Fodors - it's a quick flight.

Grcxx3

I, too, would recommend flying to Aswan.

And where are you catching the cruise? Luxor?

sandi

Jerusalem is safe. The "warnings" (vs "do not go&quot has been listed for years, yet the planes are full.

That said, a 1/day trip is going to be too hectic. With border crossings both ways, won't leave sufficient time to see much.

Save this country for another time when you can truly enjoy.

sf7307

For other points of view, however, we took the sleeper train (as did momliz and her family) and were very glad we did. True, we love trains, we also didn't want to get up at 4 am for the flight. I was skeptical, but I'd definitely do it again.

Elizabeth_S

I don't think you have to get up at 4 in the morning unless you're going straight thru to Abu Simbel.....there are many daily flights to Aswan from Cairo, I believe.

sf7307

Elizabeth, you may be right....we would have had to take that flight, but it may have been because we made our plans so close to the trip. Anyway, I agree that if you are strictly a "Four Seasons" person, you probably won't like the train, but if you're not, and you like train travel, it was great.

raingirl

Thanks once again. Good point.. I am going to see how much it costs to upgrade from the sleeping train to the flight.

We are boarding our Nile cruise from Aswan. How much time should we allocate for Aswan? I'm asking b/c it seems (from the feedback provided) that it is possible to fly from Cairo straght thru to Abu Simbel. If we did that, should we then spend the rest of the day in Aswan when we get back and overnight there, and board the cruise the next day. Or.. should we board the cruise (from Aswan) on the same day that we arrive back from Abu Simbel (i.e. pretty much skipping the sights in Aswan). Or.. I guess the last option would be to fly to Aswan from Cairo first, spend the day there and overnight, then fly out to Abu Simbel the next morning, then arriving back in Aswan to board the cruise. I'm sorry if I'm making it all sound very confusing... but I'd appreciate your input!

And Sandi.. thank you for your thoughts on Jerusalem. You are very right, a day trip would not be giving such an amazing place the time it deserves. I think we are going to leave Israel for another trip. It's just such a temptation though, since it's so close to Amman! And we're really not sure when we'll return to the Middle East. But thank you, b/c point taken. Thanks!

sf7307

Aswan is a pleasant town, but there are very few sights -- the high dam, the Philae Temple, not much else.

Elizabeth_S

Have a look at your cruise schedule - it may well be that it includes visits to the Aswan sites......ours did. In which case you would return from Abu Simbel mid afternoon, board the cruise, do a Felucca ride and then the next morning visit Philae and the Dam.....then the boat leaves. Pretty standard itinerary

adatheflamingo

Kenya part is good ,know nothing about Egypt . Witting for your rip report .

sarahh_sf

Hi RainGirl,
Your itinerary is exactly what we're planning on doing- except in reverse order (Egypt first and then Kenya).
Would love to know if you booked all the lodges yourself, did you hire a car to drive you, did you work with a local travel agent? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!