This morning the hotel staff took us on a tour of the city after and huge breakfast with some amazing highlights: fresh squeezed orange juice, homemade greek yogurt, every kind of breakfast meat you could want accompanied by every kind of egg dish you could image, nuts, dates, coffee, teas, and more! They rolled us down the hall for the hotel tour and we were able to see their new restaurants that were under construction. They will have four restaurant/bars when it is finalized.
Next we loaded into our private, air-conditioned (very important!) bus and went onto the Pyramids. The photos make them seem like they are in the middle of nowhere but actually they are right outside Cairo. You just can't see Cairo because of all the smog. The city does have a huge pollution problem which is enhanced by their famous traffic jams (the world's worst - not an over exaggeration).
The Pyramids of Giza are as amazing in person as you can imagine from the photos. Its hard to believe you are there standing alongside them. We kept thinking of the similarities between the pyramids and the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. Did they somehow interact across the miles of ocean and two continents? Their techniques seem too similar to be consequential.
After the pyramids, we went to lunch at Le Pacha along the river. They offer you water on the tour and every time you take a break. Its a good idea so that no one passes out from heat exhaustion. I couldn't get enough water because you are constantly sweating no matter what you do.
That evening when we went back to the hotel we had a gourmet dinner. Matt had the rack of lamb and I had the pasta. We drifted off to sleep in comfort and happiness, ready for our Nile adventure to begin tomorrow.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.