One-Week Capturing the Essence of Egypt in Cairo, Luxor, & Aswan

The trip was excellent. We really had a great time! The "ground staff" (drivers, airport greeters, etc.) were terrific. We had four guides.

Our hotel in Abu Simbel and our hotel in Cairo were great.

The cruise ship, the ship in Egypt, was wonderful. The food could have been better, but the entertainment, cleanliness, and staff were all first-rate.

The lady who led the food tour was wonderful. Her English was very good and she was very personable.

Our guide at Abu Simbel was terrific and knowledgeable, and able to find shade on a hot day.

Our guide in Cairo was very knowledgeable, although we struggled to understand everything he said. (Although his English was much better than our Arabic.) As we went to many of the great sites in Egypt, I wanted to buy souvenirs, but I wasn't able to get near the shops. I have heard that souvenir shop owners will, at times, try to rip off tourists, but I don't know if that was the only reason he wouldn't let us near one.

Our fourth guide in Luxor was also very good, personable, and intelligent. However, it was hot and we could have used a break in the shade. He was a lot younger and more fit than we were and didn't seem to notice we were struggling.

Thank you for putting this trip of a lifetime together for us. Ron is taking his grandson to Rome and is using Zicasso.

Zicasso’s travel specialist worked very hard in putting our trip together, a trip of a lifetime that was perfect from beginning to end. The coordination and logistics—with tours, flights, hotels, drivers, and experiences—that really should have been impossible to do due to the conflict and peace talks, making everything changing, were handled perfectly.

Our tours were excellent and our hotels were first class, as was communication with guides, drivers, and the travel company any time we visited Egypt, Jordan, and Israel. We were not only shown the wonderful historical sites, peoples, and cultures, but also a Christian pilgrimage following Moses and Jesus. We never could have dreamed of such a wonderful trip and experience. We still have to catch our breath and say, Wow, that was great. People we share our experience with are so very interested and enthusiastic hearing about all the things we did, saw, and experienced, and you see the excitement in their faces and how amazed they are that we could experience so much in one trip.

The trip went smoothly and was well executed, thanks to our guide. It was because of him that the experience was enjoyable, as he was very knowledgeable and resourceful, and had his own network. He was very patient with me and always encouraging. There are not enough words to describe how grateful I am to him for dealing with me for 19 days. 

Starting with receiving me at Entebbe International Airport, he gave me a friendly assurance that I would have a smooth and secure adventure. He kept me very safe and in a few days, I was able to trust him with all my belongings and my life. This was very important for somebody who does not live in Uganda and Rwanda, and was here for just a few days to learn and explore these two beautiful countries.

Let's do a breakdown of each of the places I went to:

Entebbe: I can't comment too much about this place because I only arrived at the airport and stayed at the guest house. The staff and the guest house were nice as I tried to get settled after a long plane ride and prepare myself for the adventures ahead.

Murchison National Falls Park: I won't forget this experience. I saw the wildlife as it is and enjoyed it so much. There are not enough words to describe the beauty of this beautiful savannah and the species that inhabit it. I fell in love with the giraffes, almost got charged by an elephant, and was very lucky to see a hyena, a leopard, and two lionesses in one day. I learned so much about Murchison Falls that I did not know, including that it is the world's most powerful waterfall, and I felt honored to see it in front of me during an afternoon boat ride.

Kampala: Kampala is very congested, but it was nice to see what the capital city was like and I somehow enjoyed visiting the Gaddafi mosque.

Jinja: I will never forget the day I saw the origin of the Nile River. That feeling cannot be replaced. I am proud of myself for celebrating the Nile River by doing bungee jumping, tube river riding, horseback riding, and whitewater riding. I'm so proud of myself for bungee jumping for the first time in my life, and over the Nile River.

Sipi Falls: This is a hidden secret that not many tourists know about and must be seen. These three waterfalls are just one long Sipi Falls flowing in Mt Elgon… breathtaking. The hike was very challenging, but necessary to appreciate the beauty of Sipi Falls. I really enjoyed my time with a nice couple who showed how they process coffee beans and also appreciated the Kapchorwa community for showing me their dance performance in their ancestral mountain cave. The hotel in the Sipi Falls area was not really a resort. They have more work to do to make this a very tourist-friendly accommodation. However, I did not complain much as it was all part of the experience. Therefore, I just made my stay for those two nights the way I could, knowing this was the best accommodation in the Sipi Falls area.

Kibale National Park: It was an honor to cross the equator more than once. My stay at the lodge in Kibale National Park was amazing. I enjoyed my stay and really loved the friendly staff who took care of me. I will not forget my experience of seeing the chimpanzees in the wild at the Kibale National Park. We were told we were very lucky to see all the chimpanzees sitting on the ground before they all headed up in the trees. To see the chimpanzees up close, a few feet from you, and lock your eyes with theirs is an experience you won't forget.

Queen Elizabeth National Park: Again, I crossed the equator at least three times during this experience. It's a different savannah that you appreciate in its own way. I was very lucky that with the help of our guide's contact, I was able to see, in an open spot, two lionesses with three baby cubs. I enjoyed my afternoon boat ride, surprisingly, in the Kazinga Channel, especially with the tourists I was riding the boat with.

Bwindi Forest: I enjoyed my 12km walk into the windy forest and into the Buhoma community to get to a car to drive me to my hotel. The next day, seeing the gorilla after trekking a very steep slope was an unforgettable experience. It was thanks to the porter who helped me trek these challenging slopes that I was able to see a gorilla community that I will never forget. I did enjoy my small amount of time in the Batwa community.

Volcanoes National Park: I enjoyed my stay at our hotel in Volcanoes National Park, as the staff were very friendly and made sure I was warm at night. The next day, I enjoyed my not-too-hard trek to see the golden monkey before heading to Kigali.

Overall, it was a beautiful adventure and I don't think I would have planned it any other way. I do wish I were able to see Kidepo National Park, as I was told multiple times how beautiful that park is.

Thank you so much for helping me organize this wonderful adventure, especially since this was my first African adventure.