I was going to give this trip 4 stars but to be honest I couldn't think of any reason why it doesn't deserve 5 stars as it was an amazing holiday.
This was my first holiday of this type and it really was ace, I was lucky enough to be there with 7 other guests that were pretty awesome, we all got on pretty well and had a bit of friendly banter between us all.
I basiically put this down as a holiday of a lifetime and I will be doing more exodus trips based on how much fun I had on this one.
Rock-hewn amphitheatres, desert dunes and coral reefs – this trip may be quick, but it packs in a lot of action! Take a nine-day adventure through the best of Jordan and Egypt to discover layered histories and striking landscapes. Wander the ancient city of Petra (one of the Seven Wonders of the World), camp in the desert and finish up among the souqs and pyramids of Cairo. As you travel this land of mighty pharaohs and biblical prophets, you’ll be greeted by the legendary hospitality of local Bedouin people in Wadi Rum and discover the underwater worlds that lie beneath the azure waters of the Red Sea.
Journey through Egypt on this eight-day trip and follow the winding path of the river Nile, soaking up Egypt's history, beauty and colour. Cruise the longest river in the world on a traditional felucca, discover the largest and most impressive Egyptian temples and share stories with interesting locals over home-cooked meals. Live it up in this country of deserts, bazaars, monuments and unmatched experiences – and come away with a deeper understanding of how Egypt’s past has shaped its future.
Mixture of hotels as per say with Explore, from full electricity to an African Hut lit by candle light. Please note accommodation is very basic compared to Western standards which Assan stressed to the group on the first day of the trip.
As mentioned in the itinerary there is a heavy emphasis on the bird life and the majority of trips are geared towards the birds. If birds are your thing then this is a trip for you.
The guide Assan is an excellent & enthusiastic birder with a comprehensive knowledge of the birds from The Gambia & Senegal.
Assan is a very open and honest guide & will relay his personal experiences of his own village life in The Gambia.
Driver Cering was excellent & ensured we were all safe & comfy on the long journeys on the bumpy African roads.
Bottled was provided on the bus along with regular local fruits.
Food wise, a lot of enthesis on fish cooked and served whole.
I am a vegetarian non fish eating and with help from Assan I never went hungry.
Local children enjoyed the sweets the group brought from the U.K.
Another excellent trip with Explore. Fascinating itinerary which helped us discover many parts of both Togo and Benin. The tour leaders, Oscar and Edmund were both excellent and gave us a great insight into these fascinating countries. Some hotels were better than others, but that is to be expected in more remote regions.
Definitely would recommend this trip. All the games drive was amazing seen loads of animals. Safari was on my bucket list for a long time and to do it was amazing.
I thought it might be useful to give a little more info about the walking on this trip as I was very concerned I had bitten off more than I could chew.
I am nearly 73, fit , for my age, woman. Used to walking but I live in Essex so am not used to hills!
I have walked in Vietnam and Georgia in the past 18 months however this trip was much more of a challenge because of altitude and heat. I was the oldest in the group of 11 with the youngest at 22(!)
Whilst three of the group reached the peak a good hour ahead and two turned back the rest of us all succeeded. It was challenging however if I can do it others can!! Very tough on knees and my advice is to get your cardio up to scratch and go for it!
Overall a fantastic trip with excellent walking, very basic camping, great food and Hery a wonderful, caring guide.
The whole trip was just a delight from start to finish, great leader (Bibi), lovely group, incredible country with such stunning and varied wildlife. I really loved the wild camping, listening to the animals around your tent at night, showering under the stars and sitting around the campfire, truly amazing. Special mention to the local camp support guys the way they looked after us and the delicious meals they dished up. The couple of long days on the road are so worth it to fully see the different habitats of Botswana.
This full-day excursion includes something for everyone. From relaxing on the white sands of the Pange Sandbank to snorkeling for tropical fish and devouring a BBQ seafood buffet - guests are in for a treat!
In the morning, we board the dhow and set sail towards Prison Island. There, guests will enjoy a guided tour of a prison built for “rebellious slaves”, visit with giant Aldabra tortoises and snorkel with a guide to view the stunning array of coral and tropical fish that surround the island.
We then sail to the magnificent Pange Sandbank, a beautiful patch of white sand surrounded by turquoise waters. Guests can relax under the shade of our ample tents or swim in the warm water of the Indian Ocean. All that activity sure builds an appetite! For lunch, guests will savor a delicious seafood BBQ served with a cool, crisp beer and other refreshing beverages. After lunch, snorkel among Clown fish and Moorish Idols or simply take a walk around the sandbank to witness the birdlife. By the time we set sail to town in the late afternoon, guests will have enjoyed one of their favorite days in Zanzibar!
Itinerary:
09:30 - We meet at the original Dhow Safaris departure point before boarding our dhow.
09:45 - We meet the crew and will be observing a safety briefing before setting sail toward the Prison Island.
10:30 - We arrive at the island. Then we tour the historic prison and visit the giant tortoises while snorkelling around.
12:00 - We hop on board the dhow to sail toward Pange Sandbank.
13:00 - BBQ Seafood Lunch will be prepared for 8 persons or more. For 7 or less persons, we pack a delicious picnic basket! Meals are served at tables under a beautiful tent made of Merikani sails. After lunch, we shall snorkel in and out of the colorful Pange Reef and swim around the island.
16:00 - We set sail for Stone Town
16:30 - We arrive at the town
This was a trip I enjoyed very much. Besides seeing many natural wonders, we also got a lovely tour leader Hery. No matter when and where we needed his help, he was always there available. He tried his hardest to let’s get the best from this trip in every aspect in Madagascar. He far saw the problems and prepared solutions in advance for them to make our trip possibly smoother. To the end he prepared a list of animals, insects, and plants we encountered, to enhance our knowledge and memory about the trip. Our driver and his assistant were very professional as well. The bus was always clean. They did their best to drive us safely and efficiently under the bad road conditions. I deeply appreciate their efforts.
I arrived with an injury to my rt wrist. Ridouane was exceptional in sorting me out in a local hospital. Carrier on for the 2weeks with Ridouane & group helping me when needed. Enjoyed the trip inspite of my injuries.
Mohamed (sp?) was a great guide. Said was an excellent, safe driver. Overall this was an incredible experience and I would recommend Explore without hesitation. The itinerary was very good. With the large amount of driving, stops were well thought out. The local guide in Fez was particularly good - all the guides were quite good but he stood out. Teas with the nomad family and the Berber family were amazing highlights. A few very minor points and I mention them only for completeness. Most of the hotels were quite good, but many of the rooms did not have shower curtains or glass enclosures :-). The Marrakech guide made a few too many "man/woman" jokes - not a big deal, but just so he could tone that down for next time. The desert camp was amazing - one small thing, the singers only played for a very short time compared to the other camps. But again, a very small point. As I said, this was a wonderful experience. We have travelled a lot on our own but we could not have had this kind of experience on our own. Thanks so much for a fantastic trip!
Ines, Fatima and Koffi tried really hard under very difficult circumstances to make this trip a success. Very fulfilling trip with many interesting sites and experiences. I highly recommend it.