Check into The St. Regis Cairo, our elegant residence, for the first two nights of our epic journey. This afternoon, we embark a flotilla of feluccas and cruise the Nile while enjoying a sunset drink. We then adjourn to a privileged position overlooking the Pyramids of Giza, where we observe the beginning of our grand adventure during a Welcome Dinner.

Travel far back in time this morning, as we pay homage to the Pyramids of Giza. We venture into the Pyramid of Khafre, traversing narrow passageways to the burial chamber. We are also granted special access to the feet of the Sphinx. Savour further close-up views of the pyramids during lunch at the nearby Mena Palace Hotel. After taking some time to relax this afternoon, we make our way to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation for a private visit, escorted by a leading lecturer in the field of Egyptology. An abundance of choice is on the menu tonight; select from several of Cairo’s fine-dining establishments, or perhaps enjoy the offerings of one of our hotel’s four restaurants.

This morning, we join our business class private jet for the first time and make the short journey south to Luxor. From here, we head straight to a local restaurant for lunch. At the entrance to the Valley of the Kings, the colonnaded glory of Hatshepsut’s Temple steals our attention. We then venture underground, walking in the footsteps of priests and attendants, now long gone, who set Tutankhamun in his tomb. From here, we travel a short distance to the Valley of the Queens, in search of its most lavish tomb, that of Nefertari. In 2024, the visit to Nefertari’s tomb will be replaced with visits to the tombs of Ramses V and VI.

In 2024, the Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor welcomes us. In 2025, our Nile River views are enjoyed from the Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa. We then prepare for a most opulent evening. As the sun sets, we are driven across the river to the Temple of Ramses III, at Medinet Habu. Reserved exclusively for us, this will be a dining event unlike any other. The 3000-year-old walls, pylons and gates light up, creating a most electric atmosphere. With cocktails in hand, we listen intently as our professional Egyptologist leads us past soaring halls and elaborately carved columns, before we are seated for dinner facing the temple entrance.

Our travels bring us momentarily to Luxor Temple. Dedicated to the gods Amun, Mut and Khonsu, the temple once figured in the ancient, annual Opet Festival. The statues of the three gods were originally carried here from the nearby Temple of Karnak. At mid-morning, we rejoin our private jet for the flight to Nairobi. We while away the hours aboard our jet sampling gourmet delights and fine wines. Touching down in the Kenyan capital, we transfer to a light aircraft for the brief flight to the Maasai Mara National Reserve. From here you will be transferred to the lavish Angama Mara. This evening, dine on fresh, local produce at your luxury lodge.

Start the day by floating over the Maasai Mara in a hot-air balloon, greeting herds of wildebeest as they graze on the dewy grass below. After breakfast, enjoyed with a glass of bubbles, we climb aboard jeeps to go off in search of the Big Five. In addition to the abundance of lions, elephants, rhino and buffalo, as well as the more elusive leopard, there are also great waves of wildebeest and zebra to be spotted. Following a break in proceedings for lunch back at our lodge, we return to our game drive, making the most of the daylight, as we seek to check off as many of Africa’s majestic creatures as we can. As the sun begins to slowly sink, we toast this glorious day while overlooking the expansive reserve of the Maasai Mara. Back at our lodge, sample local cuisine in an awe-inspiring setting.

We rise early to again meet the animals on their own turf. No two days along the Maasai Mara are ever exactly the same and the ensuing hours promise to deliver yet more spontaneous action. Duelling zebras, socialising baboons, hyenas seeking to steal a cheetah’s kill—any, or all, of these may feature today. After returning to camp for breakfast, we pay a visit to a traditional Maasai village. Immerse yourself in daily Maasai life as our hosts lead us to a deeper understanding of their culture. We refuel once more back at our lodge before returning to the plains aboard our jeeps. If we are lucky, news may spread of wildebeest preparing to cross the river. This evening, we prepare for a migration of our own, as we bid farewell to the Maasai Mara during a bush barbecue Farewell Dinner.

After breakfast, we make the most of our surroundings as we take one last game drive on our way to the nearby airstrip. From here, a light aircraft returns us to Nairobi, where we meet back up with our private jet. Enjoy a light lunch on board, as we then make our way to the Rwandan capital Kigali. The final leg of today’s travels sees a fleet of waiting helicopters taking us swiftly to Ruhengeri in the north of the country. At the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorillas Fund, we’re welcomed with sunset cocktails, while having the opportunity to hear from a representative of the Gorilla Doctors, a mountain gorilla veterinary project. Afterwards, check in at one of our three lodges: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, The Bishop’s House or Virunga Inn Resort & Spa.

There are now only 10 groups of gorillas left in Volcanoes National Park. Being in a position to meet with them is among the rarest of privileges. The gorillas will only meet us on their terms, so we must trek through thick vegetation and several steep inclines in order to reach them. Just eight visitor permits are allocated to each gorilla group on any given day and visits with the gorillas are restricted to one hour. We observe them quietly as they play, groom, rest and feed. Elated from our rare experience, we return to our lodge for a late lunch. Relax this afternoon, absorbing the ambience of the jungle from the comfort of our opulent lodges. You also have the opportunity to pay a visit to one of the local communities to learn what it’s like to live within this extraordinary region. Dine upon the delicious creations of our lodge’s chefs this evening as you enjoy a final night in Volcanoes National Park.

We depart Volcanoes National Park this morning, taking the road back to Kigali Airport. Our waiting jet then makes the southbound journey to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Lunch is enjoyed on board and we arrive mid-afternoon. From here, we make our way to our hotel. Enjoy sundowners on the grounds of our accommodation, before dining within its restaurant.

Following breakfast, we set out for a closer look at Victoria Falls. On our approach, we are treated to the sight of furious spray as it rises majestically above the trees. We are then led on a walk through some of the most picturesque sections of the rainforest, and on to the base of the falls. On the Zimbabwe side of the falls, we stop for lunch at the Lookout Café.

This afternoon, Your World experiences grant us spectacular panoramas or local insights:
— Board a helicopter for bird’s-eye views of Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River and Batoka Gorge.
— Meet the local chief, who will show you around his village. Learn about daily village life and see how traditional huts are made here.

This evening, enjoy the delicious seasonal dishes prepared by the chefs at our hotel.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to the falls, embarking our private jet for our final flight. On arrival in Pretoria, we head to Rovos Rail’s private station, where we board the Pride of Africa. Our stylish, privately chartered train departs the station, heading in a southerly direction. Soon, we’re rolling through the goldfields of the Witwatersrand en route to Johannesburg. In a charming nod to traditions past, a gong heralds lunch and we make our way to our train’s elegant dining car. We continue in a south-westerly direction, on our way to Klerksdorp, enjoying dinner on board, before retiring to our comfortable accommodation.

Shortly after lunch, we arrive in Kimberley, the place responsible for sparking the modern diamond trade. Once a featureless hill, the discovery of diamonds in 1866 drew a rush of speculators. When mining ended in 1914, what remained was one of the largest craters ever dug by hand. It is now called the Big Hole, and we pause here to marvel at its sheer scale. This very mine was also where De Beers founded and built its empire. As is custom, the gong sounds for dinner.

Enjoy breakfast in the dining car, before our train enters the Karoo, a vast semi-desert. If we are lucky, wildebeest and antelope will be out. On the Karoo’s fringe sits Matjiesfontein, a Victorian town where time stands still. See the Pink Church, the Lord Milner Hotel and admire the town’s collection of vintage cars as you pass by. We then visit the local museums for a glimpse of what life was like here at the turn of the 20th century. As we resume our rail journey, enjoy tea in the observation car, its floor-to-ceiling windows and open-air balcony allowing us to capture the full grandeur of Africa’s landscapes. We soon enter a succession of four tunnels, the first of which is 13.5km long. During this time, we turn our attention to our train’s considered amenities. Spectacular scenes ensue as we descend an escarpment toward Worcester.

This morning, our train passes through the Hex River Valley. We soon arrive in Cape Town, where our rail journey concludes. Beginning our discovery of Cape Town, we head to the city’s iconic Table Mountain. More than 260 million years old, Table Mountain was formed before the Andes, Alps and Himalayas. Ponder this as we ride to the summit by cable car. Following lunch, we check into the Cape Grace, our luxurious waterfront hotel.

Spend the afternoon relaxing and making use of our hotel’s facilities, step out onto the V&A Waterfront, or perhaps choose one of the following Your World experiences:
— Witness a variety of architectural styles, as well as some more sobering relics of South Africa’s past, during a walking tour. Visit the Slave Lodge and the Company’s Garden. At the South African National Gallery, be confronted by striking and sometimes uncomfortable works of art, most notably the Butcher Boys installation.
— One of the world’s most impressive gardens, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden invites you to explore its expansive grounds. Then venture along the Constantia Wine Route. At Groot Constantia Wine Farm, enjoy a tasting at South Africa’s oldest wine estate.

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​Choose where to dine this evening, with many gastronomic delights on offer in some of the city’s finest restaurants.

Set out on an in-depth discovery of the Cape of Good Hope today. We wind our way along Chapman’s Peak Drive, with no fewer than 144 bends along the scenic coastline. At Cape Point Nature Reserve, we visit its lighthouse, arriving either aboard the Flying Dutchman Funicular or on foot. Cape Point boasts an abundance of natural wonders, among them breathtaking beaches, spectacular sandstone cliffs and grassy green hills. Following our exploration along the promontory, we congregate at Harbour House on Kalk Bay. Here, floor-to-ceiling windows frame a scene of coastal cliffs and white water breaking upon the nearby rocks. Naturally, seafood is the star of the menu.

This evening, a gala Farewell Dinner awaits us at the spectacular Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa; its brutalist concrete exterior belying the gems within. Begin with a private viewing of the museum’s most coveted pieces, then continue with a sumptuous dinner, looking out onto a 270-degree view of Cape Town.

Our monumental journey has reached its end. We take in the stunning views of the V&A Waterfront for a final time and bid farewell to our fellow guests and hosts, before a private car transfer takes us to the airport.