River+Nile travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises spa and resorts

Located in the business district in central Cairo, Sofitel El Gezirah is a 5-star luxury hotel with a private promenade along the Nile. This luxury hotel is situated close to the major city attractions including the Opera House, Tahrir Square, Museum of Islamic Ceramics and Cairo Tower. Owned by Sofitel Luxury Hotels, a chain of hotels managed by France based Accor Hospitality El Gezirah was fully renovated by famous interior architect Pierre-Yves Rochon and re-opened in September 2007. Since then, the hotel has won several awards like Star Diamond Award, Best 5 star new hotel in MENA, etc.

Continue reading Spectacular Nile views

Rises along the bank of the Nile River, Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza is one of the top-ranked hotels in Africa and in the world. The hotel provides stunning views of the Nile and is within easy reach of the other-worldly sights of Cairo. Located in the middle of the cosmopolitan city of Cairo and surrounded by historical mansions, the hotel is an ideal place to stay for guests wishing to combine their stay in Cairo with a Nile cruise. Boasting a contemporary and sleek design, Four Seasons Hotel Cairo is considered as one of the most luxurious Cairo hotels.

Continue reading The old-world charm and historical splendour of Egypt

Built on the banks of the river Nile, guests have enjoyed the service and comfort. The five-star luxury hotel is housed in a Victorian building dating back to 1899 located in Aswan, Egypt. There are many great hotel, including Nubian Museum, Unfinished Obelisk, Mausoleum of the Aga Khan and Kitchener’s nearby are Aswan Bazaar and Monastery of St Simeon. Immortalized by Agatha Christie’s “Death on the Nile”, the hotel uniquely combines architectural styles from the East and the Victorian Era.

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Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. The river Nile passes through the country and offers the most extreme and wild rafting in Africa. However you should choose wisely. Nile River, with all those tranquil birds and flowers along the banks, violently disappeared while you are rafting. Watch the rocks! 

Continue reading Rafting In Uganda

Known to the Ancient Egyptians as Abu or Yabu – meaning elephant – Elephantine Island is truly ancient site resting as it does at the First Cataract of the Nile and creating a natural boundary between Egypt and Nubia. It is said that Khnum – the ram-headed god of the cataracts, dwelled in caves beneath the island and controlled the waters of the Nile. These days the southern tip of the island holds the ruins of the Temple of Khnum. Up until 1822 there were also temples to Thutmose III and Amenhotep III on the island, but the Ottoman government destroyed them. Photo by: .Angeli

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Halfway up the Mozambique coast lies a chain of five islands making up the Bazaruto Archipelago. Form from sand deposited by the Limpopo River, fine beaches and coral reefs come naturally; and having long been a national park, so does the wildlife. Bazurato, Benguerra and Magaruque are the largest islands, with Santa Carolina and finally Bangue coming in on the small side. Photo by: André Pipa

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Sitting on the west bank of the River Nile in unique adjoining towers, the hotel proudly stands tall as one of Cairo’s greatest landmarks. Property type Hotel year built 1970 year remodeled 2001 luxurious deluxe hotel facing the glorious River Nile between city center and pyramids. It’s the first Sheraton Hotel in Egypt. The hotel places you in the middle of it all. Try your luck at Blackjack or the slots in our dazzling casino or take a short walk to the Cairo Opera House, Egyptian Museum, or Cairo shopping centers. The modern and comfortable guestrooms are well appointed. A number of restaurants and bars within the hotel provide a wide range of dining options, like El Mawardy restaurant serving local cuisine.

Continue reading See Egypt in a new way at the Sheraton Cairo Hotel, Towers and Casino

Deir el-Bahri is located on the west bank of the Nile River. There it sits greeting spectators as they enter the Valley of the Kings. The site is comprised of three temples, the Mortuary Temple of Mentuhotep, the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut II and the Mortuary Temple of Thutmoses III. The Temple of Deir El-Bahri is one of the most characteristic temples in the whole of Egypt, due to its design and decorations. It was built of limestone, not sandstone like most of the other funerary temples of the New Kingdom period.

Continue reading Symbols, artwork and sculpture in ancient Deir el-Bahri

With an abundance of wildlife, the mighty Nile, spectacular snow-capped peaks and modern bustling cities, Uganda is the African continent compacted into one country. This journey will get your adrenaline pumping, while still giving you the opportunity to enjoy the stunning scenery.

Continue reading The Nile can be rafted year round in Uganda.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the world’s most famous construction mistake. The architect, Bonanno Pisano,
found his bell tower starting to lean almost immediately after he began to build it. And the lean kept increasing through the centuries, a tourist bonanza for Pisa, that would end if the tower leaned too far and fell.
This picture was taken in 1994, prior to a major engineering effort to stabilize the tower and reduce the lean by 10%. The tower was also closed to visitors. I had climbed it back in 1986, great fun, but disorienting.

Why the lean?

The tower is built on unsuitable ground for such a heavy and tall building. It is only about 6 feet above sea level and built on a riverbed. The underlying ground is made up of layers of sand and clay. The layers are not even and the weight of the building has compressed them. Because the layers are not even, as the ground has compressed, it has sunk more in some places than others.

Continue reading The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the world’s most famous construction mistake