Egypt - Birds & History

A phenomenal 6,000 years of recorded history and a prime position on the avian migration route between Africa and Europe combine to make Egypt one of the most exciting destinations for birdwatchers with an appreciation of the past. Nurtured by the life-giving waters of the river, one of the greatest civilisations ever to inhabit the Earth developed along the Nile Valley, leaving as monuments to their existence countless temples, pyramids and artefacts that today are numbered among the greatest historical sites in the world. Three continents exert their respective influences on a remarkably diverse avifauna, which is enriched and enhanced by the seasonal movements of migrants using the country as a staging post for longer journeys. By February and March, winter visitors and early migrants may be observed alongside the resident ‘specialities’ and with cooler weather conditions, this is an excellent time for birdwatching. As we travel along the River Nile, we will be visiting many of the best birding localities in Egypt but this is a tour that also pays homage to world-famous antiquities including the Pyramids, Abu Simbel, Aswan and Luxor.

We begin our tour in Cairo, the largest city in Africa. Here, we will have a glimpse of ancient Egypt at the fabulous new Grand Egyptian Museum, a cornucopia of ancient artefacts that includes the astounding treasures of Tutankhamun and masterpieces of early Egyptian bird art. After this splendid introduction to Egypt, we will then visit the wetland area around Fayoum for the next few days, as we search for Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, Senegal Coucal, Greater Hoopoe Lark, Cream-coloured Courser, White-winged Lapwing, White-headed Duck, Slender-billed Gull and many other waterbirds, enjoying wetland, field and desert habitats.

Moving on, we return to Cairo for one of the archaeological highlights of the holiday, a visit to neighbouring Giza, home to the Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure and the Sphinx. The sheer grandeur and antiquity of the pyramids is awe-inspiring enough — the largest being 138 metres tall, 4,600 years old and the tallest human structure in the world for 3,800 years — but their complexity and the sheer genius involved in their construction defy belief. The Great Sphinx of Giza, with the body of a reclining Lion and the face of a human, (modelled on the pharaoh Khafre who died in 2,532 BC), is carved out of limestone and is probably the most famous statue in the world!

Rather than overnighting in Cairo, we will take a sleeper train south to Aswan for a 2-night stay. In addition to the famous Dam, we will visit the region's other iconic temples and landmarks including the beautiful Philae Temple. This complex dates from the Ptolemaic period, around 280 to 140 BC, and is considered to be one of Egypt's most beautiful archaeological sites. Close to the Sudanese border, in the ancient kingdom of Nubia, lie the breathtaking rock temples of Abu Simbel, which commemorate Ramses II and his wife Nefertiti. The birds of southern Egypt include Striated Heron, Pied Wagtail, White-crowned Wheatear, Kittlitz's and possibly Three-banded Plovers, African Silverbill, Pharoah Eagle Owl and perhaps even Greater Painted Snipe.

We travel next to Abu Simbel, Egypt’s most southerly settlement, situated on the shores of Lake Nasser. Here, the African influences in the birdlife are evident in the appearance of such species as Egyptian Goose, African Pied Wagtail and African Collared Dove but there will also be Palearctic migrants to look for in the lakeside gardens. A boat ride on Lake Nasser will enable us to explore the secluded inlets and islands thronged with waterbirds and waders, amongst which we could see Pink-backed Pelicans and Yellow-billed Storks, two wanderers from Africa that occur here. The magnificent Abu Simbel Temples, saved from the rising waters of the lake by being moved block by block to higher ground, will be the focus of an afternoon tour and, in the evening, we have the option to attend a spectacular sound and light show.

We journey on to Luxor, in the Nile Valley, enjoying a relaxing Dahabiya cruise for some slower-paced travel, where a couple of nights on Crocodile Island should produce such species as Senegal Thick-knee, Purple Gallinule, Nile Valley Sunbird and Pied Kingfisher. On our first day in Luxor, we will visit the beautiful Temple of Luxor and during our 2-day stay, we will further enjoy the many spectacular sights of this former capital, steeped in six millennia of history. The Collosi of Memnon, Valleys of the Kings, and Karnak Temple will be unforgettable highlights to complement a fine selection of birds.

We return to Cairo for a connecting flight to London, concluding a memorable holiday to a country where ancient and modern worlds are inextricably linked, providing a unique background for some superlative birdwatching.