Summary
Wildlife
See what life lives in and along the banks of the Nile on a bird-watching excursion. As the motorboat winds its way along the river, be on the lookout for colorful native birds, different species of herons, kingfishers, vultures, sunbirds, and other wildlife that thrive in the marsh grass along the riverbanks like Nile crocodiles and hippos.
Landscapes
For millennia, the Nile River has provided a rich environment for some of the country’s most iconic flora. This ancient world comes to life when you set sail in a felucca—a small traditional boat with large triangular sails. As you cruise the world’s longest river, you’ll have views of bamboo and papyrus, the long-stemmed plant topped with a fan-shaped cluster of spikelet flowers often depicted in Egyptian temples.
Cuisine
Since antiquity, the Nile River and its fertile banks have served up a bounty of vegetables, fruits, and seafood—a quality our ships in Egypt highlight, serving up delicious cuisine made from ingredients grown fresh at their own farm. Add in spices like saffron, cinnamon, and mint, and you have a menu of gastronomic delights. These flavors give familiar Arabic dishes—hummus, falafel, grilled meats—a distinctively Egyptian twist. Koshari, Cairo’s most popular street food, is made of rice, pasta, and lentils, topped with tomato sauce, garlic, and vinegar, then garnished with chickpeas and fried onions. Pair baklava with a warming cup of Egyptian tea and you have a dessert to remember.
