Pyramid and Sphinx, Egypt— Photo: K. David Bishop

The very crucible of western civilization, Egypt hosts some of mankind's most stupendous and gargantuan antiquities. To stand at dawn on the shores of Lake Nasser and gaze upon the Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel is to witness something that transcends mere words.

Egypt has beckoned travelers since the times of classical Greece, and while the extraordinary monuments from the age of the Pharaohs never fail to impress, this fascinating country hosts an equally attractive natural history. The biodiversity of Egypt includes some wonderful birds, mammals, reptiles, and landscapes, and thus adds a very special fillip to exploration of the ancient world. We will witness the smile of the Sphinx and gaze upon such eons-old wonders as the Pyramids of Giza, while at the same time dwelling on a resident Pharaoh Eagle-Owl or staring in wonder at a huge migratory flock of storks and raptors moving south along the Nile Valley. The Nile River is undoubtedly the lifeblood, the very essence of Egypt, and its majestic, lush, and sinuous geography will be the focus for much of this tour.
 
We will begin our exploration of this ancient land amid the hustle and bustle of Cairo with a visit to the Giza Pyramid Complex, home to the world's most instantly recognizable landmarks dating from the distant past. Later we will visit the treasure trove that is the Egyptian Museum, which holds, arguably, one of the world's most important collections of ancient antiquities. A guided tour of the rooms, chambers, and galleries will reveal not only the breathtaking treasures of Tutankhamen's tomb, but thousands of other world-famous artifacts. From Cairo we will travel to the far corners of Egypt from the Red Sea and the magnificent Wadi Gamal National Park, replete with Dorcas gazelles, Crab Plovers, and a full complement of desert-adapted wildlife. To the south, we will travel through Nubia, to one of the world's largest man-made dams at Aswan, and the seemingly unbelievable monuments at Abu Simbel. From here we will meander downstream along the Nile, exploring a host of fascinating antiquities as we head to fabulous Luxor.

Located at the junction of four bio-geographical regions, Egypt is a fascinating place to bird, especially during the autumn (fall) migration. While the Nile supports most of the country's wetlands, which are some of Egypt's most important habitats and support the greatest diversity and density of bird species, Egypt offers much, much more than the Nile Valley. For example, this exciting journey will see us watching Sooty Falcons; White-eyed and the very localized Sooty gulls, and dapper White-cheeked Terns on the Red Sea coast; and Sinai Rosefinches and Striolated Buntings in the mountains of Sinai.

Our post-tour extension will take us to the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, a place many would argue is the single most impressive archaeological site in all of the Middle East. Here, in addition to this fabulous site from antiquity, we may have the chance for such highly sought-after species as Sand Partridge, Hume's Owl, Bar-tailed and Temminck's larks, Red-rumped Wheatear, Palestine Sunbird, and Tristram's Serin, in addition to many other charismatic desert specialties such as Lichtenstein's, Spotted, and Crowned sandgrouse, the incomparable Hoopoe Lark, Hooded Wheatear, Fan-tailed Raven, and Tristram's Starling.

Excellent accommodations and some delicious food; travel by aircraft, coach/bus, and 4-wheel-drive vehicles; early starts to avoid the heat of the day; extended siestas (or another opportunity to visit a museum or antiquity); walking mostly on level terrain but sometimes rough underfoot; cool mornings and evenings, but warm to very hot dry days.