Dave Boertje and his wife, Megan, from Newcastle, travelled to Zambia and Egypt with Encompass Africa in September 2023. We asked Dave to tell us a bit about their unforgettable trip…
Megan and I first went to Africa 30 years ago, and then about a decade ago we went back, taking our kids, aged eight and 12 at the time, to Kenya. For that trip, a friend referred us to Encompass Africa, and we had such a good experience that we went straight back to them when planning our return to Africa trip – just the two of us – last year, 2023.
What really stood out about Encompass Africa was their knowledge and expertise, and their ability to tailor experiences to our preferences.
This time around we were considering Tanzania, but Danica from Encompass Africa suggested Zambia instead, promising its riverside landscapes would deliver a different kind of adventure from the open plains of Kenya that we’d already experienced. And they definitely did.
However, our itinerary didn’t stop there. I wanted to do Southern Africa and my wife wanted to do Egypt… so we did both!
Timing was key. When we were in Africa 30 years ago we’d missed out on rafting at Victoria Falls because the conditions weren’t right. This time, we aimed for a shoulder season that would balance Egypt’s cooler season with the ideal conditions for rafting on the Zambezi. September turned out to be the perfect time. The rafting was amazing, we absolutely loved it. We got to go from rapid one, which is pretty much underneath the bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe, all the way down to rapid 19. We also got to swim in Devil’s Pool, right on the edge of the Falls, which was pretty freaky. Victoria Falls are just unreal. [Editor’s note: always stay at least 2-3 nights so you can see and do a few things].
We also did canoe safari trips in Zambia, as well as incredible walking safaris. We saw leopards eating an impala, elephants rolling around in a waterhole, incredible birdlife, crocodiles, and even a brown snake eagle catch a snake and eat it right in front of us! We stayed in two brilliant properties, Flat Dogs and Royal Zambezi Lodge, and loved them both for different reasons! The contrast was great.
Then we headed to Egypt. It’s hard to explain how good it is. I think it’s something you have to experience yourself because it’s really hard to put it into words. It’s very soulful.
If you’re planning to visit Egypt of course you have to see the pyramids, and you have to explore the Valley of the Kings. You go, ‘hang on, they did all this 4,000 years ago?’ It blows your mind. We also loved our cruise down the Nile, from Aswan to Luxor, and the day we spent visiting a Nubian village. [Editor’s note: we always recommend the smaller traditional dahabiya boats rather than large cruise ships].
We had the most amazing guide in Cairo. He was an archaeologist, an Egyptologist, and lectured in universities around the world. We were so lucky to have him; his knowledge was just ridiculous and we became great mates. We still keep in touch on WhatsApp!
Before this trip it had been 10 years since we last visited Africa. I told my wife that from now on, we need to go back every three years. Africa gets hold of you. You can visit the Eiffel Tower and it’s going be exactly the same every time you go. Whereas when you get on the back of a safari vehicle in Africa, you just never know what’s going to be around the corner. Anything could happen – and it usually does. That’s what I love about it: the unexpected. That’s my idea of a holiday.
We’ll definitely use Encompass Africa again for future trips. When I get off the phone from Jono and Danica I’m just so excited. It’s really hard not to book a holiday once we start talking! If you’re not 100% committed to going to Africa just yet, don’t ring them… or get your credit card ready!
Return to Africa
See the itinerary
