Egypt 2024 Dispatch Part II - The Mud Thatched Maze

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Closing out the year of 2024, is our final dispatch, Part II of our time in Egypt. In the prior dispatch, we showcased the hot air balloon, the sights of the pyramids, and the beginnings of Upper Egypt at Luxor. This time we go even further. What made this journey back to Egypt so special was that it was more emotional than any in the past. It was my first visit back, without my father, to a place I have been going to since I was a teenager. Egypt was the second destination Big Five started, having been there 40 of our 51 years. The fact that my second-father Gamal lives in Cairo with my second-mother and my chosen sisters meant even more. We finally were able to reflect on my father’s life together, as a family. And in true fashion, this part of the journey pushed the envelope even further.
This part of the dispatch started normally as we headed overland from Luxor to Aswan as we do every year. I wasn’t sure what we were in store for as the first part of the drive, which is normally quick, took longer due to the main road being closed as a new pass was being built. Once we cleared Edfu, we hit the highway to Aswan. It was somewhere between Edfu and Kom Ombo that an epiphany happened, an idea for a new tour, that has never been done before in Egypt.
It was after we got back to Cairo that I told the group, the day before our last day, this was where Egypt stopped, and Big Five began. Boy is that an understatement! Heading out to Dashur, where I love visiting since it is so quiet and serene compared to the famous pyramid complex, we started #bigfivin. Oh, did we ever! First came a local breakfast in a local community no foreigner knows about, dishes that included my favorite cheese, all being served. It brought back memories of the food I had when visiting my family in Sudan as a child, making me homesick for the food my mother still makes today.
Carrying on from there was the experience I mentioned earlier that I can only talk about but cannot show footage. As part of our commitment to supporting local archaeologists who don’t get the TV time and fame they deserve, we visited the virtually unknown Black Pyramid of Amenemhat III, which dates back to the late Middle Kingdom, around 2000 BC. Not since 1983, had any non-researcher set foot into the maze under the mud-thatch pyramid, which looks like no other pyramid. It was here that my father started talking to me. I am pretty sure he heard me say “holy %$#t “as we entered the maze. This was a vision I told him about two years ago that we were fulfilling; opening a new chapter in how Egypt is visited and where those who do the real work are seen and heard.
Walking back to the bus, my limbs went weak, the adrenalin finally left my body. It was here, that I finally missed my father, and took a moment to myself.
What ya think Dad?
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About Big Five Tours & Expeditions Big Five Tours & Expeditions, established in 1973, specializes in custom luxury travel focused on authenticity, sustainability, and exceptional service. Our curated itineraries immerse guests in local cultures, while minimizing environmental impact and supporting conservation. With a dedicated team of knowledgeable professionals, we prioritize personalized attention from start to finish. We are honored to be two-time winners of the Virtuoso Sustainable Tourism Leadership Award, recognizing our commitment to sustainable practices. Choose Big Five Tours & Expeditions for a remarkable journey that combines authenticity, sustainability, and outstanding service, leaving a lasting impression on your soul. Contact us at bigfive.com/
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