Cairo

The city of Cairo, Egypt is a sprawling metropolis and is now the largest city in Africa. Cairo sits on the Nile River, just south of where Nile River Delta forms. The city straddles both sides of the river with the older part of Cairo on the eastern side of the Nile and the newer areas of Cairo on the western side of the river. The city is rich with history with a lot to see and do besides just visiting the pyramids. As you would expect, the climate in Cairo is very hot with even some high humidity levels due to being near the Nile River Delta. The Sahara Desert also brings sandstorms which tend to be more common in the spring months. For tourists, you can choose primarily from three modes of transportation: the metro (subway), taxi, or bus. The metro system is very modern and very extensive and is probably the best way to get around the city. One thing to note on the metro is that there are two cars reserved just for women on each train.

There are many interesting sites around Cairo. One thing you cannot miss is the Egyptian Museum. This is one of the best museums in the world with over 100,000 Egyptian artifacts. Be sure to see the famous King Tutankhamun gold mask which is usually on display at the museum. Other recommended activities include a Nile River Cruise, a day trip north to the city of Alexandria, a day trip south to the pyramids of Saqqara, and a tour of 'Old Cairo.'