Unlike a trip to the beach for a week of soaking up the sun, fishing and hunting expeditions require a great deal of equipment and are usually safer with the assistance of a professional guide. Whether a fishing or hunting trip, or an adventure that combines the two, there is no substitute for an organized tour.

Lake Nasser, the world’s largest man-made lake with depths beyond 180 meters, has some of the best freshwater fishing in the world for both Tigerfish and Nile Perch, which can easily grow up to 90 kilograms. According to the International Game Fishing Association, the largest Nile Perch caught in Lake Nasser was 131.5 kilograms. You’ll also find several species of catfish, of which the legendary Giant Vundu is the biggest.

The African Angler offers well-organized fishing trips to Lake Nasser. The fully guided tours start on Tuesdays from Aswan. There are several daily flights to Aswan on EgyptAir, with tickets for about LE 500 for Egyptians and foreign residents and LE 1,200 for foreigners (www.african-angler.co.uk).

The tour runs for six full days and includes food, beverages and cots on board the boat. The total cost for the package, including all equipment, ranges from LE 6,000-7,300 per person, depending on the time of the year. (This rate also includes the flight to Aswan. If you can find your own way there deduct LE 1,200 from the total cost.) In the spirit of preserving Lake Nasser’s fish population, African Angler has a strict catch-and-release policy.

Within Egypt, Adventure Holidays, a specialized branch of Travco (tel: (02) 738-2224, ext. 289; adventureholidays@travco-eg.com), also arranges Lake Nasser fishing trips upon request. The agency will customize a package to suit any budget, group size and trip length, arranging gear rental and side trips to the rescued antiquities sites on Lake Nasser’s shores as needed. All nationalities are welcome, but the fishing guides typically speak English and Arabic.

For those who prefer salty depths, the Red Sea coast presents some fine opportunities. Running from the Gulf of Suez to the Sudanese border, the fishing waters of the Red Sea are renowned the world over. Visitors to Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam will find it very easy to arrange a deep-sea fishing excursion through their five-star hotel. There are also a number of companies large and small that offer organized expeditions to catch marlin, snapper, mackerel and tuna, all from the comforts of a fully equipped yacht. Adventure Holidays organizes deep-sea fishing excursions out of Hurghada. (Prices vary according to your group’s needs.)

In ancient times, the hunting of wild game was considered the sport of kings and dignitaries. Egypt’s Pharaohs hunted gazelle, antelope, hyenas, leopards and even ostriches. While hunting in modern Egypt is no longer of the big game variety, both Fayoum and the area around Lake Nasser have an abundance of wild geese and ducks, offering superb opportunities for the seasoned hunter.

Some of the tour companies combine hunting and fishing packages with excursions to Egypt’s top tourist destinations. Through Summit Tours, for example, a comprehensive 13-day fishing program or six-day hunting tour starts by taking the traveler through the sites of Cairo, then head down to the antiquities of Luxor and Aswan. Starting on day four of the tour, guests hop aboard a boat for six days of fishing the waters of Lake Nasser, winding up in Gerf Hussein. Fishing expeditions run from $2,555 to $2,847. On day three of the second tour, guests depart for Fayoum for two days of hunting. Hunting trips range from $825 to $984 including all meals and accommodation ($50 obligatory hunting license fee is not included; generally read everything carefully so you know if there are extra fees to pay, www.summit-tours.net).

At press time, the Egyptian government had banned bird-hunting as part of its efforts to prevent the spread of avian flu. Consult with your safari organizer for updates on hunting restrictions.

For the many who would rather watch nature than eat it, check out our beginner’s guide to some of the nation’s best bird-watching sites, page 130. et