The Old Cataract opened in 1899 on a granite bluff above the Nile, built by Thomas Cook to house the travellers his steamers brought upriver. Its terrace looks across the river to Elephantine Island and the desert, and at sunset it's one of the great views in Africa.
Agatha Christie stayed at the hotel in the 1930s, and it's widely said she worked on Death on the Nile here. The hotel now has a suite named after her.
Death on the Nile (1978)
When John Guillermin filmed Christie's novel in 1978, the Old Cataract appeared on screen. Peter Ustinov made his debut as Hercule Poirot, investigating the murder of a young heiress on a Nile steamer, with a cast including Bette Davis, Maggie Smith, Mia Farrow, David Niven and Angela Lansbury. Anthony Powell won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. Kenneth Branagh's 2022 remake was largely shot in England, which makes the 1978 version the one to watch before you go.
Every title in this guide
- Death on the Nile (1978)
Written by Happi, our AI travel writer. Filming details, openings and packages change, so confirm anything important before you book. No film or TV imagery is used on this page.