Since many countries worldwide celebrate World Wildlife Day to preserve nature, animals and marine life, we decided to celebrate it our own way and put together a list of places to visit in Egypt to enjoy nature’s beauty and bask in all its glory!
By Mariam Elhamy
RAS MUHAMMAD PROTECTORATE
If you’re heading to Sharm El Sheikh, you must visit Ras Muhammad Protectorate since it is one of the best places to snorkel and enjoy a sunny day in the beautiful scenery. In the more shallow areas you’ll easily spot the fascinating Mangrove and beneath the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea you’ll find colorful coral reefs and fish.
MUDAWARA MOUNTAIN
Mudawara Mountain is located only a couple of hundred meters to the south of Wadi El Rayyan Road, just after it passes to the north of Al Fayyum Lake. Dating back 45 million years, the mountain is a great spot to enjoy the picturesque view of the lake and breathe in the fresh air.
DAKROUR MOUNTAIN
Dakrour Mountain, located in Siwa, happens to be one of the best relaxing and hot sand healing spots in Siwa.
ELBA NATIONAL PARK
Elba Park, Egypt’s largest and richest protected area, stretches over 50 square km and is located north of Shalateen near the Egypt-Sudanese border, 250 km south of Marsa Alam. Elba park has a variety of wildlife, including 40 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles and 23 species of mammals.
WADI EL GEMAL NATIONAL PARK
Wadi el Gemal is located 40 km from Marsa Allam and 325 km from Hurghada. You can enjoy bird watching, hiking, snorkeling, diving, bicycle guided tours and desert safari with the expert bedouin drivers who know the desert like the back of their hand!
DAHAB’S EEL GARDEN
Dahab’s eel garden takes its name from the countless garden eels that carpet the sea floor not far from the entry point of the dive. Not a lot of people know about it, but if you’re a sucker for good diving spots then this is worth a shot! Descend about 20 meters and you’ll be able to see the eels pop up. You can also enjoy seeing a wide range of both soft and hard corals.
SALUGA & GHAZAL ISLANDS IN ASWAN
Saluga and Ghazal are two small granite islands in the Nile River next to Aswan. About 94 species of flora can be found there. The islands are located on the route of a major bird migration flight path between Africa and Europe, so thousands of birds make this trip back and forth annually. This is a great spot for bird watching!
WHITE DESERT
Located 500 km from Cairo and 45 km north of Farafra, the White desert is formed from the remains of an ocean with sea creatures that existed 80 millions of years ago. You can still clearly see the fossils indicating all sorts of creatures that lived in this very spot when it was once underwater.
LAKE QAROUN FAYOUM
Take a relaxing boat ride in Lake Qaroun and watch the birds as they dive in to catch their lunch from a buffet of fresh fishies!
THE COLORED CANYON IN TABA
The Colored Canyon is a hiking and climbing haven for those who like to explore. Expect to see a maze of sandstone rocks in shades of magenta, red, yellow, and purple reaching up to 40 meters high.
WADI DEGLA PROTECTORATE
Even though Wadi Degla Protectorate is minutes from Maadi, as soon as you step inside it, you will feel as if you have been transported to the heart of nature, where the air is fresh and the scenery is breathtaking.
EL-GILF EL-KEBIR NATIONAL PARK IN THE WESTERN DESERT
In addition to the rugged beauty and charm of unspoiled nature, this place is known for the prehistoric rock carvings found on site. This unique feature gives us a glimpse into what kind of human and animal life once existed in this area.
BLUE DESERT
Also known as Blue Valley or Coloured Mountain, this scenic picnic spot near St Catherine gained its name from the painted blue boulders and hills which mark the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. In spring, especially at sunset time, you’ll find other different colors and shades.
CLEOPATRA’S BATH IN SIWA
Cleopatra’s Pool Bath (or Spring) is located on the path that leads to the Oracle Temple. It is a stone pool fed by natural spring water, and legend says Queen Cleopatra swam in this pool during her visit to Siwa, hence the name.
NABQ PROTECTED AREA
Nabq Protected Area is located roughly 35 km to the north of Sharm El Sheikh. It is considered to be one of the most strikingly beautiful national parks due to the unspoiled natural beauty found there. Nabq National Park is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, plus shipwrecks!
ABU GALLUM PROTECTED AREA
Sea, mountains, sand, stones – Abu Gallum has arguably the best landscape in Sinai. Enjoy pebble beaches, dotted with shells and beautiful coral reefs, right in front of cliffs of Sinai’s magnificent mountains.
WADI EL HITAN NATIONAL PARK
Located near Tunis Village in Fayoum, this protectorate houses dozens and dozens of whale fossils and mangrove remains from a time when the entire area was underwater. Walk among the stones and fossils of thousands of years old whales and imagine that the desert you now see was once an ocean. How fascinating is that?
WESHWASH CANYON
Weshwash Canyon is located near Ras Shitan and is one for the truly adventurous types! A trip to the end of the canyon will involve riding cars, hiking, climbing and then diving into the icy cold accumulated rainwater in the middle of the rocky walls of the deep canyon. Sound like fun?
