Desert Dwellers

Bad news out of Egypt

The news coverage about the riots and chaos as a result out of the anti Islam movie definitely looked scary and it makes as if the whole city is under siege.

This is incorrect. The street clashes were limited to 1 square kilometers near the US embassy and never really threatened to engulf the city. This is because most Egyptians are restrained in their responses to the cheap provocations generated by the movie.

I live in Dokki area, which is about 5 minutes taxi ride from the US embassy which is located in area called Garden City. Life continues as normal in my area as well as downtown (which was 2 minutes away from the area of clashes). Cairo is a big city and full of people – any clashes in the city are very isolated in specific places and they never spread to neighboring area – this is because the protests and its responses are always have specific target in mind.

The bottom line is, if you are planning to come to Egypt, go ahead. It is safe here despite the headlines.

Hot Summer Days

Below chart is useful guide to Siwa’s temperatures.

Temperature map

Source: Siwa Oasis Climate

White Desert

Daniele is a amazing photographer based in Bologna, Italy. He travelled with us last month to the White Desert. Here are a few samples of pictures from the trip. More amazing pictures of White Desert and Egypt can be found at his website www.danieleiodice.it/

Assorted news

We took two small groups to White Desert last month (Siwa didn’t get much love these time of months).

• One group is a lovely Italian couple for their first time visit to the desert.
• Another one is a family of 4 (two parents and two children) who currently live in Egypt.

As usual, photo pending.

If you are thinking of travelling to Siwa, you can still do it this month although it is quite hot. The good thing about Siwa is that it is surrounding by plentiful of fresh water spring. Use them to beat of the heat!

On the site front, I just complete a guide on how to take a public bus from Cairo to Siwa.

There will be more place information to be added in this site. Last week I was given a comprehensive catalog of interesting places and sights surrounding in Siwa. They will go up online soon.

Easter Travel Log

We share these travel logs so it might be useful for you to plan your group travel to Siwa.

Group 20 Travel Log

Travel to Siwa: reached there round 2am (Friday)

Day1:(Friday)

• 11am Shyata Lake (swimming/lunch)
• 3pm drive though sand dunes/sandboarding
• 4pm fresh water (beir wahad) for a swim
• 6pm set-off to watch sunset on one of the dunes
• 7pm camping, BBQ dinner, bedouin music party

Day2:(Saturday)

• 9am Breakfast
• 10:30 sightseeing in town (Mountain of the Dead, Oracle Temple, Amun Temple then Cleopatra spring for a swim)
• 3pm Lunch break
• 6pm sunset at Fatnas Lake (bedouin tea)
• 7:30pm Dinner then shopping and free time

Day3:(Sunday)

• (Group wanted to divide into two groups)

Group 1 (5 persons):

• Head back to the desert after breakfast
• 11:30 Shyata Lake for a swim & lunch
• 3pm fossils area
• 4:30 drive through the Great Sand Sea / sandboarding
• 5:30 fresh water (beir wahad) for a swim
• 6pm sunset on dunes
• 7:30 dinner all together then free time nd shopping

Group 2:

• 10:30 Shali fortress then Siwan house museum
• 12pm Maraki village / Siwa lake
• 2pm Abu Shorouf village (swimming and bedouin tea)
• 3pm lunch in town
• 6pm sunset on Dakrour Mountain
• 7:30 dinner all together then free time and shopping

Group 11 travel log

(photo credit:jluc)

Travel to Siwa: reached there round 7am (Friday)

Day 1:(Friday)

• Breakfast at Norwaha
• Visit Shali Fortress Ruin
• Swim and chill at Cleopatra Spring
• Lunch at Abdou
• Got on 3 jeeps and go Abu Shuruf Spring and swim.
• Join the desert camp
• Have awesome dinner and music
• Stay overnight at desert camp

Day 2:(Saturday)

• Breakfast at desert camp
• Visit Shyata lake and swim
• Have lunch at Shyata lake
• Try out sand boarding
• Visit Bir Wahid under strong wind condition. Soak up at the Hot Water spring and then moved to Cold Water Spring.
• Go back to Camp.
• Endured 2 hours of rainstorm (very rare and special event)
• Had awesome dinner.

Day 3:(Sunday)

• Breakfast at desert camp
• Go back to Shali and check in at Siwa Paradise Hotel
• Swim in the two swimming pools in the hotel.
• Go shopping and roam around the local gardens.
• Check out sunset at Fatnas Island
• Had an awesome dinner at Siwa Shali Lodge.