Desert Dwellers

Travelling with a pet dog

I just spent a wonderful 4 days travel in Siwa last week (April 11 – April 16). This time around I took my puppy Polly along and we all had swell time.

Here are the insights I gained from travelling with a dog to Siwa:

• The travel time from Cairo to Siwa took 9 hours and 12 hours to return (with 2 hours planned detour to Cleopatra Beach). These are long travelling time and quite boring for human and dogs alike.
• Travel with a private mini bus is definitely required. I don’t think I could manage the travel in a public bus to Siwa with Polly.
• Desert is a wonderful place to unleash a dog so it could run freely. However there are times where leash are warranted especially during breakfast and dinner time (all tables in the camp are set low and within easy reach of a puppy).
• Abdou restaurant in Siwa town is dog friendly. Nourwaha cafe/lodge is also dog friendly. Siwa Paradise hotel (where I stayed) is also dog friendly.
• The locals do not mind pet dogs at all. The little children around Siwa though were very curious about pet dog since they rarely encountered one.
• One of the local was not pleased when I took Polly to swim at Cleopatra Spring. In Abu Shoruf spring though no one cared.
• Bring a dog cage so that they can sleep next to you safely during the night in the open.
• The ground wind in the desert annoyed the dog especially since it is only 30 cm in height.
• Travelling with the jeep offers plenty of opportunities to do the favorite dog things: putting head out on the car window to feel the breeze.
• Watch out for sunstroke.
• There is no natural predator in the desert surrounding Siwa so it is safe to bring a puppy.
• All the donkeys and horses in Siwa
• All in all bringing a dog to Siwa is a pleasant experience. The joy of seeing a dog happily roam the desert vastly outweigh the pain of the logistic.

New Section: Insects

I just uploaded two pictures of cute scarabs that you might encounter at the Great Sand Sea. Check them out here.

Usually you will see their tracks on the sand around camp site in the morning. They do not bite and it is safe to pick them up.

Are you ready for Easter travel?

This upcoming extended Easter vacation will prove as a boon to Siwa. A lot of people are going. If you have never been to Siwa, here’s a list of things to pack:

• Swimwear (to swim in the various water springs).
• Sandals.
• Warm clothes (it is cool in the evening).
• Sunscreen.
• Toilet wipes (there is no toilet in the desert if you choose to camp there).
• Sunglasses.
• Sleeping bag (if you have one).
• Long sleeves so you don’t get sunburn.
• Hat.
• Phone.
• Shoes.
• Mosquito repellent. You will not encounter mosquito in the middle of the desert but depending on where you stay in Siwa town, you might encounter these annoying creatures.
• Camera.
• Some amount of cash. There is single or two ATM in Siwa and with this high season, it might run out of cash.
• Bring your passport. The Great Sand Sea is part of a national park and to enter it, you will need to get a permit. This we will arrange in Siwa, we just need your passport.
• If you drink alcohol, bring your supply from Cairo. They are almost impossible to get in Siwa. Siwawi provides water and other non alcoholic beverages for the desert trip.

February Trip

12 February – 18 2012.

We have 4 guests from Poland last February. We took them from Cairo to White Desert then to Siwa. The trip from the White Desert to Siwa was a cross desert trip with one jeep.

Unexpectedly we encountered a raging sandstorm from White Desert to Siwa. We drove through the sandstorm which slowed down the trip measurably. Usually we are going at 30 to 45KM per hour through the desert but due to sandstorm we were going at 18KM per hour.

We’ll post the picture of this amazing trip later.

March Trip

We spent 4 days in the desert and spent the remaining days in Siwa for rest and recovery. One of our German guest has been to Siwa for the third time. We receive a lot of return visitors in Siwa over the years. The dunes of the desert keep changing everyday so the landscape of the Great Sand Sea is never the same.

One of the highlight of the trip is a visit to El Arag oasis to enjoy its amazing scenery and explore its hillside ancient Roman and Pharonic tombs.

Check out this amazing cave painting from El Arag.