From cairo to Bahariya Oasis




Bahariya - a short desert adventure
The three day safari tour starts with a pick up from our hotel in Cairo. Seated in a comfortable 4 wheel drive we soon leave the loud streets of Cairo behind us heading southwards to the Western Desert with its fascinating landscapes. After 380 km we arrive and check into a cozy, but very basic hotel in Bawiti. A quick refreshing shower and we take off for lunch at a local restaurant. A visit to the museum in Bawaiti gives us a historical overview and introduces us to the typical activities in the oasis and its crafts. Next on our schedule is the English House. Perched atop a hill, British, Australian and Indian forces built the outpost during World War II. The English House was torn apart as a protest against colonialism. Left is a ruin with its sun-baked stone looking down upon the oasis. What a marvelous sight, what a glorious sunset experience. A bit tired from the long drive, we easily drop off dreaming about the remarkable past the desert has witnessed and in anticipation of what will come tomorrow. Not long so long ago, in 1996, golden mummies were discovered in a valley 6 km from Bawati. The Valley of the Mummies is the biggest of its kind with some estimated 5000 mummies dating from 332 BCE to CE. 395, showing a blending of Egyptian and Greco-Roman culture. The mummies are covered with a thin layer of gold and wearing gypsum masks, their faces beautifully realistic. We pass by the ruins of a temple to Alexander the Great. Egyptologists believe that the Greek conqueror passed through Bahariya on his way to the oasis of Siwa. Not far from Bahariya starts the Black Desert with its volcano-shaped mountains and its black pebbles. Then we drive into the impressive White Desert. The desert is of white, creamish color with massive white chalk rock formations. Though we pitch our tents, most of us enjoy the night sleeping out in our sleeping bags under the million stars. What a wonderful start of the day with tea from the campfire surrounded by the serene desert landscape. Today on our way back to Cairo we visit Agabat, a small valley of unusually beautiful mountain formations. Here white cliffs meet the dunes and the yellow limestone rocks of Sahara . We stop again in Bahariya and head back to Cairo, where the mayhem of Cairo 's chaotic traffic welcomes us. This is a short desert adventure suitable for those with limited time. Be aware that the desert is addictive. It certainly won't be your last time that you are joining one of our adventurous jeep safaris. Contact us: excel@exceltrvl.net back to Excel Travel Homepage published July 31, 2008 Source: Angela				Golfing at the Mena House near the Pyramids? Or simply staying in a luxury hotel rich in history. Ask for our special offers.