THE DESERT OASES PARAdisE

Giza governorate is one of the richest provinces with its cultural and archaeological heritage, as well as the expansion of its touristic attractions. It contains one of the most important Oases in Egypt which is the Seaside Oases ( Al - Baharaya  Oases )

 The location and geographical significance

 It is located in the western desert 365 Km. South west of Giza.

 The area has some monuments that date back to the Modern State. The area is characterized with its dry weather and beautiful natural scenes such as the mountains, and the valley which is full of palm trees. It has also a big number of natural water springs: hot, cold,  sulpharic  and mineral visited by people who are seeking to be cured.

Area:

Total area is 12000 kms ( 500.000 Acres) with maximum length of 95 km and maximum width of 42 km.

Population:

 The resident of the Oases, are the Bedouin tribes from Libya and the north Coast, and other people from the Nile Valley who came to stay in the Oasis. Estimate about 41885. Spread over 6 villages: ( EI Bawiti "The capital" with  the most services, Alqasr, the other village stand far apart from each other: Mendisha, Alzabw, Alqabala, Azbetal al- ajouz, Aljaffrah and al Harrah).

Weather:

August is the hottest month in Bahariya Oasis with an average temperature of 31°C (87°F) and the coldest month is January at 13°C (55°F) with the most daily sunshine hours at 13 in August.

Industry:

Oasis is famous for dates industry. As the most famous dates factories are located in El Baweety, Mandisha and El Zabw. A big part of its production is being exported to North of Africa and the South east of Asia.

Agriculture:

 Agriculture is still an important source of income; the main agricultural products are guavas, mangos, dates, and olives.

The cultivated area amount to 11650 acres, Agriculture is depending on wells as the only source of irrigation. There are also about 50000 acres of cultivable land important

§  Orchard crops:

Palm date, apricot olives and citrus

§  Filled crops:

 Vegetables and aromatics

 
 
THE important SiGHTSEEiNG in Baharaya Oases  

• The tombs of the 26 th  dynasty near the area of the "El Bawiti"

• The tomb of the governor of the region named "Amnhutob Hawi" (18 th  dynasty).

 • The grave - yard of the sacred birds related to the worship of the god "Tihut" and the god "Horus" from the 16th  dynasty to the Greek and Roman eras.

 • The ruins of the victory arch from the Roman eras.

• The ruins of a temple dating back to the era of "Isis", dating back to the era of "Alexander the Great".

Bahariya Oases

1)      Al Qasr Area:

·         Ain AI-Moftela district comprises a temple which dates back to Al Sawy Era-26 th  Dynasty.

·         Qaret Helwa district comprises amenhotop's  tomb the first ruler of the lower Oases. The tomb is engraved and coloured, dating back to 18th  Dynasty and the first half of 19 th Dynasty rule.

·         Al Tebiyna  district comprises Alexander the Great's temple which is the first temple established in the western Desert.

·         Al Qasr Great Temple has been established of sand stones over a large area

2)      Al Bawiti City:

This city is the present capital of the lower Oases. It has important

archaeological areas:

 Youssef Selim area: Comprising 6 engraved and coloured tombs.

 Sheikh Soubi area: Comprising 6 engraved and coloured tombs.

Al Farouj area: Comprising the most colossal tomb that dates back to the ptolemic era setup particularly for the burial of Ibis bird.

3)      Al Haiz Monuments Area:

 Comprising a number of churches, palaces, tombs and cemetries dating back to the late pharaonic era and the Roman period.

4)      Al Zabw, Mendish :

Al Harrah, Al Qabala and Al- Ajouz villages are characterized by sand hills scattered every where: cultivation there has depended on subterranean water. They comprise ancient springs and some Roman monuments

5)      Benyouti's Tomb :

 A pharaonic tomb was discovered in 1938 dating back to 26 th  Dynasty. Peculiarity of the tomb is due to the paining and engraving styles and the pharanic lines adopted in ancient tombs and temples.

 Also there is number of tourist places,

 - Ibis Tomb: is a cemetery from the Ptolemaic period of the bird Ibis and located on the plateau of the Al Farouj.

 - Temple of Alexander the Great: is about 5 km east of El Bawiti, near the Valley of the Golden Mummies.

- St. George Church is located in the Hayaz area about 40 km dating back to between the 4th and 5th centuries

 - Dair El Raas: is located in the Hayaz area, 1 km from St. George's Church 

6)      The Tomb of the Golden Mummies Valley :

 A big number of golden mummies wore found (about 10 thousand mummies) Most of these mummies have golden masks and chests decorated with heirographic engravings and religious drawings

7)      The Tomb of the Governer of the Oases :

It is from the 26 th dynasty and it is in the City of "El Bawiti" "in the area of El sheikh Sobhi". it has some decayed mummies inside. Some antique pieces are found inside, in addition to several golden status symbolizing a number of gods.

 
 
TOURiST KiNds 

Cultural tourism:

 It is promising in this kind of tourism because of available Pharonic and Roman Monuments. It provides all facilities and services to tourists so as to encourage this type of tourism.

THE RAPEUTiC TOURiSM

The place is distinguished worldwide by dry weather all- over the year and is deemed unique in this regard particularly by Europeon tourists. It comprises hot and cold sulphuric wells which are the backbone of therpeutic tourism.

-All Qassa Wells area :

They are three residental groups including a number of sulpharic wells at 40 C. Adjacent to which h are all Maghrafa and Al Dest mountains are distinguished by fascinating natural coloures.

-Roman Wells :

 It comprise a natural rock water fall where water reaches the cultivated areas at a distance of 10 to 15 KM through a group of important historical Roman wells.

-Airport well : (Beer Al- Motor)

 It is a vast, stretching plain that comprises a well of sulpharic water and thick cultivation.

 -Ain Al Beshmo

It is a well that produces cold and hot water as the two water sources meet at one point in a deep rock hollow within a mountain cave.

- Safari tourism : 

The oasis provides all road services for those interested and for visitors or the area due to its location in the western desert center.

 -The Magic Eye:

it is flowing from a small hill that contains a huge number of palm trees.

 It was named as the Magic Eye because the hill stayed the same way it was in the past. And the surrounded area didn't turn into an oasis.

 Some people thought that the flow of the water stops after the departure of the visitors.

 The Crystal Mountain :

lt is located in the north of the white desert. It is named as El Azaz mountain. It is based on the rocks of transperant Quartz that is similar to glass or crystal.

THE WHiTE DESERT iN FARAFRA OASiS

The area to the north- east of Qasr el- Frafra which is renowned for its spectacular scenery. The Chalk- white landscape is strewn with alien shapes, boulders of brilliant white which thrust up from the surface of the desert, intensified by the clear light of noon, shimmering gold at sunset or blackened and shrunken in a could-filled sky.

 Many of the formations are given descriptive names- sculpeted by the harsh desert winds into weird shapes which constantly change over time. There are "monoliths" and "mushrooms", "ice cream", "tents" and "crickets", as well as the majestic conical flat- topped inselbergs", to name but a few of the formations.

 In the remote past, the White Desert was a sea – bed, the sedimentary layers of rock were formed by marine fauna when the ocean dried up. Later a habitat for many roaming herds of elephant, giraffe, gazelle and other animals, the desert would have been a savannah with lush green areas and lakes full of fish, an ideal hunting ground for pre - historic man.

The landscape we see today was formed by the plateau breaking down, leaving harder rock shapes standing while the softer parts are eroded away by wind and sand. In some parts the chalk Surface still has the appearance of delicate wind- ruffled waves on water.

 A nature wonder of Egypt, The White Desert is now a protectorate, know as the White Desert Park, where designated route must be followed when driving in 4 WD vehicles. The outer parts nearest the road are known as the Old Desert and can be reached in a normal vehicle.

Many visitors choose an overnight camping safari to witness the drama of both sunset and dawn. The new tracks are laid out to guide vehicles past the most famous desert landmarks, first a field of giant 'mushrooms", followed by an ancient line Acacia tree.

 Another area is known as 'The White House', an enclosure of rocks surrounded by gleaming white chalk fields and nearby, a narrow entrance to a deep cave penetrates the rock.

Beyond this in the 'New Desert' which is only accessible by 4WD or carmel, the landscape becomes even whiter. The boulders crowd together, are higher, larger and everywhere weird shaps appear that might remind you of a chicken or a hawk, a troupe of dancers or an old men wearing a hat. The shapes change constantly as the light changes and you move around them and as the sun

begins to set they turn softly glowing pink.

 
 
Nature Reserves 

It is any distance of land or water Wither sea or river and it is distinguished by what it contains like: plant or animal or natural phenomena.

 These nature reserves are aiming to conserve the various natural resources, also it participates conserving  Cultural and civilzational heritage, for many of the important area.

These Nature Reserves as following are (Eldest wal maghrafa -  English mountain- the black desert)

EldEST WAI MAGHRAFA RESERVES

 Considered ar rare geological heritage as it was researching area for Vertebrate Paleontology sinc 1910 when first Egyptian dinosaur was discovered as well as Paleontological animals were in Concomitance.

THE ENGLISH MOUNTAIN

Situated in Buffer zone between Mindesha village an Bawiti villag, it was given this name because the stationing of british troops in this location during the english occupation.

This mountain is distinguished by its black beak caused by containing diorite and basalt both of them are volcanic rocks. Its location makes it important for tourism as it situate in The urban boundary in Bahariya oasis as well as There is roman spring at the mountain beak which overlooking the surrounding farms.

 THE bLAck dESERT :

Situated between bahariya oasis and Alwady Algadid (the new valley) Governorate, it is consisted of limestone rocks and black hills which was formed during voIcanic period, its height varied between 150 - 390 m and it has different colors, some has the dark color because of diorite and irony Quartzite, others are reddish because of irony Quartzite, little of these hills has the white Iimestone and it attracts the tourist cause of it is various colors the red, orange and yellow.

 
 
The Important Services in Bahriya Oases  

Hotels in Bahariya Oases

Hotel Name

Capacity

Telephone No.

Email address

Rooms

Beds

Safari Camp

21

42

01221179521

Ahmed_safari@hotmail.com

Palm Valley

40

80

38496272

Palmvallyhotel@hotmail.com

Bedouin Village Camp

10

15

38496811

-

International Hot spring

43

76

38473014

whitedesert@link.net

Old oasis Hotel

30

60

01222324425

Saleh-ab@hotmail.com

Under The moon Camp

14

28

01224236580

www.helaltravel.com

Golden Valley Hotel

20

45

01224972143

aelshemi@hotmail.com

Eden Garden Camp

20

25

0100710707

www.edengardentours.com

House Hotel

49

110

01223692127

-

 

Public Hospitals

Name

Address

Telephone

Central Bahariya Oasis Hospital

El Bawiti

38472390

 

Clinics

Name

Address

Telephone

Central Oasis Hospital Clinic

El Bawiti

38472390

Health Unit Clinic in Palace Area

Palace Area

38473015

Health Unit Clinic in Mandesha

Mandesha

3849675

Health Unit Clinic in El Hara Area

El Hara Area

38690106

Health Insurance Clinic

El Bawiti

38470460

 

Pharmacies

Name

Address

Telephone

Central Hospital Pharmacy

El Bawiti

38472390

Health Unit Pharmacy in Palace Area

Palace Area

38473015

Health Unit Pharmacy in Mandesha Area

Mandesha Area

38496075

Health Unit Pharmacy in El Hara Area

El Hara Area

38690106

Health Insurance Pharmacy

El Bawiti

38470460

Dr. Mohamed Refayi Pharmacy

El Bawiti

38472128

Dr. Mohamed Mahdy Pharmacy

El Bawiti

38471410

 

Ambulance Stations

Name

Address

El Bawiti

Bahariya Oases / El Bawiti

El Haiz

Bahariya Oases / El Haiz

88KM

Giza Road / Oases

135KM

Giza Road / Oases

185KM

Giza Road / Oases

235KM

Giza Road / Oases

292KM

Giza Road / Oases

 

Communication Centers

Name

Address

Tel. No.

El Bawiti

El Bawiti

38473000

Mandesha

Mandesha

38496000

El Hara

El Hara

38499001

 

Post Offices

Name

Address

Tel. No.

Bahariya Oases

El Bawiti

38472242

Palace

Palace

38471493

El Haiz

El Haiz

-

Mandesha

Mandesha

38496783

 

Transportation

Time

Destination

No.of Buses

6:30 AM

Bahariya Oases / Cairo

1

10:00 AM

Bahariya Oases / Cairo

1

12:00 PM

    New valley / Bahariya Oases / Cairo

1

3:00 PM

Bahariya Oases / Cairo

1

1:00 AM

    New valley / Bahariya Oases / Cairo

1

7:00 AM

Cairo / Bahariya Oases / New valley

1

8:00 AM

Bahariya Oases / Cairo

1

2:00 PM

Bahariya Oases / Cairo

1

5:00 PM

Cairo / Bahariya Oases / New valley

1

6:00 PM

Cairo / Bahariya Oases / New valley

1

 

Bus Stations

Bus Stations

Address

El Bawiti Stations

Bahariya Oases / El Bawiti / Behind

Khaled Ben El Waleed Primary  School

 

                    Source: General Administration of Tourism - Giza Governorate

 

Copyright©Giza portal- www.giza.gov.eg