Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Il Piano Ecoturistico Del Fayoum
Il Piano Ecoturistico Del Fayoum
Consultants:
Mustafa El Khatib
Mohamed El Khatib
Dr. Mohamed Basiouny
Mohsen Rashad
Hani Zaki
Carman Kwan
Osama Yasin
Ahmed Abulela
Khalil Saleh
Mahmoud Nabet
Mohamed Hamam
Akram Husein
Mohamed Shepl
Acknowledgment
The Fayoum Ecotourism Development plan 2005-2015 could not have been written without the
support of the Egyptian Italian Environmental Cooperation Programs- Wadi Rayan Protected
Area and Institutional support of SCA for Environmental Monitoring and Management, without
the collaboration of Marco Marchetti - Italian Coordinator of the Egyptian Italian Environmental
Cooperation Program-, of Carmela Grillone- CISS Project Manager, without the contribution
of CISS staff in Fayoum, and the support of Fayoum Tourism Authority Governorate of
Fayoum.
The Ecotourism Plan was edited by EDG Consultants Environmental Design Group- in
December 2006. Special thanks go to Mohamed El Khatib for his advice and expertise.
1. INTRODUCTION
Fayoum is Egypts foremost rural vacation destination that offers visitors an authentic and memorable
experience. Fayoum uniquely combines spectacular lakes and scenery, history, culture and hospitality,
an array of attractions and living traditions that help shape us into an ecotourism destination like no
other.
The natural and cultural heritage resources of the Fayoum Governorate are world class. Fayoums
resources include rare fossil formations with international importance, extraordinary antiquities, unique
cultural heritage, important biodiversity especially along the lakes, and remarkable scenic beauty. This
region has the potential to attract a large tourist market and yet, the type of tourism that Fayoum currently
receives is not fullling this potential. The local population and governorate also have concerns of the
present minimal economic benets of tourism. Appropriate access to these sites potentially offers a
signicant departure from the conventional tourism development techniques currently being used by
existing tourism facilities now located along Fayoum. Traditional tourism and its diversication towards
ecotourism can become economically important to the Fayoum governorate.
Fayoum is one of the best destinations in Egypt for combining ecotourism with more popular forms of
tourism. Visitors could be overwhelmed by the splendors of some of the world's best fossils recently
designated in 2005 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Lake Qarun is also an Important Bird Area
(IBA), internationally renowned for its wintering waterfowl. At the same time, Birders would enjoy the
ancient pharaonic pyramids, tombs and temples nestled in the timeless scenery of this desert oasis.
Fayoum has experienced signicant growth in the number of tourist visits in a short period of time after
the declaration of Wadi El Hitan (Whale Valley) as a World Heritage Site in 2005. This escalation of the
areas popularity suggests that the urgency to study and implement the planning of destinations and
individual attractions in a comprehensive and sustainable manner is becoming a priority to ensure that
positive impacts from tourism are established for the people and natural resources of Fayoum.
The Ecotourism for Sustainable Development in the Fayoum Governorate Project has been initiated
to develop ecotourism in Fayoum based on the sustainable development of its natural, cultural and
human resources in order to contribute to the poverty alleviation of the Governorate. The Project aims to
preserve and increase the value of the environmental and cultural heritage of Fayoum while promoting
the area as an attractive destination for local and international visitors. The proposed Ecotourism
activities focus on sustainable tourism development in the Fayoum Governorate and will contribute to
the national efforts in promoting ecotourism and diversication of the existing tourism product of Egypt.
The main purpose of this document consists of following four areas:
1. To explore the constraints and opportunities related to ecotourism development within the territory of
Fayoum
2. To analyze priority elds of development
3. To plan appropriate implementation strategies
4. To provide a guidelines and regulatory framework for ecotourism development in Fayoum
The ecotourism plan is designed to provide the Fayoum Governorate with an overall assessment
of particular conditions relating to ecotourism development activity and to put forward major
strategies and action steps necessary to increase capacity in ecotourism development in Fayoum.
As a result, the Fayoum Governorate will have the necessary tools to plan and manage ecotourism,
9
based on a broader understanding of the resources and existing constraints. This also implies that
appropriate forms of promotion and monitoring for the existing and planned ecotourism activities will be
developed, and that the overall management and conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of
Fayoum Governorate will be strengthened.
The project is implemented by the Italian NGO International Cooperation South-South CISS. The
Governmental counterpart of the project is the Fayoum Governorate, as represented by the Fayoum
Tourism Authority (FTA). The planning process is coordinated by the CISS and FTA Steering Committee,
and involves the efforts of more than 50 individuals representing stakeholders. These include the
Administration of Nature Conservation Sector, Regional Ofce of Tourism Development Authority,
municipal administrations, members of the Egyptian tourism federation, NGOs, entrepreneurs, Local
people, tourism businesses and investors.
The planning approach is based on the principals of participatory planning. Therefore, the project team
started the planning process with a workshop with the stakeholder representatives from local and national
levels. Extensive discussions were conducted with public sector and governorate leaders, including the
Governor and Secretary General of the Governorate. Key issues were identied, including the need
for an ecotourism plan infrastructure and service improvement, marketing support, and environmental
education for the local population. The participants agreed that more cooperative action by the public and
private sector is urgently needed. Also, the participants addressed recommendations for a sustainable
tourism strategy that could be incorporated into the ecotourism plan.
The Ecotourism Action Plan reects the priorities and strategic goals for the development of Fayoum
as an ecotourism destination in general. The plan is a tool which local and regional authorities have the
opportunity to monitor and ensure implementation of the strategic priorities in the eld of ecotourism. It
requires working in partnership with the interested parties such as: governmental organizations, NGOs,
businesses and local communities.
1.1 Value and Strategic Signicance of Fayoum
Internationally Important Fossil Site
Fayoum contains globally important fossil deposits: one of Egypts most exciting and elusive treasures.
Mainly from the Eocene and Oligocene periods, they include shells, sharks, whales, marshland creatures
like sea-cows, giant turtles, crocodilians; trace fossils, and mammals, including primates. Most of these
fossils are found in the exposed strata of the hills and mountains within and surrounding Fayoums
depression. According to Elwyn L. Simons 1986, a leading authority in the eld, Fayoum provides us
with an unrivaled view of the evolution of Africas early Tertiary plants and animals. Simons et al 1986.
10
In July 2005 the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO nominated Wadi Al Hitan area as World Heritage
Site (natural) and recommended to extend in the future the heritage site to include Gabal Qatrani for its
rich mammalian fossils.
Internationally Important Bird Site
In 1999, Bird Life, an international federation for the conservation of bird species and their habitats,
recognized the international importance of the Lake Qarun and Wadi El Rayan for bird conservation by
including it on its list of Important Bird Areas IBA (Baha el Din, 1999). The latter are dened as places
of international signicance for the conservation of birds at the global, regional or sub-regional level.
Lake Qarun is part of a Ramsar wetland sites and a Specially Protected Area, under the Barcelona
Convention, in Egypt and internationally renowned for its wintering waterfowl. More than 213 of resident
and migratory bird species have been identied in Fayoum.
11
Accessibility
Fayoum benets signicantly from its nearby location to Cairo and its easy access along several well
paved highways for local and international tourists. Day trips for local expatriates and Egyptians are
a mere 45-60 minute travel time while the large numbers of international tourists arriving from Cairos
international airport can travel conveniently en route from the Giza pyramids plateau. Cairo international
airport which receive regularly scheduled commercial ights transport tourists from all over the world is
located approximately 90 kilometers north of Fayoum and this distance can be easily taken within one
hour.
An additional air route that is under consideration is the Kom Oshim military air base. There is intent
from the government of Egypt to allow public airlines to use this military air base when the numbers of
tourist reach the critical mass of economic operation. Kom Oshim military air base can easily receive
direct international ights with minimal costs (30 million Egyptian pounds) for improvements to the
runway and passenger reception buildings. This decision will enhance the accessibility of Fayoum as a
future active destination.
Diversity of resources
The diversity of Fayoums ecosystems provides huge potential for combining different types of tourism
products in the same area. A unique blend of climate and geology create a fascinating landscape in this
desert region where the sandy desert, lush green oasis and lakes of Fayoum meet. In fact, the lush and
varied life of Fayoums ecosystems far surpasses that of all other areas in Egypt.
The variety of ecosystems offers a good opportunity to diversify the tourism product of Fayoum to
include different types of unconventional tourism packages such as ecotourism, rural tourism, scientic
tourism, desert safari with more popular forms of tourism. Bird watchers, amateur archeologists and
paleontologolists, enthusiasts, adventurers could all nd an aspect of Fayoum to enjoy and discover.
From pharaonic pyramids, tombs and temples to waterfowl in sensitive ecosystems and fossils unique
to Egypt, visitors will have many options of activities and discovery in Fayoum.
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In 1989, the government of Egypt declared Lake Quarun and Wadi El Rayan as protected areas to
conserve the unique resources of Fayoum. Now, the two protectorate areas offer a good opportunity to
support ecotourism development in Fayoum.
The Gateway of the North Africa desert Oases
Fayoum is a representative example of the Oases of the great North African Sahara desert in its form,
origin, geologic formation, culture and ecosystem. The strategic location of Fayoum as a separate Oasis
on the western boundaries of the Nile Valley give it the opportunity to be the gateway to the region of
the north Africa desert Oases extending from Egypt to Morocco. All trans-desert safaris for North Africa
Sahara can end or start in Fayoum. Fayoum can be part of one package regional trans-desert safari
exploring the Egyptian Oases (Baharia, Farafra, and Siwa), Libyan Oases (Gaghbob, Kofra) Tunisian
Oases (Metmata, Tataween, Doz, NAFTA) Algerian Oases (Wadi Mozab) and the Moroccan Oases
(Aghaylas, Fosht, Beir Anzran, Oyoun).
1.2 Previous Plans and Policies
One of the major objectives of the project is to assess, update and modify the previous tourism
development plans and policies created in the last decade. The team has reviewed the previous plans,
technical appendices as well as the work prepared for tourism development in the Fayoum Governorate
including the following studies:
"Indicative tourism development plan for Lake Quarun and Wadi El Rayan" prepared by TDA, 1991
"Horizon of the Development in the Fayoum Governorate" prepared by Cairo university, Fayoum
branch and Fayoum Governorate, 1998.
"Ecotourism for sustainable development in the Fayoum Oasis" prepared by TDA and NSCE, 2000.
"Preparatory phase for ecotourism in Fayoum", prepared by NSCE, 2004.
Conservation management plan of Wadi El Rayan protected area, prepared by nature conservation
sector, EEAA, funded by the Italian Cooperation, 2001
The preparatory phase for ecotourism in Fayoum. Prepared by Fayoum Governorate in
cooperation with North South Consultants Exchange NSCE, funded by the Royal Dutch Embassy
in Cairo, 2004.
Tourism Development Plan For the northern Coast of Lake Quarun, prepared by TDA, 2004
Careful analysis has shown that very few of the above mentioned plans and its suggested approaches
have been implemented. Issues of the regional economic crisis, conicts between relevant authorities,
lack of nancial resources, environmental deterioration, language barriers, and availability of documents,
local awareness and lack of specicity can be seen as some of the reasons for the difculty and inability
of implementation.
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In 1991 the Tourism Development Authority (TDA) prepared the tourism development indicative plan for
Lake Quorun and Wadi El Rayan areas to utilize the unlimited tourist potential of the region, and create
new tourism activities based on environmentally sound regulations to protect the environment of the two
protectorates. The indicative tourism plan provided a comprehensive list of guidelines and regulations to
control tourism development in Fayoum.
In 1995 a new accord was signed between the TDA and the Fayoum governorate under the request of
the governorate to change number of regulation items of the indicative plan to help the governorate to
attract more investors. These changes included:
Reduction of the buffer zone and the setback line of the southern shore of Lake Quorun on the bird
habitat zones to 30 meters instead of 250 meters
Permission for limited number of motor boats in lake Quorun (10 boats) in a certain period out of the
season of bird migration
These modications caused a conict with the protection status of Lake Quarun. The tourism activities
in the southern shore of the Lake caused a lot of damage to the bird habitats especially in the eastern
part of the lake which include the critical habitats for water birds. Unfortunately, no more investors came
to invest in Fayoum after these modications in tourism regulations. Instead, a lot of damage to bird
habitats was the result.
In 2000, the Egyptian Tourism Development Authority and the Royal Netherlands Embassy commissioned
a study on the potential benets of ecotourism in creating jobs and arresting environmental degradation
in Fayoum. The study showed that the potential for community, nature and culture based ecotourism in
Fayoum, with its lakes and bird sanctuaries, pristine desert areas that include fossil remains of world
importance, varied cultural heritage sites and rural quietude, is very high. Yet, the type of tourism that
Fayoum currently receives is not fullling this potential and the economic benets of tourism are minimal
for the local population and the governorate.
In 2001, the Nature Conservation Sector of EEAA prepared the management plan of Wadi El Rayan
Protected Area (WRPA). The project supporting WRPA was funded by the Italian Cooperation with
technical assistance provided through the IUCN (The World Conservation Union). The management plan
dened the key resources and habitats of the Wadi El Rayan Protected area and the relative sensitivity
of its resources. Accordingly, the management plan dened the management of sub-zones according
to the IUCN categories and identied the acceptable uses and activities within these management subzones.
In 2004, the Fayoum Governorate in cooperation with North South Consultants Exchange (NSCE) carried
out a preparatory phase for ecotourism in Fayoum. The project was funded by the Royal Dutch Embassy
in Cairo and implemented by NSCE. The project aimed to test a number of ecotourism activities and
promote a number of micro enterprises for local people in addition to implementing training courses for
the local target groups.
The project successfully managed the following activities:
Developed 4 different ecotourism itineraries that were handed over to the private sector
Put the village of Nazla on the list of tourism attractions of the Governorate
Developed services and itineraries to conduct 1 4 hour camel exploration tours through rural
Fayoum
14
Map 1 the Tourism Development Centers in the northern coast of Lake Quarun, by TDA, 2004
In 2004, the Tourism Development Authority prepared a Tourism Development Plan for the northern
coast of Lake Quarun in order to realize the development potential of this area. The plan aimed to create
new growth centers and new investment Opportunities. The primary types of tourism development
encouraged for the plan were lake front resorts and tourist villages. The development plan of the
northern coast of Lake Quarun dened three Tourism Development Centers TDC, the rst in the west,
the second in the middle and the third in the east. The total carrying capacity of these centers is 2850
hotel rooms, and 4200 tourist housing units (villas, chalets, and apartments as secondary housing units).
The target total investment will reach 4 billion pounds. The main target was poverty alleviation and job
creation for the local people. The total number of job opportunities targeted by the development plan is
40000 direct and indirect employees.
15
One of the major concerns of the proposed development pattern is the target market. The target market
depends on mass tourism which its needs and interests do not match with the tourism product of
Fayoum. The product image of Fayoum is based on fossils, bird watching, lake activities, desert safari
and rural life. All of these resources may be of partial interest to the mass tourism market but not enough
to establish a new destination for the clientele.
The proposed mass development may result in signicant environmental costs. The mass growth of
tourism development and natural resource utilization in the northern part of Lake Quarun will have a
variety of negative environmental impacts. For example, the tourism development pattern will alter the
shoreline, damage several fossil deposits of Gebel Qatrani in different locations, and reduce the land
habitats of many bird species. The environmental deterioration caused by this mass tourism development
demonstrates a pattern of unsustainable resource use that adversely affects both environmental quality,
and economic investment.
It is important and compelling to end on the note the international commitment and recognition of Fayoum
areas environmental heritage signicance. From 2005, the Nature Conservation Sector and the Italian
Cooperation in coordination with the National Commission of UNESCO prepared the nomination le
of Wadi El Hitan to be submitted to the International Heritage Center of UNESCO to nominate Wadi El
Hitan as a World Heritage Site (WHS.) In Durban, South Africa 2005, UNESCO declared Wadi El Hitan
as WHS and also proposed Gebel Qatrani as a potential site for WHS. This designation of Wadi El
Hitan and recognition of Gebel Qatrani by UNESCO is an opportunity for responsible and sustainable
ecological renewal of Fayoum.
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Foreigners
Arabs
Egyptians
Hotel guests
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
14974
17846
7091
14974
18261
16255
16473
13405
15364
18288
658
399
751
658
384
585
622
743
768
879
37448
65843
35132
37448
34195
37295
35696
47380
47315
56026
24741
29092
19488
24741
23656
28182
26279
27571
32281
32964
German
4777
1053
2304
3085
3264
2254
1228
2076
2345
French
1111
640
1631
1679
1475
2359
1888
1641
1923
USA
959
574
1000
1170
1193
852
599
1020
1387
British
527
367
492
425
720
581
588
614
800
Italian
1157
668
1774
1654
1189
1421
1098
1638
1951
Israel
1290
448
632
348
235
264
238
244
374
Others
8025
3341
7141
9900
8179
8742
7766
8121
9508
total
17846
7091
14974
18261
16255
16473
13405
15364
18288
high season for water based activities throughout Wadi El Rayan and Quarun lakes is approximately
October through March. However, as the water based activities and facilities at the lakes become
operational and integrated with other ecotourism activities in Fayoum, the water based recreation
season will most probably lengthen in duration.
2.2.2 Low Season
As a result of the extreme heat and hyper-aridity during the late spring and throughout the summer
months, mid-May through mid-September, it would be extremely hot to conduct tours through dessert
areas generally.
The ambient temperature in the desert areas of the Fayoum depression average 40 to 50C during
late June through August. The high temperature in summer makes it difcult for visitors to successfully
acclimate to these harsh conditions. The supply of water and medicines is another signicant concern.
2.2.3 Shoulder Season
The very brief shoulder seasons would be springtime, dened as approximately mid- April through
mid-May, and early autumn, dened as late-September through October. These time periods may
be particularly attractive to landscape and nature photographers who wish to take advantage of the
extraordinarily pure light, tolerable temperatures and the absence of other people in the area.
2.3 Current Supply
The current tourism development in the Fayoum region is concentrated in the southern shore of Lake
Qarun and Fayoum City. At the present time, no tourism facilities exist at the northern shore of the
Lake or in Wadi El Rayan except the desert safari camp on the lower Lake of Wadi El Rayan. In the
last decade, the tourism pattern was depending on the market of secondary housing units for domestic
tourists especially from Cairo. This market has three primary areas. The rst area stretches along
the eastern shore of Lake Qarun, the second area is located in the middle of the lake shore around
Shakshok village including Oberg hotel, military forces hotel, Panorama and new Panorama village,
and the third one in the western part of Lake Qarun including Tunis, Al Roboaa, and the village of Misr
company for construction.
There is a lack of objective data on customer satisfaction in terms of value for money, service quality,
safety and security, environmental conditions, health and sanitation, tour guide services, land and water
transportation, operation of cultural heritage sites and monuments, and similar concerns. International
best practices are not evident.
Fayoum has a limited number of accommodation facilities; (370 hotel rooms) many operate with relatively
low occupancy rates, or operating below their capacity especially during the shoulder and summer
seasons. This indicates that there is still capacity within the existing accommodations base to absorb
incremental demand, rather than building new hotels at least in the shoulder and summer seasons.
Table (3) representing the existing hotel rooms capacity in the Fayoum in 2005.
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Despite current vacancies in summer and shoulder seasons, the quality and quantity of existing
tourism facilities and accommodations are still inadequate to support the target tourism development in
Fayoum.
Table (3) the existing Hotel rooms in the Fayoum 2005
Hotel Name
Auberge Du Lac
Military Force Hotel
New Panorama
El Waha village
Selien Chalets
Duck Island
Honey Day
Queen Hotel
Montaza Hotel
Palace Hotel
Teachers hotel
Zad El Mosafer
Category
5 stars
5 stars
4 Stars
2 Stars
2 Stars
2 stars
2 stars
-
Total
Source: Fayoum Tourism Authority FTA 2005
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Location
S. Lake Qarun
S. Lake Qarun
S. Lake Qarun
S. Lake Qarun
Ain Selien
S. Lake Qarun
Fayoum City
Fayoum City
Fayoum City
Fayoum City
Fayoum City
S. Lake Qarun
No. of rooms
81
57
57
18
24
20
25
16
20
25
20
7
370
The existing land ownership and authority of the shorelines of Lake Quarun and Wadi El Rayan Lakes
in the Fayoum governorate are shared among several government jurisdictions and governed by
different laws, Ministerial and Prime Ministerial decrees including1 :
Presidential decree no. 445 for the year 1992 for delimitation of the area 3 km wide of the coastal
lands around the shoreline of Lake Qarun for Tourism Development Authority TDA. This area is
primarily dedicated to the development of tourism projects under the auspices of the TDA.
Prime ministerial decree no. 943 for the year 1989 according to law No. 102/1983 of the protected
areas in Egypt for declaration of Lake Quarun and Wadi El Rayan as multiple use protected areas
managed by Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency EEAA
The decree of the Minister of Agriculture no. 1054, for the year 1986 for the allocation of 1000 feddan
in Wadi Rayan for land reclamation projects managed by Agriculture Development Authority ADA.
Supreme Council of Antiquities SCA.
The Fayoum governorate - Authority of state ownership
Previous experience proves that when an authority arbitrarily changes rules without consultation,
conict results2 .
Mangrove Fossil
The petried wood is scattered in different areas in Fayoum. In particular, the north area of Lake
Qarun has very diverse and beautiful samples. This is certainly one of our clues that the region was at
one time a tropical climate.
Thirteen different bird fossil families have been identied in Fayoum, of which only two are extinct.
These birds include ospreys (Pandionidae) and the gigantic shoebilled stork (Balaenicipitidae). Other
bird fossils discovered include the jacanas, herons, egrets, rails (Rallidae), cranes (Gruidae), amingos
(Phoenicopteridae), storks (Cinconiidae), cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae), and an ancient eagle named
Accipitridae.
There are at least twenty orders of mammal fossils in Fayoum. Some of these animals were natives of
Africa, while others migrated from Eurasia. While a large Hyrax (megalohyrax oecaenus) was probably the
most common mammal of the Fayoum, some of the most interesting animals included the Arsinoiherium,
various Elephants and mastodons, as well as the Zeuglodon, Fayoum's famous whale. Turtle fossils are
the most common reptiles found in Fayoum, including Testudo ammon. Other interesting reptiles are the
gigantic snake fossils, including Gigantophis, measuring some 9 meters (29 feet), found in the Qasr alSagha Formation with the sea snake Pterosphernus. Also, the Tomistoma, and crocodile type animal.
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Fayoums fossils provide key insights into many aspects of mammalian evolution in the Old World. The
impressive list of Fayoum fossil vertebrates includes:
1. Anthracotheres - a group of artiodactyl (even-toed ungulates), hippopotamus-like ungulates,
2. Arsin itheres (Order Embrithopoda-extinct) - large, rhinoceros-like ungulates which have no
descendants,
3. Creodonts (Order Creodonta) - archaic, hyaena-like hunters and scavengers who constituted the
main predators during the early Tertiary, but which later were replaced by modern carnivores,
4. Giant hyracoid (Order Hyracoidean) - primitive ungulates, some attaining the size of boars
whose earliest representatives dated from the Fayoum Oligocene,
5. Proboscideans (Order Proboscidea) - including ancestral forms that shed light on the evolution
of the mastodons and the modern elephants;
6. Barytheres (Order Barytheria) - unusual elephant-like forms that left no descendants (their exact
taxonomic position is unknown but they are generally placed closest to the proboscideans);
7. Basilosaurs - ancestral whales with external limbs that link older land-dwelling ungulates to
modern cretaceans;
8. Sirenians (sea cows) (Order Sirenia), rodents (Rodentia), bats (Chiroptera), jumping shrews
(Macroscelidea),
9. Insectivores including the new order Ptolemaiida,
10. Marsupials (Diprotodonta), the rst known from Africa,
11. Primates including the genera Apidium, Oligopithecus, Parapithecus, Propliopithecus, and
Aegyptopithecus
3.1.2 Geology
The present depression of Fayoum was formed at least 1.8 million years ago, probably by wind erosion
in the desert. The basin then subsided relative to the Nile, allowing the river to break through in ood
and deposit fertile alluvial sediments.
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Fayoums depression is a closed triangular basin bounded by three faults. These faults are supposedly
found on both sides of the depression (East and West) and along Lake Qarun. The land between these
faults, dropped to form the depression.
The geologic map of the depression reveals the following features:
The oldest rocks in the depression are the Eocene limestone found in the north and the south where
they are covered by blown sand.
Oligocene deposits overlie Upper Eocene rocks at Qasr Al- Sagha.
Pliocene deposits appear in several places on the western side of the Nile valley divided between the
Nile and the depression.
Pleistocene formations are distributed in a band around the whole depression.
Basalt formations appear in a broad sector extending from East to West along the Northern edge of
the depression. These formations are related to volcanic activities, which accrued in Egypt between the
Eocene and Oligocene Epochs.
The surface soils of Fayoum are heavy to light clays derived from Nile ood alluvium, with patches of
sandier soils towards the edges of the depression. Differences in soil type relate to topographic position
relative to the central alluvial fan deposited by Nile oods. Soil are generally well-drained slightly saline
calcareous clays on the upper slopes of the fan, and poorly-drained saline to highly saline clays on the
lower slopes and adjacent to the Lake Quarun.
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3.1.3 Landforms
Fayoum is best characterized as a land of extreme contrasts. Most notably, this is one of the world's
most arid regions, but within it you can nd three large lakes and green agricultural land covers large
portions of the region. High mountain peaks offer stark contrasts to the expansive coastal plains at the
edge of the lakes. The abundance of water coming from the Nile via Bahr Yousef contrasts sharply with
the hyper-aridity of the surrounding desert and its scarcity of biological species. The topography is a
maze of cliffs, depressions, escarpments, plains, dunes, lakes and oases. The animal species that do
inhabit Fayoum desert are exceedingly rare and therefore offer considerable attraction to tourists. The
biology of the area is further augmented by a remarkable diversity of botanical species that surprise
visitors with their bright colors and adaptability to arid conditions. Contrasts such as these have the
potential for providing genuinely unique ecotourism experiences.
Fayoums depression is similar in many respects to the other depressions of the northern portion of the
western desert. All are largely below the sea level, and they slope generally northward .The depressions
are bounded by scarps and plateaus in most parts and thus are basins of internal drainage. But the
Fayoum depression has a dual personality; it has the characteristics of a desert depression with no
outlet to the sea, and it shares as well in the characteristics of the Nile valley and Delta. It is joined to the
Nile via Bahr Youssef, which enters the depression from the east through the natural gap of Al-Lahun.
There are numerous isolated hills, such as the roundish Gabal el Medawara facing the lakes, and Garet
Gehannam, a good landmark on the way to Wadi el Hitan. There are many earth pillars and strangeshaped hillocks sculpted by the weathering action of blown sand and rain at Fayoum, such as Akhwat el
Talata (Three Sisters Hill), while curious huge globular masses are met with in many places, especially
Wadi el Battikh (Valley of Water Melons). These masses are weathered concretions that were worn by
the water of the prehistoric Lake Morris (ancestor of Lake Quarun) when its level was falling. A large belt
of longitudinal seif dunes occupies the oor of many parts of Fayoum. All of these natural and sculptured
landscapes are unique features for nature photographers and provide scenic value for the ecotourism
experience that can be offered to eco-tourists.
Among major physiographic features of Fayoums depression are the following three sub-basins:
Fayoums depression covers an area of about 12,000 sq. km, the surface of the depression slopes
generally toward the north west where Lake Quarun is located. Lake Quarun occupies its northwestern
section; the lake is 45m below the sea level. The rest of the depression slopes toward the lake from
an elevation of 33 m above the sea level.
26
Wadi El- Rayan depression is an uninhabited desert depression that covers an area of about 706
sq. km. The depression lies southwest of Fayoum, and is separated from it by a limestone ridge.
A tunnel completed in 1973 transfers drainage water from Fayoum to the lower parts of Wadi ElRayan, forming the two lakes of Wadi El-Rayan, covering an area of about 200 square km. The
surface of the depression slopes generally toward the southwest where the upper and lower lakes
are located. The Lakes occupies the middle section of the depression and the upper lake is 5m below
the sea level while the lower lake is still lling.
Wadi Muwellih depression covers an area of about 9.5 sq km. The depression lies south of Wadi El
Rayan and is separated from it by a dune eld comprising of sand dunes up to 30 m high.
3.1.4 Climate
The climate of the Fayoum depression is fairly typical of hyper-arid desert climates: scanty winter rainfall,
hot and dry with bright sunshine throughout the year, extremely high summer maximum temperatures
and moderately low winter minimum temperatures.
According to climate norms from the meteorological stations in Fayoum, the average annual rainfall is
10.1 mm but this statistic masks great variability from year to year. In some years no rain falls, while
as much as 44mm has been recorded in one day. Temperatures in the rainless summer average 28
C but can reach nearly 48.8 C. A degree or more of frost is possible in winter nights. High rates of
evapotranspiration throughout the year make Fayoum one of the most arid places on the earth. The
prevailing winds are north-west, north or north-east, resulting in the formation of extensive sand dunes.
3.1.5 Flora
Fayoum is located in an extremely arid region and is characterized by plant life adapted to extreme
conditions. At least 36 native plant species and 108 agriculture plants have been recorded in the Fayoum
governorate. Fayoum contains several types of vegetative communities including:
Desert shrub community:
Occur on minor variations due to soil and moisture
conditions, throughout the area. Its plants share a number
of adaptations that enable them to survive in this hostile
environment. This community distributed as sparse desert
ora in small patches in the low lands of the interdune
and desert plain areas. The desert shrub and sub-shrub
plants includes: halfa, nitraria retusa, Tamarix nilotica,
Zygophyllum album, Phoenix dactylifera, alhagi maurorum,
and Desmostachya bipinnata.
27
Agriculture plants: The agriculture land of the Fayoum Governorate covers an area of about 330000
acres. The agricultural production based on fruit trees represents 8.6% of the cultivated fruit land of
Egypt. The fruit trees in the study area include gs, olive, palm trees as well as the other traditional crops
such as vegetables, cotton, and wheat which are produced mostly for local consumption.
3.1.6 Fauna
Scientic name
IUCN status
National
Global
Habitat
Crocidura avescens
VU
Cultivated lands
Flower's shrew
Crocidura oweri
EN
Cultivated lands
Fennec Fox
Vulpes zerda
EN
Sand areas
Hyena
Hyaena hyaena
EN
Desert margins
Jungle Cat
Felis chaus
VU
Wild Cat
Felis silvestris
VU
Dorcas Gazelle
Gazelles dorcas
EN
Slender-Horned Gazelle
Gazelles leptoceros
CR
EN
During the spring and autumn, a remarkable diversity of birds migrates along Fayoums lakes. This
migratory corridor represents a critically important primary route for birds traveling between the northern
and southern hemispheres. Large numbers of birds travel between Europe and Africa. International
recognition of the importance of this yway has been established by Bird Life International, which has
dened 34 Important Bird Areas in Egypt. Fayoum wetlands, specially Lake Qarun has been described
as a wintering area of international importance for breeding, passing and over wintering migrating water
birds. Nearly 214 bird species have been recorded in the Fayoum area, three quarter of these are
migratory. Bird populations have been declining since the beginning of this century. The main reasons
are illegal falconry and hunting. In 1989, a prime ministerial decree made the areas of Lake Qarun and
Wadi El-Rayan as nature protectorates.
All the common aquatic species found in the Nile occur also in Fayoums waters, although Lake Quarun
has an impoverished freshwater fauna because of its high salinity.
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30
During Greek times (332-30 b.c) Fayoum was known as "the Marsh," before it was named the Arsinoite
nome by Ptolemy Philadclphus in honor of his second wife (and sister). It was divided into a number of
merides (districts), including Heracleides in the north. Themistos in the west, and Polemon in the south.
New settlements grew throughout Fayoum including Karanis, Bacchias. Philadelphia and Dionysius.
Under Greek rule there were 114 villages in Fayoum (only sixty existed in 1809). There was rivalry
between villages and sometimes open hostility. They stole crops, good soil, and water rights from each
other, just like Greek city states, medieval European towns, and modern nations everywhere. By the
time of Ptolemy Euergetes II, Fayoum was in decline. The land was being reclaimed by the desert as
canals clogged and the population diminished. The Greeks, under Ptolemy II, populated Fayoum with
Greek veterans, Macedonians and other foreigners who began systematically improving the irrigation
methods. They used Greek inventions such as the Archimedess screw and the sakiya to irrigate the
farmlands.
4 See the map entitled Ancient Pharaoh and Greek-Roman sites in the Fayoum
31
During the Roman Period (30 b.c.-a.d. 323), Egypt had to produce one third of the grain needed by Rome
each year and Fayoum, with nearly ten percent of the cultivable total, earned the epithet "breadbasket of
the Roman empire." Eventually Rome exacted too much from the farmers of Fayoum. Always rebellious,
its population declined and the people, unpaid and overtaxed, were forced into serfdom. In 165, a plague
descended on Egypt and the major villages in Fayoum suffered considerably. By the third and fourth
centuries, communities like Philadelphia and Bacchias stood abandoned. By the middle of the third
century (323-642) there was a large Christian community in Fayourn. Thirty-ve monasteries existed
during the middle Ages, many secluded in the surrounding deserts.
The Fayoum Portraits are the rst known art of Portraits discovered in Fayoum. These globally renowned
paintings are life-like and once bandaged in place over the faces of mummies, dating usually between
the 1st and 3rd centuries A.D. Most of these portraits have now been detached from their mummies.
Yet, they provide a wealth of information about the clothing, adornment and physical characteristics of
Egypt's wealthier inhabitants.
Many ancient mosques and water constructions (i.e. bridges) were built in Fayoum during the Islamic
era (642-1798). The hanging mosque and Qaitbay Mosque are good examples for the Islamic building
style in Fayoum. Two major ancient routes have been identied in Fayoum, the rst is oldest paved road
in the world dated as Old Kingdom, with a possibility of a Neolithic age and the second is the route of the
Alexander the Great to Siwa passing through the western desert oases via Wadi Rayan, Baharia, Bahr
Balama, Qasr, Zabu, and Sitra 5.
5 See the map entitled Ancient Coptic and Islamic sites in the Fayoum
32
More than 55 ancient heritage sites have been recorded in Fayoum. Fayoum has made a signicant
contribution to our understanding of the history of ancient empires of Fayoum such as Pharos, GreekRoman, Coptic and Islamic empire.
Table (5) Major periods in human antiquity in the Fayoum 6.
Human period
Pre-Acheulen
Acheulen
Pleistocene
Holocene
Terminal Paleolithic
Neolithic
Bronze
Pharaonic
Old Kingdom
Middle Kingdom
New Kingdom
Late Period
Greek period
Roman period
Christian Era
Islamic Era
French occupation
Rule under Muhammad Ali
British Occupation
Years ago
900000
50000
10000
9000
6000
2000
B.C.
B.C
B.C
1570-1070 B.C.
B.C
B.C
30 BC to 323 A.D.
323 A.D. to 641 A.D.
641 A.D. to 1798
1798-1811
A.D.
1811-1848
A.D.
1882-1954
A.D.
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3.3.2 Pottery
Pottery has a long history in the Fayoum since the pharaonic times. Abu Ballas, Father of Pots, was
an important center of pottery history in the Fayoum. Located on the caravan trail that linked Wadi
El Rayan and points south with Wadi Natrun and points north, Abu Ballas was a major station where
caravans stopped to rest. The pots scattered around this area date from the Roman era and consist
mainly of smashed amphorae. The pottery encountered there can be dated back to the Roman times.
Pottery art continued in the Fayoum history and now is reinterpreted in two great pots centers, El Nazla
and Tunis.
In the small hamlet, Tunis, there is Evelyn, a Swiss potter who decided to live and work from around
40 years. She uses a variety of different clay types and glazes. Evelyn, exports her art around the world.
She has established a pottery school for children who make beautiful designs, primarily of animals in
warm earth tone glazes. The school teaches many of the local village youth pottery as an art, and not as
a craft. Some of the pottery school students have even displayed their work outside Egypt. The school
attracts and hosts potters from Egypt and all over the world. The Tunis pottery is more up market and
arty. It is sold in galleries and craft shops in neighborhoods of Cairo where there is a high concentration
of well to-do Egyptian and foreign residents.
Potters of Nazla use a very particular technique to make a spherical pot based on a combination of
wheel-thrown and hammer-and-anvil. Work is carried out according to very old and traditional methods
of producing pottery that have not changed much since Pharaonic times. The potters village at Nazla
itself is built completely out of pots. Inside the 20 workshops, there is a hole, a kind of hemispherical
scoop in the ground. Straw and clay are mixed together, sometimes with ash. The material is in the
hole, and it is hammered and turned at the same time to make large globes. The big pots are allowed
to dry a little, and it is only then that the vessels are nished on the wheel. There is no wheel involved,
no mechanical process. Only the rims of the large round pots are made on the throwing wheel. These
vessels are not a result of mechanical turning but of the turning of the body, the rhythm of the body
and the hole in the ground. The pots of Nazla are archetypes, and are therefore living history. Here the
history is walking alongside the vessel, on a different but parallel path. At present, the pots from El-Nazla
are sold in Cairo at the pottery centers like that of Fustat.
36
37
Most of the handicrafts are often linked to the agricultural production cycles and contribute to
strengthen rural economies.
Handicraft activities indirectly stimulate the production of locally available raw materials needed for
craft products.
It triggers processes of socio-economic awareness and independence for women who represent big
percentage of the producers.
By providing an additional income source for the family, handicraft activities could facilitate access to
better education and healthcare services for children, hence improving their quality of life.
It plays a valuable role in functioning the spare time of the families' members in a creative and
protable work.
Traditional handicraft activities contribute to the preservation of the cultural heritage and identity of
producers.
Handicraft activities are often environment-friendly as they are characterized by very low energy
consumption and often use scrap materials of other productions.
39
40
industrial chemicals end up in the agricultural drainage system and eventually in Fayoums lakes. In
addition, partially treated and untreated sewage is known to drain into the agricultural drainage system
and eventually in the lakes. The extent and effect of this type of pollution on the lakes and their biota is
not clear.
Environmental pollution of the lakes, however, may possibly have contributed to the gradual decline in
the sheries, at least in Lake Qarun. In addition, this pollution greatly impedes the use of the lake for
water sports or swimming and reduces the chances of success for tourism development of the southern
shore of Lake Quarun.
4.1.4 Negative impact on critical habitats
Major alterations in the natural habitats and biota of the unique and scientically important areas of the
Fayoum Governorate have already taken place causing serious deterioration of the fragile environment.
The over-exploitation of limited natural resources and uncontrolled development of large sectors of the
southern shore of Lake Quarun has resulted in the destruction of extensive areas of salt marshes and
mud ats which are important habitat for a variety of birds and breeding areas for commercially important
shes and crustacean.
Although, the eastern and western tips of Lake Quarun are specially designated as core zones of the
bird sanctuary, tourism facilities and other buildings have been constructed directly on the shore line of
the lake within the declared buffer zone. The construction work, site clearing, on-site wastewater and
solid waste disposal, noise, obstruction of view to the lake causes a lot of damage to the bird habitats.
In addition, these pollutants spread into the shallow water of the lake. Critical Habitat should be identied
and environmental education techniques should be implemented to prevent further destruction of the
Fayoum critical habitats.
4.1.5 Fossil and Heritage Sites excavation
There are literally tens of Pharaonic, Greek/Roman, Coptic and Islamic heritage sites as well as fossils
and prehistoric remains located throughout Fayoum. Many unexplored ruins from Pharaonic, GrecoRoman and Christian eras, especially in the parts of north Lake Quarun and Oyoun El-Rayan, are
under threat by the illegal excavation by visitors and people from neighboring areas in Fayoum. For
example, people come to the Fayoum fossil beds on the weekends and cart away enormous quantity
of fossils and prehistoric artifacts. These actions are devastating the area while scientic study is still in
progress (Cassandra 2002). All of these sites must be protected and remain undamaged to preserve
the historical resources of Fayoum.
43
Horned Viper
44
47
plains, obviously due to the scarcity of rainfall. The species that do occur in these desert plains include
Haloxylon salicornicum (rimth), Hyoscyamus muticus (sakaran), Salsola imbricata subsp. gaetula
(kharit), Cornulaca monacantha (haad) and Stipagrostis ciliata (hmeira), as well as some individuals
of Zygophyllum coccineum (balbal), Zygophyllum album (rotreit) and Nitraria retusa (ghardaq). Loutfy
Boulos 1999
The gravel desert Reg
The Reg is desert pavement formed by gravels, cobbles, and stones accumulated on some areas of
Fayoums desert areas. Temperature extremes cause fracturing of solid materials from which all the
ner dust and sand has been swept away, leaving a stone veneer overlying hard backed sand. The
stony residue material usually varies in size from 0.5 to 20 cm. These materials generally are cemented
together, or encrusted with various salt, gypsum, lime, and silicate, and often coated with dehydrated
ferric hydroxide and manganese that give them a desert varnishlacquered or polish appearance.
Reg is generally barren and constitute the poorest environment in the study area. In fact they can be
considered as a biotic. The eco-tourist trips on Reg are easy and rapid, and wheel tracks and camel
tracks remains visible for many years on this surface. This habitat is a prime site for ecotourism routing
and proposed outdoor activities.
The Reg formations are distributed in Fayoum in two main areas:
4- Around the upper and lower lakes of Wadi El Rayan , specially to the south west of the lower
lake
5- Parallel to northern shore of Lake Quarun on the highlands of Gebel Qatrani
The most commonly encountered species in the Reg are the Changeable agama Trapelus mutabilis, the
Red-spotted lizard Mesalina rubropunctata and the Desert mantid Eremiaphila sp. The Elegant gecko
Stenodactylus sthenodactylus can be found at night, wandering slowly on extended legs in search of
insects. (Baha el Din 1999)
The uninhabited natural desert oasis Oyoun El Rayan Area (Springs Area)
This area is a shallow sandy depression located west and southwest of the lower lake, and extends
westwards to the escarpment of Monqar El Rayan. It is surrounded by a limestone escarpment on all
sides except the east, where it is closed off by a series of high longitudinal dunes. The area is covered
with sand forming extensive elds of sand dunes with vegetated inter-dune valleys in between.
Four natural sulfur springs are found in the area and
drive their brackish water from remotely charged Nubian
sandstone strata. These springs form permanent pools and
relatively extensive afuent channels that are generally
chocked by dense growth of marsh vegetation. A supercial
aquifer supports fairly dense and varied natural vegetation,
dominated by Alhagi graecorum, Nitraria retusa, Calligonum
polygonoides and Tamarix nilotica. There are small reed
swamps and scattered date palms surrounding the springs.
49
The area is known for its rich and diverse wildlife which includes 14 mammals, 16 reptiles, over 100
migrant and resident bird species and numerous insect and other invertebrate species. The two species
of gazelles inhabiting the area are listed in the IUCN red data book as endangered species, with one of
them; the slender-horned gazelle, found nowhere else in the world. The other, dorcas gazelle, is highly
threatened throughout its range.
Most of the locally breeding birds of Fayoums desert are conned to, or dependent on, this oasis. Birds
typical of this habitat are Pharaohs eagle owl and the Palm dove, the Olivaceous warbler Hippolais
pallida, the Southern grey shrike Lanius meridionalis, the Hoopoe lark and the Rufous bush robin
Cerotrichas galactotes, a summer visitor. Jackals and hares are moderately common. Though rarely
seen, the Desert monitor Varanus griseus is a fairly common diurnal predator that roams widely in the
springs area. This habitat is a prime location for bird and animal watching with strict regulations.
4.3.2 Zone Two: Lakes areas Deep water Lake Qarun
Lake Quarun is the remainder of the ancient freshwater Lake Morris which covered a substantial portion
of the Fayoum depression in Pharaonic times. Lake Qarun occupies an area of about 230 sq. km. The
lake has a length of 40 km and is shallow, with an average depth of 4.6 m and mean altitude of 43.36
meters below sea level. The difference between high and low level is not more than 70 cm. The volume
of the lake when at 45.4 m. below sea level (its average level) is 719 million cu. m. About 365 million cu.
m of water reach the lake annually. This means that an amount equivalent to that is lost by evaporation
or by outward seepage.
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52
An area of about 5000 acres, west of the lower lake of Wadi Al Rayan, has recently been reclaimed
for the benet of young graduates and their families living in two villages near the reclaimed land. Drip
irrigation is used throughout the area, where live (zaitoun) is the main cultivation. A few other cash crops
such as Hibiscus sabdariffa (karkad) and Zea mays (durra) are also cultivated.
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55
57
2) Birders who are drawn from a broad spectrum of business occupations and often spend more
than 100 days a year in some leisure-time activity. The average age of this niche market is 45
with $40,000 average household income. This category are highly educated (61% have a college
degree) and their hobbies include: reading, gardening, hiking, traveling, and photography.
3) For clienteles of those Fayoum could be interesting - if combined with one of their recreation tours
around Egypt especially Red Sea, Sinai and western desert oases. For them, Fayoum can best
be combined with beaches and outdoor recreation. The clientele has a high interest in nature (birds,
wildlife, oasis and desert) but much less in culture and history.
4) Scientic excursion and missions for researchers, and colleges
5) The high-end ecotourism market which is characterized by persons who are approximately 50
to 65 years of age with high educational attainment, considerable discretionary income, and an
inclination for recreational activities conducted by well-trained guides and naturalists.
6) The mid-range ecotourism market which typied by persons who have a substantial desire to
pursue their specialized, nature-based recreational activity. For example, this individual typically
saves their scarce nancial and time resources to participate in nature-based activities in unique
and remote locations.
7) The low-end ecotourism market which those persons whose primary motivation is to
inexpensively experience nature. This market segment is generally characterized by young people
with few nancial resources, but a willingness to rough it via camping or working temporary jobs
in order to pursue nature-based recreation activities such as hiking, backpacking, and mountain
climbing. Successfully attracting this market segment can potentially lead to potentially long-term
visitation.
5.3 Visitor Experience
5.3.1 Proposed Ecotourism Themes and Activities
Eco-tourists seek high quality recreational, cultural and educational experiences. One of the purposes of
this Plan is to dene the types of the visitor experiences and ecotourism activities that will be provided to
the visitors. The quality of the guidance services, visitor facilities/services, accommodation, emergency
services, and appropriate infrastructure are vital elements in the delivery of those experiences. The ability
to provide those unique experiences and appropriate services and facilities is based on the creation of
a comprehensive Ecotourism Program Plan.
The Fayoum could potentially host a large number of ecotourism activities. The implementation of these
activities would provide economic revenue, generate income for local people, host unique experiences
for tourists, and create unique ecotourism products for the Fayoum Governorate 8.
Visitors can enjoy the beauty and variety of Fayoums outdoor experiences. From the scenic views of the
rural trails to the hiking trails to wilderness camping in north Qarun and Wadi Al Rayan protected areas,
Fayoum offers something for everyone. Outdoor product is a vital part of how we position Fayoum in
the market.
The following types of recreational themes and activities can successfully be implemented in the Fayoum
Governorate.
8 See also Annex (1) The Sample Itineraries
59
Visitors can enjoy discover Fayoum on camel, the so-called charismatic ships of the desert. Tied
together in caravan style one can enjoy the spectacular scenery and relaxed rhythm of ancient times.
Tailor-made itineraries can be successfully promoted in Fayoum with daily distance and duration of hikes
and rides dependant on weather conditions, tness of hikers / riders and the length of stay.
Till now, Fayoum still lacks biking and hiking facilities. However, there are very few trails where hiking
can occur in a well managed and safe environment within the protected areas of Fayoum. Wildlife
observation and photography near in the natural areas could include the construction of an observation
platform at the water fowl/shorebird areas; observation blinds at selected sites, car parking areas,
informational kiosk, information panels and toilets. Many trails can offer good opportunities for hiking
and trekking but need to be upgraded and improved in certain portions to provide access to the main
natural and historical attractions in the remote areas of Fayoum. Fayoum can provide opportunities for
the following land based tours:
Guided hiking and trekking tours.
Nature guided tours including: Geology/fossils, Wildlife viewing and photography, Botanical studies,
Hydrology
Nature Photography Tours including: Landscape photography, dramatic vistas, rock formations,
sunsets, and sunrises.
Night camps that teach stellar navigation
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One of main tourist attractions of Fayoum is the local lifestyle of the local people who has preserved their
unique way of life through the centuries. The Bedouins tend their livestock and move for good pasture
all year around. The shermen weave their hand made nets and search for good shing spots by local
rowboats while farmers go about their daily work in the lush elds. Fayoum gives the visitors an amazing
chance to experience the local culture, traditions and hospitality by living in their way of life in wool tents,
reed huts or mud brick houses for a few hours and share their own and unique happiness.
Direct contact between visitors and local people is a big contribution in poverty alleviation and economic
empowerment of the local and indigenous people of Fayoum. The everyday life of Bedouins, farmers
and shermen is a maze of activities including: camel, goat or cow milking, herding sheep, sheep wool
harvesting, camel taming, training for camel racing, harvesting, dairy production (yogurt and dried curds)
drinking camel milk which is very healthy, local entertainment and traditional celebrations and so on.
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Dening zone boundaries must involve consideration of biological, landscape, ecological, and
political factors that can easily be distinguishable in the eld.
Drainage areas, topographic features, landforms, roads and other identiable features are used as
zone boundaries.
Descriptions of Experience Zones
The following are narrative descriptions outlining the general characteristics associated with each class
of ecotourism visitor experience zones 9 .
A. Wild (special protection zone) and (strict natural zone)
The wild zone represents areas of very high sensitivity that could be easily disturbed or areas where
the presence of people would signicantly impact important visual resources. This zone contains high
paleontological values with an enormous number of vertebrate, marine \ terrestrial mammalian fossils of
the old cretaceous, Eocene, Pliocene periods and the unique ecosystem, which is used by key wildlife
species. The wild zone represented in the management plan of the Lake Qarun and Wadi el Raiyan
protected areas as zone a category includes (special protection zone) and (strict natural zone).
Access to wild areas would be restricted with permitted access only for the purpose of research,
traditional cultural activities, or other well-justied uses with a limited number of visitors accompanied by
a guide or park ranger.
These areas would provide maximum preservation of fragile and/or unique resources, endangered
species, fossils and archeological sites, etc.
This zone mostly provides the greatest opportunities for solitude.
No structures of any kind, including toilets, are permitted.
The probability of encountering other visitors would be minimal.
The number of visitors is limited and monitored, and impact is minimized through regulations
and pre-entrance orientations.
No paved roads are permitted, and off-trail use of the park is prohibited.
Public access is prohibited except for scientic activities with written authorization from Nature
Conservation Sector. No agriculture or livestock is permitted
Public access is prohibited except for visitors viewing wildlife and landscapes.
Scientic activities with written authorization from NCS
Navigation with any kind of boats (with or without engine) is prohibited, except for scientic
activities authorized by NCS
All kinds of shing activities are not allowed
No oating structures are allowed.
No agriculture or livestock is permitted
Proposed wild areas include:
The International heritage site of Wadi El Hitan
The fossil area of Gebel Qatrani and Birqet Quarun formations.
The heritage site landscape including Demieh, Qasr El Sagha, the ancient basalt road, and Wedan El
Faras.
Natural Springs of Oyoun Al Rayan Oasis
9 See map (9) entitled Visitor Experience Zones in the Fayoum
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68
Eco-tourism and environmental education activities (visitor center tracks & bird watching sites)
Recreational uses (safari camp, cafeterias & camping site)
High landscape values
Lesser impact activities (ex. traditional boat shing)
Zone Rules:
The licensee must strictly follow the terms of the EEAA license;
Infrastructure, including roads, should be compatible with the environmental needs
Solid wastes have to be regularly collected and delivered to the nearest authorized waste disposal
facility
Sewage must be collected into septic tanks and the tanks must be cleaned regularly.
70
The on-site interpretive and observation stations will provide additional locations for visitors to
obtain orientation and interpretation information on specic sites within the Fayoum in both rural and
desert areas. Twelve sites with prime resources have been identied to allocate the interpretive and
observation stations within the Fayoum Governorate. The location and the theme of each station are
listed on the following table 11.
Table (6) the proposed interpretive and observation stations in Fayoum
POSSIBLE LOCATION THE INTERPRETIVE THEME
Integration between desert, lake and
Gateway
oasis ecosystems, vegetations of salt
(Kom Oshim)
marshes, bird habitats, antiquities,
fossils, local life style, handicrafts
Nazla potteries, local handicrafts,
Nazla
Fayoum irrigation system, local
farmers life style
Fishermen local community, water
Shakshok
birds, bird nesting
Qaret El Rosas
South east Qarun
Botnet Hafez
Um Zalat
Qatrani
Oyoun El Rayan
Widan El Faras
Quarries of north
Qarun
FACILITIES
shaded area, book sales, brochures,
guest house, interpretive panels,
eco-station, toilets
POSSIBLE LOCATION
Wadi El Hitan
Demieh Qasr Sagha
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B) Campsites
Ofcially designated seasonal camp facilities will be required if there is a substantial number of visitors
- no more than 100 persons in the same area - to Fayoum. Limited number of campsites is proposed
to offer a variety of camping experiences. These camps will be subject to seasonal closures due to
extreme heat in the summer months. Most campground use will occurs primarily from October to April
because of cooler temperatures. The most important factor associated with these facilities is waste
treatment and disposal. It will be necessary to have reliable water storage, wastewater treatment, and
solid waste disposal infrastructure. Appropriate technologies to meet these needs are readily available.
The following table lists the proposed campsites location to be developed by private sector. See the map
entitled proposed camp site locations in the Fayoum
Primitive
Primitive
Description
Wilderness Camp, maximum
10 tents
Wilderness Camp maximum
10 tents
Wilderness Camp maximum
10 tents
Semi primitive
Maximum 20 tents
Semi Primitive
Maximum 30 tents
Semi primitive
Maximum 30 tents
Semi primitive
Maximum 30 tents
Maximum 30 tents
Semi primitive
Maximum 20 tents
190 tent
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Function
Intersection & orientation
Facilities
Guest Bedouin tent, camel rent station
Tunis
transition point
Kom Oshim
trailhead
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78
79
or where environmental conditions require wider tread (e.g., switchback junctions). Average trail width
of 4 to 5 meters on relatively level sections should be preserved. A 10% out-slope of trail tread (onemeter drop for every ten meters of tread width) will be attempted where possible to facilitate drainage.
Loose rock removal may be conducted. These trails are maintained to allocate multiple uses of 2 and 4
wheel drive, hiking and riding activities and mainly linking the existing paved and motorized road on the
boundaries of the agriculture lands to the surrounding attractions on the vicinity desert and create a ring
road around the farmlands and serve as a periphery between the lush green areas and desert.
5.5.5 Emergency Trails
There are three trails available for emergency mechanized access using the same route of the major
trails of Rally Pharana trail, Madinat Madi Trail and Wadi Hitan Trail.
The following table details the complete list of trails, classication, and trail lengths.
Table ( 9 ) Proposed Trail System in Fayoum desert areas
Name
Length Opportunity
km
class
Mode of type
transport.
Origin From
Destination
To
North
Entrance
Of Qarun
5 km south
Kom Aushim
Birqet Qarun
Road at Tunis
Wadi Rayan
Cairo Fayoum 80 km
Regional Road
Threshold
Motorized Regional
Road
Birqet Qarun
40 km
southern Road
Wadi El Rayan
Road
Threshold
Motorized Main
Connector
Motorized Main
Connector
Rally Pharana
trail
50 km
SemiPrimitive
4x4
Minor
connector
Madinet Madi
Trail
Wadi Hitan
Trail
Ancient track
to Wedan el
Faras
Wadi Hitan
30km
SemiPrimitive
SemiPrimitive
Primitive
4x4
Minor
Connector
Major
8 km
Wild
Oyoun El
Rayan trail
5 km
Gebel Qatrani
trail
25 km
40km
Threshold
4x4
km ( 30 ) on
Fayoum Cairo
road
North Lake
Quta and
Wadi Rayan
Lower Lake
of Wadi El
Raiyan
Quta in the
west tip of
Lake Qarun
Madinet Madi
Waterfalls
Wadi El Hitan
4x4 +
Riding +
Hiking
4x4
Minor
Demieh
Wedan El
Faras
Minor
Wild
Riding +
Hiking
Minor
Parking area
of WHIHS
Wadi Rayan
road at
Wild
Riding +
Hiking
Major
Along the
open museum
Along Oyoun
El Rayan
wildlife area
Along the
escarpment of
Gebel Qatrani
Wedan El
Faras
81
Wild
Riding +
Hiking
Minor
Wild
Riding +
Hiking
Minor
Wild
Riding +
Hiking
Major
Therefore, human resource development in the tourism industry provides a signicant challenge. There
is a wide range of actors both in the public and private sectors that require in some cases basic education
and other situations upgrading of skills and knowledge. There are also a number of ofcials and other
government ministries that have an impact on the tourism marketing and development process who also
require capacity building. Within this technical assistance project it is not possible to identify all of these
needs. We have taken a strategic approach to identifying important gaps in the needs in order to ll the
specic key needs within the ecotourism industry.
There is no doubt that within government as well as the private sector there are a number of people with
sound technical and management skills and knowledge. However, there are still are signicant capacity
gaps that must be addressed. There is also the overriding need to ensure that customer satisfaction
becomes an essential element of all tourism planning, development and management.
Training needs of the stakeholders involved in ecotourism industry in Fayoum must include the following
categories:
Private Sector and NGO Capacity Building Needs
Employees of hotels, resorts and camps accommodation
Employees of Travel agencies
Employees of Transport companies
Employees of Restaurants
Employees of tourism related NGOs
Local guides
Local handicraftsmen and souvenir shops
Local architects and planners
Public Sector
Employees of the Fayoum Tourism Agency
Employees of the local ofce of TDA
Park rangers
Local police and security agency
The main topics could be covered for the training needs include:
Interpretation and guiding
Marketing and promotion
Festival and special events management
Heritage site management
Visitor management
Determining carrying capacities
Strategic planning and management
Website management
Economic base training
Project (restaurant, hotels, etc) management
Basics of small and medium-sized enterprise creation
Indicators and monitoring
Managing Service Excellence in the Tourism Industry
83
There is a signicant challenge to provide the capacity to make change occur and to make implementation
possible given the realities of Fayoums society in general and specically in tourism planning and
development. It is clear that various actors require a different set of skills for managing change as well
as the ability to change their decision-making and working culture. In other words, within a climate of
scarce resources an entrepreneurial perspective would be very useful in helping to push ahead many of
the important tourism agendas facing Fayoum.
The training program under this project serves as a participatory approach for creating the ecotourism
plan and in the same time train the local staff on techniques, methodology and guidelines of the planning
procedures. The following are the priority needs for capacity building for the rst phase implementation
of the ecotourism development plan.
5.7.1 Capacity building for the FTA and Fayoum staff
Considerable time has been spent on the assessing the capacities and the needs of FTA staff. While
the ofcial number of employees is around (20) about 40% of these employees can be classied as
active staff. About 75% of the key staff has University degrees while 25% of the general staff have a
high school certicate or lower. There appears to be a number of opportunities for key staff to upgrade
their skills and knowledge through training.
The project was carried out in a training program for the FTA, EEAA, TDA, and Fayoum Information
center staff on ecotourism planning and principals. The program has been delivered successfully during
the last six months. The training program allowed the participant to:
Understand the basic elements of ecotourism, the market and market trends
Assess the potential of individual and group eco-tourist specialty markets
Use green guidelines for operating a successful ecotourism business
Analyze and address the special needs of eco-tourists and local communities
Establish an ecotourism planning process at the local and regional levels
Develop trip circuits and travel packages that are safe and offer a wide variety of experiences
Understand the vital role of interpretation and education in adding value
The following are the main training courses that took place in the last months during elaboration of the
ecotourism plan.
Introduction to Sustainable Ecotourism Development
Fayoum ecosystem and its implications on development planning
Ecotourism planning strategies and technique
Practical training: Identifying selected sites within sub-zones
Sustainable ecotourism regulations and guidelines
5.7.2 Capacity building for local guides
As the concept for the ecotourism operation, the educational component is becoming signicant and
has been elevated to a priority in most eco-tours. Eco-tourists educational expectations have steadily
increased. Todays sophisticated client demands high level of natural history and cultural experience.
84
Evolving ecotourism standards and eco-tourist demands have, therefore, been a major impetus behind
increased emphasis on education and guiding experience provided to tourists.
One of the most important elements of safe, memorable and educationally rewarding ecotourism
experience is the talents and skill level of the tour guide. Guiding should encompass not only the ability
to explain to the traveler the area being visited, or to coordinate with the tour operator, but to convey
the all-important message that true ecotourism entails: the importance of sustainable lifestyles, both at
home and abroad.
To have such a level of guiding skills in Fayoum, there is a need for training effort and capacity building
for the local people to create a new generation of local guides to support the ecotourism industry in
Fayoum. Training programs are needed for the local people from different organizations including: local
people, private sector, rangers, hotels, and tour operators as well as young individual graduates. The
main objective of the training is to give the participants interpretation skills and natural history knowledge
necessary to create and secure jobs as ecotourism guides in Fayoum.
The training should emphasize mainly guiding skills, practices and techniques. The participants of
the ecotourism guiding training will have the opportunity to make important contribution to protected
areas and ecotourism operation in the Fayoum region. They will learn more about ecotourism guiding,
environmental interpretation, natural and cultural history, conservation, emergency and safety
management and tourist attention.
The training should provide the participants with general introduction to the natural and historical heritage
of the Fayoum region, environmental interpretation skills, local conservation issues, important ecological
and cultural history, as well as training in tourist services and guiding skills. These skills are deemed
important for promoting responsible and sustainable ecotourism in the Fayoum region.
The following are the main topics that must be covered by the training programs for the local guides:
The guiding process
Risk management
Wilderness rst aid and appropriate medical response skills;
Safety practices and procedures
minimum impact trail maintenance techniques
Land based skills management
Recreational activities
wilderness management principles and philosophy;
application of the minimum-tool/requirement concept;
prociency in the use of primitive tools camping management
GPS
Communication
Language training
Leave No Trace (LNT).
Interpretation skills
Principals of Interpretation
85
86
87
ANNEXES
89
ANNEX 1
SAMPLE ITINERARIES
90
Trip Background
Soft adventure
Tour grade: Moderate
Duration: 5 days/ 4 nights
Note: The duration and
departure of the trip can be
changed to suit client needs
The world's most mysterious place the Fayoum invites you to reveal
its secrets. It is an invitation to discover the Fayoum on Camel, the
so-called charismatic ships of the desert, tied together caravan style,
and enjoy the spectacular scenery and relaxed rhythm of ancient
times. A certain sense of adventure will strike visitors once they see
the incomparable landscape and the sun set over the endless vast
planes of the Fayoum desert.
91
ITINERARY
DAY ONE
1.30 pm
2.30 4.00 pm
: The First stop is Kom Oshim Museum, built in 1980. The museum's exhibits tell the
story of the Fayoum history from its early beginnings.
4.5 - 5.5 pm
: Travelers will visit a camel breeder family famous for their hospitality to choose
camels and meet the local Bedouin guide.
6.00 pm
7.00 9.00 pm
: Dinner
7.30 am: Enjoy breakfast at the base camp on the Lake shore
Along the Fayoum golden dunes, travelers will admire the wilderness and the nature beauty of the sand
dunes and climb up one of the coastal dunes of the Lower Lake of Wadi El Rayan and the extensive
dune elds and the series of longitudinal paralleled sand dunes running from North-West to south-East
direction in the South-western part of Wadi El-Rayan depression. The dunes vary in length from few
hundred meters to thirty km and may reach the height of 30 m.
We'll continue riding south along the way, to the lower Lake to look for the near Artist's Point of the
Medawara and bein El Nahdeen area, overlooking the spectacular lower lake of Wadi El Rayan, one of
the most picturesque spots in the Fayoum.
1.00 pm: Enjoying lunch at Medawara with splendid overlooking view of the lower Lake.
Springs area: After lunch riders will have a short ride to Oyoun El Rayan, a prime location for bird and
animal watching with strict regulations located south west of the lower Lake. Riders will leave their
camels for a nature hike. The habitat within the spring's area consists of four natural sulfur springs form
permanent pools and relatively extensive afuent channels that are generally chocked by dense growth
of marsh vegetation. A supercial aquifer supports fairly dense and varied natural vegetation, dominated
by Alhagi graecorum, Nitraria retusa, Calligonum polygonoides and Tamarix nilotica. There are small
reed swamps and scattered date palms surrounding the springs.
Most of the locally breeding birds are conned to - or dependent on this habitat. Birds typical of this
habitat are Pharaohs eagle owl and the Palm dove, the Olivaceous warbler Hippolais pallida, the Southern
grey shrike Lanius meridionalis, the Hoopoe lark and the Rufous bush robin Cerotrichas galactotes, a
summer visitor. The area is known for its rich and divers wildlife which includes 14 mammals, 16 reptiles,
over 100 migrant and resident bird species and numerous insect and other invertebrate species. Jackals
and hares are moderately common. Though rarely seen, the Desert monitor Varanus griseus is a fairly
common diurnal predator that roams widely in the springs area.
4.00 pm
7.00 9.00 pm
: Dinner
92
Valley of the whales: On this full day trip, travelers will have the opportunity to visit and explore one
of the international heritage sites. Riders will explore the fossil remains of Valley of the whales which
are internationally famous for its rich fossilized remains -some 40-60 million years ago- and unusual
geological formations.
Valley of the whales Wadi Al-Hitan is the most important site in the world to demonstrate one of
the iconic changes that make up the record of life on Earth: the evolution of the whales. It portrays
vividly their form and mode of life during their transition from land animals to a marine existence. It
exceeds the values of other comparable sites in terms of the number, concentration more than 415
fossil skeletons have been identied- and quality of its fossils, and their accessibility and setting in an
attractive and protected landscape. The site contains invaluable fossil remains of the earliest, and now
extinct, suborder of whales, the archaeocete. These are the ancestors of the two modern suborders of
cetaceans (Mysticeti and Odontoceti).
Picnic Lunch will served at the parking gateway of the site
4.00 pm
: Ride to Um Zalat north Lake Qarun and set up a mobile camp in the desert area
north Lake Qarun overlooking Um Zalat which the night will be spent.
7.00 9.00 pm
: Dinner
surrounding area. Below the site there are extensive remains of the village that once stood nearby.
There is evidence of an ancient roadway, an unusual platform that resembles a causeway, hand-hewn
rock caves, and several prehistoric villages.
2.00 pm: Picnic lunch near Qasr El Sagha
The prehistoric sites: Short hiking to the south of Qasr El Sagha to explore the prehistoric sites located
on the at plain. The area seems to have been inhabited by hunters, while the southern sites, nearer the
ancient lake, were inhabited by farmers and shermen. Near by are the remains of an ancient quay.
The ancient Basalt road: Travelers will explore basalt road which reputedly the rst paved road in
the world. The roadway that led to the quarry of wedan El Faras was constructed of basalt stone and
petried wood during the Old Kingdom. This quarry, road begins at Qasr al-Sagha, turns north, and
climbs the escarpment it moves across the plain, and directly to Widan al-Faras, 8 kilometers away.
Then it skirts the second escarpment to Gebel Qatrani. As such, a road facilitated transport of the basalt
blocks over the uphill stretches. The road is fully visible on the surface.
Deir Abu Leefa: The riders will have the chance to visit Abu Leefa monastery, A Christian Monastery
was probably founded by St. Panoukhius about 686 A.D and was in use from the 7th through the 9th
centuries. It served as a haven for Christians seeking persecution. Immediately behind the Qasr El
Sagha temple, and visible on the cliff face of the upper portions of the Deir Abu Leefa member giant
cross-bedded sandstone, are a similar series of small man-made caves probably used for meditation.
The monastery is typical primitive, its entrance is cut into the mountain and consisting of small caves
carved into cliff sides that can be difcult to reach. The visitors may have the chance to have a cup of
tea and short talk with the monks about the history of the monastery.
7.00 pm Camp near the monastery where the dinner will serve.
DAY 5: QATRANI FOSSILS
Kingdom quarry now known to be the source of basalt used for the Old Kingdom pyramid temples. The
site is standing about 340 meters above sea level. The basalt was loaded onto sleds and transported
down the escarpment to the waiting boats at the quay at Qasr al-Sagha.
4.00 pm: Departure: At Wedan El Faras, the 4 wheel drive cars are waiting for the riders to pick them
out of the desert and drive back to Cairo via Baharia road.
95
Travelers
Easy
Trip Background
The Fayoum has more than 214 species of birds, 11 of them are globally
threatened species. Because of the varied habitat-types that the Fayoum
comprises of as also of the strict protection accorded to them birding in
Fayoum is very special.
In this 4 day birding program birders will explore different habitat such
as marshes, mudat, reed bed, farmland, open water and water edge,
Duration:
desert areas and towns. The open water, mudats, the protected
2 days/ 3 nights
the duration of the trip can be embayment, sheltered areas, and the reed beds thickets of the Lake
changed to suit client needs. shore of lake Qarun and Wadi El Rayan are inhabited by numerous of
water birds, wading birds, shorebirds, and waterfowl including species
of grebes, ducks, Bittern, Ibis, Harriers , Warblers, gulls, terns, plovers
Preferable Tour dates:
etc. The bird species are both resident and migratory include Lesser
From
to
Crane Water Rail, Spotted Crake, Moorhen, Purple Gallinule, Painted
Snipe, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Stone Curlew, Little Ringed Plover,
Land only price 2006:
per person
Ringed lover, Kittlitz's Plover, Kentish Plover, Greater Sand Plover,
2 persons 150 US$ Golden Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Little Stint, Temminck's Stint, Curlew
3-5 persons 135 US$
6 < persons 120 US$ Sandpiper, Broad-billied Sandpiper Ruff, Jack Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit,
Curlew, Whimbrel, Greenshank, Green andpiper, Wood Sandpiper,
Marsh Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Redshank Common Sandpiper,
Discount conditions:
1 free space for 16 +1 PAX Turnstone, Red-necked Phalarope, Black-headed Gull, Gull-billed Tern,
For children below 11 y.o of White-winged Black Tern, Whiskered Tern, Black Marsh Tern, Little Tern,
family trip
Yellow Wagtail, Reed Warbler, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Moustached
Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Whinchat, Blue Throat, Streaked eaver
among others.
Included in the price:
Accommodation in double
occupancy in hotel, guest
house
Guiding and interpreting
service
Renting transport + driver
with petrol,and maintenance
All meals according to the
itinerary /all kinds of drink is
on your own/
Sightseeing and cultural
show admissions according
to the itinerary
Entrance fees for protected
areas and national parks
Return ticket conrmation
Not included:
Visa cost, International
Airfare, Travel insurance
Note:
Single supplement is not
available
96
The tour grade and style is varying from Easy to Moderate to Hard and varying from one full day hiking
up to 7 days. A tailor-made itinerary, number of sites visited, daily distance and duration of hikes and
birding depend on weather conditions, tness of hikers / birders and the length of stay. The tour is
designed to explore areas where birders can see combination of endemics and birds on the threatened
list according their interests. Of course, the interests of the experienced birders, who are looking for
new and threatened species is different from new birders who will delight in seeing colorful and Key big
birds. The programs designed to meet the needs of both casual and experienced birders. All itinerary
programs is designed to spend the nights in the most appropriate and best hotels of the Fayoum has to
offer.
ITINERARY
DAY 1: EASTERN AND MIDDLE SECTION OF LAKE QARUN AND QARN ISLAND
Departure from the Hotel in Cairo at 6 O'clock to Fayoum
We will drive 70 km on Cairo Fayoum paved road
7.30 am: Arrive to the intersection of Quarun road and Cairo- Fayoum road where we will meet our local
guide.
First stop: Birding in the eastern water reeds of Lake Qarun (2 hours)
Drive on the dirt tracks through agriculture land to Qaret El Rosas in the eastern tip of the Lake Qarun.
This small marshy bay is one of the best locations at Lake Qarun to see water birds, residents, winter
visitors and migrants. The site is a prime viewing spot during fall migration in October and winter time.
A hike by the shore of Qaret El Rosas offers a lot of key species. Also try looking for grebes in the
marshes within the Lake. Various shorebirds included Common & Spotted Redshanks, Common & Jack
Snipe, Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint.
Second stop: Birding at the southeastern of Lake Qarun (1 hour)
We will drive a further 5 km to the south to reach the water reeds of the south eastern shore of Lake
Qarun, place that provide excellent chances to immediately picking up Pintail, Pochard, Great White
Egrets and several Slender-billed Gulls.
Third stop: Birding at Raas Abu Neema (1 hour)
Picnic Lunch will be served at Raas Abu Neema with grilled sea food served by the local boatman. After
lunch we'll have a short trek to explore birds of Raas Abu Neema and Abuksah.
Four stop: Birding at Quarun Island (4 hours)
Birders will have a wonderful opportunity to take a boat ride around the Qarn Island. The boat trip
needs to be arranged with the local boatman from Shakshok village. (Special Permissions need to be
arranged with the rangers of Lake Qarun protected area). The islands has a long sandy beach and
have been declared as a core of the protected areas. Being acceptably protected from predators, the
island is a haven for breeding seabirds, and is a resting and feeding post for winter visitors and passage
migrants.
Over one thousand species of birds visit this island each year, many of which nest on its remote shores.
The island supports globally signicant bird species and it has been classied as an "Important Bird
97
Raven, Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Mourning Wheatear, Isabellina Wheatear, Rock Thrush, Blue Rock
Thrush, European Robin, and trumpeter Finch. Sand Grouse are present but can be difcult to locate.
The view from the top is sensational.
As we continue up to Monqar El Rayan where vertical scarp rises to 184 m above sea level, a variety of
birds of prey are present including the rare Lappet-faced Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard
Steppe Eagle, Osprey, Lesser Kestrel, Sooty Falcon, Lanner, Saker, Peregrine, Barbary Falcon,.
At 5:00pm start the drive back to Cairo
100
Trip Background
The Fayoum offers visitors a glimpse into traditional Egyptian rural life
style with rich and complex ethnic culture groups containing farmers,
Bedouins, and shermen living together in the same region. Our tour
programs combine experienced local lifestyles and its related type of
Discount conditions:
1 free space for 16 +1 PAX
products and activities such as poetry, basketry, traditional storytelling,
For children below 11 y.o of
falconry exhibitions, and traditional shing. Many villages in Fayoum
family trip
have outstanding traditional handicrafts telling the history and traditions
of local people in Fayoum. The abundance of palm trees and clay
Included in the price:
found in the Fayoum are the reason the basketry industry got its start
Accommodation in double
occupancy in hotel and guest here. Travelers will visit local villages such as Nazla, and Tunis the
house
master craft centers of pots and open heritage museums that explains
Guiding and interpreting
the culture, traditions, and many uses of potteries.
service
Countryside vacations are increasingly popular ways to experience
All meals according to the
farm living. They can also provide from 10 to 30 percent increase in the
itinerary /all kinds of drink is
on your own/
limited farmers income. The heritage of the agriculture industry in the
Sightseeing and cultural show Fayoum is a long and varied one. But agriculture land in the Fayoum
admissions according to the
is more than just a pretty landscape. It represents more than 60 % of
itinerary
the local economy as well. The Fayoum has one of the old and unique
Renting transport + driver
irrigation system can not found else where all over the world.
with petrol, and maintenance
Entrance fees for protected
One of main tourist attractions of the Fayoum is the Bedouin lifestyle as
areas and national parks
a local people has kept their unique way of life through the centuries.
The Bedouins tend their livestock and move for good pasture all
year around. The Fayoum gives the visitors an amazing chance to
Not included:
Visa cost, International Airfare, experience the Bedouin culture, traditions and hospitality by living in
Travel insurance
their way of life in wool tents for a few hours and share their own
and unique happiness. Remember that your trip is a big contribution
Note:
in poverty alleviation and economic empowerment of the local and
Single supplement is not
indigenous people of the Fayoum.
available
101
ITINERARY
DAY ONE
1.30pm: Departure from Cairo to the Fayoum.
2.30-4 pm: The First stop is Kom Oshim Museum, built in 1980. The museum's exhibits tell the story of
the Fayoum history from its early beginnings.
4-5 pm Drive to Zad El Mosafer guest house and check in.
6-7 pm: Travelers will meet the local guide at a nice, cozy guest house called Zad Al Mosafer, which is
owned by Abdu Gobeir an Egyptian writer. A peaceful little place of eight rooms that made of Mud and
palm leafs. Over coffee, participants receive an introduction to Fayoum and the program for the rst
day.
7 pm: Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and retire to the guest house or bed and breakfast inn, to rest
for tomorrow's cultural journey.
DAY 2: A DAY WITH THE ARTISAN OF TUNIS
7.30-8.30 am Breakfast: The Group is invited for breakfast in the house of one of the resident artists,
painters, writers, architects, journalists of Tunis. They are welcome you in open discussion on morning
tea table.
8.30-9.30 am: Tunis local architecture and lifestyle: Some twenty years ago, artists, painters, writers,
journalists and others, from Cairo and elsewhere from the world, have chosen to live there because of
the beautiful scenery, the peace and tranquility, and its proximity to Cairo. The newcomers contribute to
the life of the village community.
The Group start with a walking tour in the small hamlet Tunis which located on a beautiful ridge running
parallel to the shores of the lake Quorun on the way to Wadi El Rayan, it has amazing overlooking view
on the Lake. Villagers are partly settled Bedouin and cultivate arid land reclaimed from the desert.
The Group will enjoy the beautiful mud-brick houses in traditional style with leafy gardens and fantastic
views overlooking the lake.
102
Tunis Pots
9.30-10.30 am: Evelyn house : Walk in the main artery of Tunis for a tour to the Craftsmen's Guild
of Tunis established by one of the foreign residents Evelyn, a Swiss potter, decided to live and work
there from around 40 years. She uses a variety of different clay types and glazes. Evelyn, exports her
art around the world. She has established a pottery school for children who make beautiful designs,
primarily of animals in warm earth tone glazes. The Group will enjoy cup of tea with Evelyn and explain
here story with pots, Tunis, local community.
10.30-1.00 pm: The pots school: The school is listed on the prime Places of pots in Egypt. Stop in and
visit, you might catch a master piece in progress or a gallery who exhibit the pots of Tunis. The school
teaches many of the local village youth pottery as an art, and not as a craft. Some of the pottery school
students have even displayed their work outside Egypt. The school attracts and host potters from Egypt
and all over the world. Potter like Ahmad Abu Zied joined the village on 1997 and permanently shows
his very interesting pieces there. Visitors will have a chance to see the young artists making their wares
and purchase examples of their craft and might catch a master piece in progress. They will then spend
some time exploring the village itself
1.00-2.00 pm: Picnic Lunch: Back to the guest house and enjoy a Fellaheen- style lunch.
2.00-3.00 pm: Time for rest and relaxation
3.00-4.00 pm: Bird hike: The farmlands and Lake tracks around Tunis offer a good walk chance to
explore birds of the Egyptian countryside. This is an excellent location for seeing a wide variety of water
birds and many migrating birds that come to Lake Quorun in winter time. Khaled Abdelsattar, the local
bird guide from the village can offer good guiding trips. Khaled trained by the Duch program in 2002 to
develop his guiding expertise.
Qasr Qarun (1 hour)
4.00-5.00 pm This afternoon, take a short drive tour to the nearby Greco-Roman town (323 BC-554AD),
It was the beginning of the caravan route to the Baharia Oasis. The town is mostly in ruins save for a
few structures. In the middle of the ancient town, there is the temple of Stone dedicated to Sobek
Ra. It dates to between 323 and 330 BC during the Ptolemaic period. There is also a smaller temple
constructed mainly from mud brick and dates to the Roman Period. Located to the west of the temple,
there is a Roman fortress constructed of mud brick during the reign of Diocletian as protection against
the Blemmyes, is now a ruin. Within the ruins of the fortress are the remains of a Christian basilica.
5.00-7.00 pm: Time for rest and relaxation
7.00- 8.00 pm: Dinner at the guest house
103
Ride and Birding: Riders can enjoy watching the birds of the Fayoum farmlands.
Lunch and picnic hour at rest Hut with the farmers of Masraf El Wadi
Nazla pots
1.00-3.00 pm: The pots workshops and technique: Then it's on to Nazla, a traditional local village known
for its wonderful pots heritage. Located on a branch of Bahr el-Youssef runs through a deep clay bed in
the western part of Fayoum. The river clay is used for a local handmade pottery, for many, it's a pottery
paradise. Potters of Nazla use a very particular technique to make a spherical pot based on combination
of wheel-thrown and hammer-and-anvil. Work is carried out according to very old and traditional methods
of producing pottery that have not changed much since Pharaonic times. The potters village at Nazla is
built itself completely out of pots. Inside the 20 workshop, there is a hole, a kind of hemispherical scoop
in the ground. Straw and clay are mixed together, sometimes with ash. The material is in the hole, and it
is hammered and turned at the same time to make large globes. The big pots are allowed to dry a little,
and it is only then that the vessels are nished on the wheel. There is no wheel involved, no mechanical
process. Only the rims of the large round pots are made on the throwing wheel. These vessels are not
a result of mechanical turning but of the turning of the body, the rhythm of the body and the hole in the
ground. The pots of Nazla are archetypes, and are therefore in history.
104
The pots were used in the kitchen to carry and store water and milk, for animal foodstuffs, and for a
whole host of purposes. But now the utilitarian aspects of the pots, these are perhaps over. They have
less and less utility and there is not a big future. There is a need now to help the potters to develop the
pots as forms and shapes rather than objects that are supposed to have a utilitarian value.
3.00-4.00 pm: Pots Gallery: On the top of the Wadi bank there is a pots Gallery features exhibits the
native crafts for sale. Enjoy a demonstration by a Nazla artisan their pots in the workshops or browse
in the gallery for master pieces. The potters are friendly and ready to spend time showing the tricks of
the trade.
4.00-5.00 pm Drive back to the guest house
5.00-7.00 pm: Time for rest and relaxation
7.00- 8.00 pm: Dinner at the guest house
DAY 4: A DAY WITH THE FISHERMEN
7.3 Am: Breakfast
8-9 am: Kahk village: Drive to Kahk village for a tour of the local Maritime craftsmen highlights the
process and materials of building the local shing boats from its early beginnings to the nal product.
Watch as local shermen weave shnets.
10 am-2 pm: Boat ride in the Lake: The guide will take the group for unforgettable boats ride on Lake
Qarun. The boat trip needs to be arranged with the local boatman from Shakshok village. (Special
Permissions need to be arranged with the rangers of Lake Qarun protected area). The rowboat will take
you to the golden heron island, a haven for breeding seabirds, and is a resting and feeding post for
winter visitors and passage migrants.
2.00 pm: picnic Lunch at Raas Abu Neema with grilled sea food served by the local boatman.
3.00-4.00 pm: After lunch we'll have a short trek to explore the area of Raas Abu Neema and Abuksah.
5.00 pm: Back to the guest house
5.00-7.00 pm: Time for rest and relaxation
7.00- 9.00 pm: dinner with Arabian horse dancing and Fayoum Folklore performance in the evening at
the guest house
105
106
Map 17 the tour route of the crafts and local lifestyle itinerary
107
Trip Background
Wintertime in the Fayoum Desert is a riot of color! This is the perfect
Style:
Travelers
adventure for travelers who love hiking, bird watching, photography,
Tour grade: Moderate
and natural history. A unique blend of climate and geology create a
Duration: 5 days/ 4 nights fascinating landscape in this desert region where the sandy plains
the duration of the trip can be
and water Lakes of the Fayoum meet. Cascading streams, vibrant
changed to suit client needs.
bird life, spectacular fossils, and a medley of blooming plants grace
the wintertime panorama. From farmlands to great open deserts, the
Tour dates for 2006:
biological diversity of this area is renowned among naturalists and
from Sept to May
birders. In fact, the lush and varied life of the Fayoum far surpasses
Land only price 2006:
that of all other Egyptian deserts.
per person
2 persons - 120 US$
The plants and animals that have evolved to survive in this
3-5 persons - 100 US$
environment are among the most interesting collections of species
6 < persons - 90 US$
in Egypt. The travelers will hike through desert dunes and along
streams, walk to the top of Gebel Monqar El Rayan for a breathtaking
Discount conditions:
1 free space for 16 +1 PAX vista, visit valley of the whales, and explore on foot the historic
For children below 11 y.o of antiquities site of Coptic times.
family trip
Our accommodations for the week are at a small base camp set
Included in the price:
in pristine natural surroundings on the shoreline of the lower Lake
Accommodation in double
of Wadi El Rayan with a "Bedouin" avor. Tents in base camp are
occupancy in hotel, guest
twin-bedded double occupancy, with shared baths. Breakfasts are
house
at the base camp in the mornings, and picnic lunches are supplied
Guiding and interpreting
for our hikes. The dining during our adventure is a true Nomadic
service
cultural experience! Some optional activities at the Hotel are on-site
Renting transport + driver
with petrol, and maintenance horseback riding, hiking, birding, and swimming.
All meals according to the
itinerary /all kinds of drink is
on your own/
Sightseeing and cultural
show admissions according
to the itinerary
Entrance fees for protected
areas and national parks
Not included:
Visa cost, International
Airfare, Travel insurance
Note:
Single supplement is not
available
108
ITINERARY
DAY 1
10 am: Departure from Cairo to Fayoum and drive 70 km on Cairo Fayoum paved road
11.30 am: Arrive at the Kom Oshim museum on Cairo Fayoum road where hikers meet their local
guide. The Museum, built in 1980 and its exhibits tell the story of the Fayoum history from its early
beginnings.
2.00 am: departure to the base camp
3.00: Arrive the base camp of Wadi El Rayan, a 90-minute drive from Cairo. Our home for the next three
nights is Safari lodge in the shoreline of the lower lake. The camp is located in the heart of some of the
nest bird watching and scenic spots in the entire Egypt. The camp is comfortable and very hospitable.
After checking in and getting settled at the Hotel, we enjoy a dinner.
DAY 2: THE SOUTHERN LAKE
7.30 am: Enjoy breakfast at the base camp on the Lake shore
First stop: The waterfalls of Wadi El Rayan
Departure for our rst hike to wadi El Rayan waterfalls, just hundreds of meters from the base camp.
The waterfall is a place where, the upper and lower lakes are connected together by a narrow and deep
canal. This canal reaches the northeastern edge of the Wadi El Rayan depression where a waterfall is
formed at this vertical escarpment. As the water level in the lower lake rises, the height of this water fall
is reduced and the area around the waterfall is densely vegetated with marsh plants.
On the way: the coastal dunes of Wadi El Rayan
Along Wadi El Rayan dunes, hikers will admire the wilderness and the nature beauty of the sand dunes
and climb up one of the coastal dunes of the Lower Lake of wadi El Rayan on their way to the next stop.
The dunes vary in length from few hundred meters to thirty km and may reach the height of 30 m.
Second stop: the Lower Lake (1 hour)
We'll continue hiking south along the way, to the lower Lake to look for the near Artist's Point of the
Medawara and Bein El Nahdeen area, overlooking the spectacular lower lake of Wadi El Rayan, one of
the most picturesque spots in the Fayoum.
1.00 pm: Enjoying lunch at Medawara with splendid overlooking view of the lower Lake.
2.00 pm: Hike back to the base camp of the waterfall
DAY 3: THE SPRINGS AREA (OYOUN EL RAYAN) AND MONQAR EL RAYAN
Breakfast is at 6:15 A.M. with an early departure at 7:15 for a short drive to Oyoun El Rayan springs
area
First stop: Oyoun El Rayan (3 hours)
Hikers will have a short drive south via Oyoun El Rayan, located south west of the lower Lake. This
Habitat is a prime location for bird and animal watching with strict regulations. The habitat within the
spring's area consists of four natural sulfur springs form permanent pools and relatively extensive
afuent channels that are generally chocked by dense growth of marsh vegetation. A supercial aquifer
supports fairly dense and varied natural vegetation, dominated by Alhagi graecorum, Nitraria retusa,
109
Calligonum polygonoides and Tamarix nilotica. There are small reed swamps and scattered date palms
surrounding the springs.
Most of the locally breeding birds are conned to - or dependent on this habitat. Birds typical of
this habitat are Pharaohs eagle owl and the Palm dove, the Olivaceous warbler Hippolais pallida, the
Southern grey shrike Lanius meridionalis, the Hoopoe lark and the Rufous bush robin Cerotrichas
galactotes, a summer visitor.
The area is known for its rich and divers wildlife which includes 14 mammals, 16 reptiles, over 100
migrant and resident bird species and numerous insect and other invertebrate species. Jackals and
hares are moderately common. Though rarely seen, the Desert monitor Varanus griseus is a fairly
common diurnal predator that roams widely in the springs area.
1.00 pm: We hike the trail to Inspiration Point for lunch.
Second stop: Gabal El Deir:
The hikers will have the chance to visit the monastery; A Christian Monastery was probably founded
about 686 A.D and was in use from the 7th through the 9th centuries. It served as a haven for Christians
seeking persecution. The hikers may have the chance to have a cup of tea and short talk with the monks
about the history of the monastery.
Third stop: Gebel El Deir and Monqar el Rayan (2 hours)
Hike to the top of Gebel Monqar El Rayan 184 m Peak is a great way to end the day. As we continue up
to Monqar El Rayan where vertical scarp rises to 184 m above sea level, a variety of birds of prey are
present including the rare Lappet-faced Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard Steppe Eagle,
Osprey, Lesser Kestrel, Sooty Falcon, Lanner, Saker, Peregrine, and Barbary Falcon. The Monqar El
Rayan escarpment is also known for their beautiful rock formations and magnicent desert views. The
view from the top is sensational a 360-degree view.
Hike down to the car parking at the fourth spring to complete our hiking loop and return to the cars by 4
P.M. and are back at the base camp by approximately 5 P.M.
Dinner at El Medawara.
DAY 4: VALLEY OF THE WHALES (WADI EL HITAN)
7.30 am: breakfast at the base camp
Valley of the whales: On this full day trip, Hikers will have the opportunity for 16 km round trip hike to
explore one of the international heritage sites. Hikers will explore the fossil remains of Valley of the
whales which are internationally famous for its rich fossilized remains -some 40-60 million years agoand unusual geological formations.
Valley of the whales Wadi Al-Hitan is the most important site in the world to demonstrate one of
the iconic changes that make up the record of life on Earth: the evolution of the whales. It portrays
vividly their form and mode of life during their transition from land animals to a marine existence. It
exceeds the values of other comparable sites in terms of the number, concentration more than 415
fossil skeletons have been identied- and quality of its fossils, and their accessibility and setting in an
attractive and protected landscape. The site contains invaluable fossil remains of the earliest, and now
extinct, suborder of whales, the archaeocete. These are the ancestors of the two modern suborders of
cetaceans (Mysticeti and Odontoceti).
110
111
Annex 2
112
113
4. Lahoun
workers
town
Coordinates
N 29 13 716
E 30 58 004
1. Seila
Pyramid
Site description
114
6. Labyrinth
palace
5. Hawara
Pyramid
To the east of the temple precinct are the remains of brick buildings
belonging to a Roman village.
115
7.Medinet
Madi
35 km
southwest
Fayoum ciy,
East to the
Upper Lake of
Wadi Raiyan
Two distinct towns have been identied in the area. The most
interesting structure is the 12th Dynasty temple dedicated to Reneutet,
the serpent goddess, as well as Sobek and Horus. The temple was
originally built by Amenemhet III and IV and restored during the 19th
Dynasty, and was expanded front and back during the Greek period.
116
8. Qasr
Sagha
8 km north
Qarun, 24
km west
Kom Aushim
museum
N 29 35 366
E 30 41 052
Below the site there are extensive remains of the village that once
stood nearby. There is evidence of an ancient roadway, an unusual
platform that resembles a causeway, hand-hewn rock caves, and
several prehistoric villages. The prehistoric sites are located on the
at plain to the south of the temple. The area seem to have been
inhabited by hunters, while the southern sites, nearer the ancient lake,
were inhabited by farmers and shermen. Near by are the remains of
an ancient quay.
117
N 29 18 755
E 30 51 607
N 29 18 941
E 30 51 156
Fayoum City
(Northwest)
Fayoum city
entrance
9 Arsinoy
(Kiman
Fares)
10. Senosert
Oblisk,
Ebgieg
The ancient capital of the Fayoum from the Old Kingdom (2780-2280
BC) to Greco-Roman era (300BC-300AD), now a ruin. Originally
named Crocodilopolis, Shedety, then Arsinoe, Medinet El-Fayoum
was the main place of worship of the crocodile god, Sobek. Apparently,
crocodiles were adorned with gold and fed honey cakes and meat
by the priests. Of interest are the huge wooden waterwheels. It was
one of the largest ancient sites in Egypt, with an area covered 4
kilometers (560 acres) in its heyday. Ptolemy II Philadelphus turned
it into an essentially Hellenic city, of which he made his wife Arsinoe
the protective goddess. In its heyday Arsinoe had a population of more
than 100,000.
118
14. Kom El
Khilwa- Kom
Ruqaia
3km southwest
of the site of
Tebtynis, on
the edge of the
desert
Unknown
13. Damashqin
The site are known to the local people as the Kursi Faraun ("Pharaoh's
Chair") and El-Sanam, "The Idol". These were the bases of two
colossal sandstone statues of Amenemhet III. Petrie estimated their
original height at 12m. The bases were once washed by the waters of
Lake Moeris, and there is little doubt that they are the two pyramids
described by Herodotus as standing in the lake, each crowned by a
colossal seated human gure.
Middle Kingdom (2280-1778 BC). It has the remains of two large stone
pedestals that once bore the colossi of Amenemhat III.
7 km north
Fayoum city
12. Aarab
11. Biahmou
Pedestals
119
15. Tebtunis
(Oum Brigat)
30 km south
Fayoum,
near Umm El
Baragat village
Founded in the Twenty-second Dynasty of the New Kingdom (1085332BC) , the village was inhabited also by Greek and Roman settlers
and the ruins are from the period from the Ptolmaic rulers to the
Romans, 4th century BCE until 3rd or 4th century CE. Tebtunis was
also the site for the nd of a valuable temple library with numerous
literary, medical and administrative documents as well as religious
texts. It is mainly through these texts, written in Demotic, Latin, or
Greek that archaeologists have been able to piece together the history
of the Fayoum.
Greek Roman
120
16.
Karanis
Fayoum
N 29 31 093
Gatway, Km 26 E 30 55 577
on the Fayoum
Cairo road
One of the largest Greco-Roman cities in the Fayoum during GrecoRoman (332 BC-554 AD). Founded in the third century B.C. and
originally inhabited by the mercenaries of Ptolemy IIs army, with a
population-of about 3000, prospered for seven centuries. It declined
only during the turbulent-times of the fourth and fth centuries. It had
two main north-south thoroughfares. While houses, numbering in
the hundreds, grouped together in small clusters. In Addition to the
multistoried houses there was a large Roman Bath, Six dovecotes,
Bankers house, ten large granaries and seven small ones. There
were also public buildings in which the business of the community and
the state took place and two Temples dedicated to the crocodile god.
There were Carpenters, wool shearers, weavers, fullers, and wool
sellers for a complete textile industry. While excavating, 3,500 pieces
of textiles were uncovered.
The two temples in Karanis were dedicated to forms of the crocodile
god, , the Northern Temple is mainly gray limestone and the southern
Temple . living crocodiles were kept in the sacred lakes of these temples
and were fed grain, meat, and wine mixed with milk and honey. They
participated in ceremonies and were mummied after death. There are
ten large granaries and seven small ones in Karanis. As the grain was
harvested, it was stored here. Then it was transported to Alexandria
and then oversee the shipments to Rome.
121
N 29 32 165
17. Demieh 3 km north
Qarun, 9km
E 30 40 168
southwest from
Qasr Sagha,
Goods from the Fayoum were transported across the lake by boat to be
unloaded at the docks of Demieh, stored, or carried up the Avenue of the
Lions (370m long), passes the well preserved remains of houses to a platform
on which are the ruins of a large temple of the Ptolemaic period dedicated to
Soknopaios. assessed for a customs fee, and reloaded on animals for desert
caravans. These caravans moved north over Gebel Qatrani, and probably via
Wadi Natrun, to the Mediterranean and on to Rome. Today one can still see
the remains of the road, connected the temple to the docks on the Lake which
ends about a kilometer to the south of the ruins at a quay. The quay has two
limestone piers and steps leading south, presumably to the water's edge.
122
North west
Fayoum,
3km
southeast of
Watfa
18. Ehreit
(Theadelphia)
It was the beginning of the caravan route to the Bahariya Oasis during
Greco-Roman times (332 BC-554AD), and thus, of some importance.
The town is mostly in ruins save for a few structures that are worth
mentioning. In the middle of the ancient town, there is the temple of
Stone dedicated to Sobek Ra. It dates to between 323 and 330 BC
during the Ptolemaic period. The temple is made of blocks of yellow
limestone and is substantially complete. The roof of the temple is still
place, offering us a sense of the atmosphere that once prevailed in
all the temples of the western desert. The interior of the temple is
a labyrinth of rooms, stairways, corridors, cellars, tunnels and upper
rooms of all sizes at different levels, and nooks and crannies complex.
There are fourteen rooms on either side of central corridor that leads to
three chapels. There are vestibules, a sanctuary and a few additional
chambers. There is also a stairway to the roof which is worth the climb
for the splendid view.
123
14 kilometers
N 29 26 977
from Bacchius E 31 04 958
close to Beit
al-Rai village,
4km northeast
of El-Roda, on
the east side of
the Fayoum
21.
Philadelphia
(Koum El
Kharaba al
Kebir, Kom El
Hamam)
Many papyri have been found here, including the archives of Zenon,
the estate manager for Apollonius, and the treasurer of Ptolemy II
which shed light on daily activities in the Fayoum during Ptolemaic
times. It lay along the Bahr Wadan irrigation canal and was higher
than most of the Fayoum and therefore cooler. It had small, mudbrick
homes with courtyards. The citizens enjoyed two temples, athletic
games, and festivals. The largest number of Fayoum portraits were
discovered here ( at least 350 portraits).
20. Bakchias
(Oum Al Athl)
124
26. Homeen
27. Medinet
Watfa
(Philotreris)
28. Medinet
Qutah
Southwest
Lake Qarun
24. Qasr
El Banat
(Euhemeria)
Northeast
Lake Qarun
N 29 43 560
E 30 30 493
125
Coptic
29. St.
Gabriel
Monastery
(Al Nakloun
Monastrey)
7 km south
Fayoum City
, less than
one kilometer
beyond Deir
al-Azab.
N29 11 799
E30 52 406
126
N29 15 930
E30 51 201
30.6963
29.619
9 km
northwest
from the
village of Al
Lahun
6 km south
Fayoum city
North
Qaroun, 2 km
north west
Qasr Sagha
30. Deer
Al Hamam
(St. Isaac
Monastery)
31. (Deir
Al Azab)
Demosheit
Monastery
32. Abou
Leefa
Monastery
The Monastery was probably founded by St. Panoukhius about 686 A.D and
was in use from the 7th through the 9th centuries. It served as a haven for
Christians seeking persecution. Immediately behind the Qasr El Sagha temple,
and visible on the cliff face of the upper portions of the Deir Abu Lifa member
giant cross-bedded sandstone, are a similar series of small man-made caves
probably used for meditation. The monastery is typical primitive, its entrance is
cut into the mountain and consisting of small caves carved into cliff sides that
can be difcult to reach.
Founded in the twelfth century by Peter, the Bishop of the Fayoum, or in the
thirteenth century by the Patriarch Cyril III, Deir al-Azab was uninhabited from
the eighteenth century until recently. Today, the monastery has come to life
again and is a thriving Christian center of pilgrimage. There are new facilities,
including new churches, guest accommodation, and gift shops. From August
15-22 each year a mulid celebration is held to mark the Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
However today the monastery has been re-populated and their mud hives have
become an interesting mark upon the structure. Still, there is some return of the
wasps between January 10th and March 10th of each year. In 1985.
This monastery is thought to date as far back as the third century. Coptic
traditions holds that it was founded by Saint Issac of Tiphre, one of the disciples
of Saint Anthony. This is a fairly small monastery, originally built of unbaked mud
brick, the remains of which can still be seen today.
The oldest part of this Church of the Holy Virgin is its walls, where were probably
a part of the original construction, and within its oor is situated a few meters
below the present courtyard. The main Hall Sahn is covered by two dooms
with beautiful cornice at the corners and on the wall. There is also a small
chapel dedicated to the monastery's founder, Saint Isaac, which is small and
has only one sanctuary.
the Monastery is the most picturesque monastery in the Fayoum, Hence,
until recently, few people visited this ancient monastery, which has now been
renovated. It is beautifully situated in the desert on the edge of the Nile Valley
near the village of Al Lahun..
Islamic
127
36.Ali
Rouby
Mosque
35. Khond
Aslbay
Mosque
Fayoum city
North west
Fayoum city
The mosque was probably built by its namesake, a Mameluke sultan around 1490.
It was built in honor of the mother of his assassinated successor, Mohamed IV
(1496-1498). Water from the Bahr Yusif once provided ablution through a well
located inside the mosque, and there is a large minbar from Somalia with nely
carved wood and inlaid ivory. Located in the Fayyum, with a domed roof which rises
on ancient columns (possibly transferred from the pharaonic area of Kiman Faris),
Between the 16th and 19th centuries, the monastery declined and the buildings fell
into ruin as it was deserted by the monks. Late in the 19th century, Father Issac
El-Baramousy, along with a few other monks came to live at the monastery. They
began to rebuild the old monastery, which he headed between 1895 and 1938.
Today, the monastery has ve churches, including the Church of the Virgin Mary,
The Church of St. Samuel, The Church of St. Missael, the Church of the Angle
Michael, the Church of St.
Ain Samar
N28 43
Saint Samuel was came to Mount Kalamoun (Qalamon) in the Fayoum Oasis with
springs, Wadi 815 E30 four other monks where they established this small monastery. Dedicated to the
Mawalih
38 563
Virgin, this monastery named for St. Samuel continues to ourish even today. There
was devout monk who lived in a nearby cave, and that there were a total of 130
monks inhabiting the monastery at that time. During the life of Saint Samuel, the
monastery ourished, though it was apparently ravaged on several occasions by the
Berbers. Legend has it that the saint was captured several times by the Berbers.
Yet it is believed that at his death in 693, the monks of the monastery numbered
between 120 and 200, and that there were twelve churches.
34. Saint
Samuel
Monastery
Hamuli is the site of the Coptic monastery Deir Archangel Michael in the desert
south of Qasr Qarun, now a ruin. In 1910, a collection of ancient Coptic documents,
known as the Hamuli Manuscripts and dating from 823 to 914, were discovered
by farmers digging for fertilizer in this ruin. The manuscripts are currently in the
Piermont Morgan Library in New York City.
South Qasr
Qarun, 27
km from
Abshway
33. Hamuli
(Archangel
Michael
monastery)
128
40. Qaitbay
Mosque
(quality
mosque)
39. Qantra
Khond
Aslbay
38. Qantara
lahoun
(Bridge)
37. The
Hanging
Mosque
Fayoum city
Fayoum city
129
42. Qatrani
41. Wadi El
Hitan
30.05497
29.30687
West Lake
30.03756
Qarun and
29.30378
Wadi El Raiyan
Upper Lake
30.04494
29.29763
The fossils of Gabal Qatrani include fteen types of animal trail fossils
(ichnofossils), petried forest, thirteen different bird fossil families, twenty orders
of mammal fossils, turtle fossils, the gigantic snake fossils, nine species of
primate including those of mammals the earliest known ape, Mangrove rhizoliths
as well as communal nesting social insects.
The fossils of Al-Hitan show the youngest archaeocetes, in the last stages of
losing their hind limbs. They already display the typical streamlined body form
of modern whales, whilst retaining certain primitive aspects of skull and tooth
structure. Other fossil material in the site makes it possible to reconstruct the
surrounding environmental and ecological conditions of the time. It represents
signicant values that are currently absent from the World Heritage List.
The rst of the truly gigantic whales, Basilosaurus -18-meter-long, 40-millionyear-old fossil- had the serpentine shape of a sea monster and short, sharp teeth
for hunting sharks and other prey. Unlike today's whales, it had no blowholethe
ancient behemoth had to raise its head above water to breathe. What's more,
Basilosaurus still had the feet it inherited from its land-dwelling ancestors.
The site contains invaluable fossil remains of the earliest, and now extinct,
suborder of whales, the archaeocete. These are the ancestors of the two modern
suborders of cetaceans (Mysticeti and Odontoceti).
Wadi Al-Hitan is the most important site in the world to demonstrate one of the
iconic changes that make up the record of life on Earth: the evolution of the
whales. It portrays vividly their form and mode of life during their transition from
land animals to a marine existence. It exceeds the values of other comparable
sites in terms of the number, concentration and quality of its fossils, and their
accessibility and setting in an attractive and protected landscape.
130
45. Ezbet
Tunis
South west of
lake Qarun
The farmlands and Lake tracks around Tunis offer a good walk chance to explore
birds of the Egyptian countryside. This is an excellent location for seeing a wide
variety of waterbirds and many migrating birds that come to Lake Qaroun in
winter time.
The Guest House: visitors can stay at a nice, cosy guest house called Zad Al
Musar, which is owned by Abdu Gobeir an Egyptian writer. A peaceful little
place of eight rooms that made of Mud and palm leafs.
One of the residents is Evelyn, a Swiss potter, decided to live and work there
from around 40 years. She uses a variety of different clay types and glazes.
Evelyn, exports her art around the world. She has established a pottery school
for children who make beautiful designs, primarily of animals in warm earth tone
glazes. The school teaches many of the local village youth pottery as an art,
and not as a craft. Some of the pottery school students have even displayed
their work outside Egypt. The school atract and host potters from Egypt and
all over the world. Potter like Ahmad Abou Zied joined the village on 1997 and
permanently shows his very interesting pieces there.
Tunis is a small hamlet located on a beautiful ridge running parallel to the shores
of the lake Qaroun on the way to Wadi El Raiyan, it has amazing overlooking
view on the Lake. Some twenty years ago, artists, painters, writers, journalists
and others, from Cairo and elsewhere from the world, have chosen to live there
because of the beautiful scenery, the peace and tranquility, and its proximity to
Cairo. They built beautiful mud-brick houses in traditional style with leafy gardens
and fanastic views overlooking the lake. The newcomers contribute to the life of
the village community. Villagers are partly settled Bedouin and cultivate arid
land reclaimed from the desert.
131
The petried wood is covered different areas in the fayoum specially the north
area of Lake Qarun with very diverse and beautiful samples often actually littering
the ground in certain areas. This is certain one of our clues that the region was at
one time had a tropical climate.
Trace fossils are actually only the trail or debris left from the activity of plants
or animals, preserved as fossils. Animal trails are called ichnofossils, while the
root of a plant leaves a rhizolith. The number and variety of the trace fossils are
exceptionally prolic in the Fayoum.
The most important formation relevant to trace fossils is the Gebel Qatrani,
which Fifteen types of animal trail fossils (ichnofossils) has been identied and
classied into four groups. The four groups consist of communal nesting social
insects like termites and ants, burrowing invertebrates, worms and excavators.
Also Mangrove rhizoliths. Founded along the base of the Gebel Qatrani
Formation at Madwar al-Bighal.
44. Trace
fossils
132
46. Nazla
West to
Fayoum City
The potters are friendly and ready to spend time showing the tricks of the trade.
While the Nazla pots are red, they are red at fairly low temperatures. And the use of
straw, mixed with the clay, also inhibits strength. The pots were used in the kitchen to
carry and store water and milk, for animal foodstuffs, and for a whole host of purposes.
But now the utilitarian aspects of the pots, these are perhaps over. They have less
and less utility and there is not a big future. There is a need now to help the potters to
develop the pots as forms and shapes rather than objects that are supposed to have
a utilitarian value.
There is no wheel involved, no mechanical process. Only the rims of the large round
pots are made on the throwing wheel. These vessels are not a result of mechanical
turning but of the turning of the body, the rhythm of the body and the hole in the ground.
The pots of Nazla are archetypes, and are therefore in history. Here the history is
walking alongside the vessel, on a different but parallel path.
Located on a branch of Bahr el-Youssef runs through a deep clay bed In the western
part of Fayoum. The river clay is used for a local handmade pottery , for many, it's a
pottery paradise. Potters of Nazla use a very particular technique to make a spherical
pot based on combination of wheel-thrown and hammer-and-anvil. Work is carried
out according to very old and traditional methods of producing pottery that have
not changed much since Pharaonic times. The potters village at Nazla is built itself
completely out of pots. Inside the 20 workshop, there is a hole, a kind of hemispherical
scoop in the ground. Straw and clay are mixed together, sometimes with ash. The
material is in the hole, and it is hammered and turned at the same time to make large
globes. The big pots are allowed to dry a little, and it is only then that the vessels are
nished on the wheel.
133
50. Gharaq
Sultani
49.
48. Quta
47. Qasr El
Basel
N 29 24 941
E 30 22 928
N 29 68 89
E 30 49 114
The village was a papyrus thicket in pharaonic times and a starting point for
caravans to the Western Desert. It was Ptolemaic village - from 120 to 111 B.C.
- of Kerkeosiris, agricultural Settlement of Osiris, a village covered nearly 13
kilometers located in the Polemon division, in the south. it was settled by retired
soldiers who had received grants of land. Kerkeosiris also had a number of
dovecotes, including one with 1,000 pots for nests.
It was a Ptolemaic city of Medinet Quta, now a ruin, marked the western edge
of the inhabited area of the Fayoum in antiquity. There are ruins of houses,
inscriptions, and furnishings sitting atop a mound at the base of the scarp and
the edge of the cultivated land.
The scarp is a good place to climb nearly to the top and have a fantastic view to
the south overlooking Fayoum: palm trees, cultivated elds, and the giant lake
stretched out to the left, the Wadi Rayyan straight ahead, and the beige, empty
Western Desert on the right.
It was the saraya, palace of Hamed Basha al-Basil, a Bedouin who supported
Saad Zaghloul in his bid for Egyptian independence from British rule in the
early part of this century. The Palace Located along a canal at the beginning
of the village, the palace. The village itself is small and has a wonderful pigeon
house on the outskirts of the desert track that leads west to Tebtunis (Umm alBurigat).
134
The small lake of Abu Talib was a much larger lake in Ptolemaic times and
the area of Berenikis Thesmophorou probably sat on its shore and might
be the site of the modern village of Kom al-Khamsini. The lake is on the left
of the road beyond a small cemetery. In the middle of the cemetery, tucked
under a glorious spreading acacia tree, is the tomb of Sheikh Abu Talib.
The road to the lake passes through the cemetery.
A number of ancient villages can be identied in this area: the modern
village of Kom Medinet al-Nehas is probably the ancient Magdola, which lay
next to Ibion Argaiou; Tell al-Maraka could be Ibion Araiou; Kom Ruqayya
could be Theogonis. We know of a number of other ancient villages also
located here and waiting to be found: Lyusimachis. Areos Knome, and
Kerekesoucha Orous.
El-Alaam and El Kaabi villages are centers of the famous Fayoum basket
making tradition. Made of rice straw and date palm leaves, the coiled
baskets of the Fayoum come in a large variety of shapes varying from large
laundry baskets to dainty ones for little trinkets. This basketry technique has
been found in Fayoum since the Neolithic period, long before the pharaohs
came into power. The baskets are made by women working at home.
51. Abu
Taleb
LAND FORMS
135
30.30612
29.10832
West of lower
lake
East of lower
lake
South west of
lower lake
55.
Mashgiga
56. Monqar
El Raiyan
54. Bein El
Nahdeen
A rocky mountain bounded the south and south-east side of Wadi El-Raiyan
depression by vertical scarp rises to 184 m above sea level. The eastern ank
of the scarp is carved just south-west of the depression into a hollow forming the
area of Oyun El-Raiyan with wonderful overlooking.
A huge hill facing the lower lake of Wadi El Raiyan from southwest has a
overlooking panoramic view to the lakes and Madinet Madi
The western and eastern parts of the quarry are separated by 0.5 km and both
contain an excavated bench on top and along the edge of the Gebel el-Qatrani
escarpment. The basalt is naturally broken up by cross-cutting fractures with
spacing comparable to the sizes of the basalt blocks in pyramid temples. Once
a block was isolated, wooden levers and ropes were probably used to move it
along the shortest overland route (66 km) to the Nile Valley which called the
ancient paved road
The roadway that led to the quarry was constructed of basalt stone and petried
wood during the Old Kingdom. This quarry, road begins at Qasr al-Sagha, turns
north, and climbs the escarpment it moves across the plain, and directly to
Widan al-Faras, 8 kilometers away. Then it skirts the second escarpment to
Gebel Qatrani.
A large black basalt quarry exists at the northern edge of Gebel Qatrani, near
the two prominent buttes called Widan el-Faras. It was once an Old Kingdom
quarry now known to be the source of basalt used for the Old Kingdom pyramid
temples. The site standing about 340 meters above sea level. The basalt was
loaded onto sleds and transported down the escarpment to the waiting boats at
the quay at Qasr al-Sagha.
136
The upper and lower lakes are connected together by a narrow and deep
canal. This canal reaches the northeastern edge of the Wadi El Raiyan
depression where a waterfall is formed at this vertical escarpment. As the
water level in the lower lake rises, the height of this water fall is reduced and
the area around the waterfall is densely vegetated with marsh plants.
Between the
upper and
Lower Lake of
Wadi Raiyan
59.
Waterfall
N 29 13 837
E 30 24 503
See 45
A roundish Gabal el Medawara facing the lower lake from south has a
overlooking panoramic view to the lakes and Oyoun El Raiyan
58. Qatrani
N 29 11 412
E 30 21 839
South Lower
Lake
57. El
medawara
137
61. Salt
marshes
60. Qaret
Gahanam
West Lake
Qarun and
Raiyan
N 29 18 747
E 30 09 598
138
62. Oyoun
El Rayan
South west of
lower lake
N 29 04 798
E 30 18 099
The area is known for its rich and divers wildlife which includes 14
mammals, 16 reptiles, over 100 migrant and resident bird species and
numerous insect and other invertebrate species.
Jackals and hares are moderately common. Though rarely seen, the
Desert monitor Varanus griseus is a fairly common diurnal predator that
roams widely in the Springs area. This Habitat is a prime location for
bird and animal watching with strict regulations.
Three natural sulfur springs are found in the area and drive their brackish
water from remotely charged Nubian sandstone strata. These springs
form permanent pools and relatively extensive afuent channels that are
generally chocked by dense growth of marsh vegetation. A supercial
aquifer supports a fairly dense and varied natural vegetation, dominated
by Alhagi graecorum, Nitraria retusa, Calligonum polygonoides and
Tamarix nilotica. There are small reed swamps and scattered date
palms surrounding the springs.
139
A ne sand formation with rich environment in water comparing with the rocky
and gravel desert. In hollow inter-dune valleys evidence of moisture is found at
a depth of only of a few centimeters, and on the slopes at approximately 80 cm.
There are a few annual plants in inter-dune areas where the supercial stratum
is always powdery.
The sand dunes running from northwest to southeast. The mobile and abrasive
nature of sand plains means that few organisms can live on them. The sand
plains act as running and linking corridors for wildlife between deferent ecological
zones. The sandy formations is distributed in the Fayoum region in three main
areas :
1- A gently sloping sandy dune eld extends to the Northern shoreline of the
lake Qarun .
2- Extensive dune elds and a series of longitudinal paralleled sand dunes
running from North-West to south-East direction in the South-western part
of Wadi El-Raiyan depression. The dunes vary in length from few hundred
meters to thirty km and may reach the height of 30 m.
140
64. Shallow
Mudats and
Reed swamps
Middle
Lat. 30.6313
of Lake
Long
Qarun, ve 29.48434
kilometers
from the
shore
Over one thousand species of birds visit this island each year, many of
which nest on its remote shores. The island supports globally signicant bird
species and it has been classied as an "Important Bird Area by Bird Life
International and similarly renowned environmental organizations.
The islands has a long sandy beach and have been declared as a core of
the protected areas. . Being acceptably protected from predators, the island
is a haven for breeding seabirds, and is a resting and feeding post for winter
visitors and passage migrants.
Large numbers of wading birds, ducks and other water birds both resident and
migratory are attracted to these areas. The mud ats are important habitat for
a variety of birds and breeding areas for commercially important shes and
crustacean. The mudats areas in Fayoum include:
The major element in the vegetation bordering the shallow mudat areas is
the common reed Phragmites australis (bous, hagna or ghab), which varies
from dense, almost impenetrable thickets to thin rows lining the lake shores.
Some areas around the lakes remain without any conspicuous vegetation.
Thickets of Tamarix nilotica (abal or tarfa), tufts of Juncus rigidus (samar
murr) and clumps of Pluchea dioscorides (barnouf) and Typha domingensis
(deil el-qut, dees or bardi) grow here and there on the border of the lakes.
These areas include the protected embayment, sheltered areas, and the
areas receive the slightly brackish water from main drainage canals and
consequently have considerably lower salinity than the rest of the lake; as a
result, these areas are rich in vegetation and appear to be more productive.
BIRDING
141
This small marshy bay is one of the best locations at Lake Qarun to see
waterbirds, residents, winter visitors and migrants. Access to the area is difcult,
and is reached via dirt tracks through agriculture.
A hike by the shore of Qaret El Rosas offers a lot of key species of water birds
and waterfowl birds. Also try looking for grebes in the marshes within the Lake.
Various shorebirds included Common & Spotted Redshanks, Common & Jack
Snipe, Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint.
68.
Southeast
of lake
Qarun
69. Qaret El
Rosas
The only wadi in the area is the picturesque Masraf al-wadi, Drain of the
Valley. Located near the village of Nazla, which cascades down its banks, in
the southwest section of the Fayoum depression. The Masraf al-wadj is often
covered with owers and makes an interesting contrast to the usually at
depression oor.
67. Masraf
El Wadi
142
This area is one of the best for seeing gulls, terns, waders and grebes. There is
network of roads along the salt pans, which could be driven as a circuit. The salt
factory would probably be willing to open this area for birders for an admission
fee.
The ponds provide good chance for birders to see large numbers of resident,
migrating and wintering water birds can be seen. Waders are found in this
area along with pipits and wagtails. This is one of the best sites to see Painted
Snipe. Egyptian Swallows hawking insects, and large numbers of Ruff, Dunlin
and Little Stint, Ringed Plover and both species of Redshank.
Along the
southern road
of Lake Qarun
72. Fishery
ponds
73. Salt
pans of the
salt factory
The islands has a long sandy beach and have been declared as a core of the
protected areas. Being acceptably protected from predators, the island is a
haven for breeding seabirds, and is a resting and feeding post for winter visitors
and passage migrants.
Over one thousand species of birds visit this island each year, many of which
nest on its remote shores. The island supports globally signicant bird species
and it has been classied as an "Important Bird Area by Bird Life International
and similarly renowned environmental organizations.
In the middle of
Lake Qarun
This is a peninsula with farmlands and a village that extends into Lake Qarun.
It makes a pleasant walk through the Egyptian countryside where species
associated with agriculture can be seen. At the end of the point is an attractive
area with scenic views of the lake, which would make a good location for a picnic
site or an ecolodge. Although this site is not particularly good for waterbirds, some
interesting species have been found at this location. Waders are common in all
sizes, from the wintering little stints to black tailed godwits and avocets. Small
numbers of temminck's actually winter and can be found here with numbers of
Painted snipe.
71. Qarn
island
70. Abu
Neema
143
75. Gezeret
Umm Zalat
A famous site for Greater Flamingo. There is a trail to the area from Quta, but
4-wheel drive is needed. Most birdwatchers watch the birds from the other side
using a scope. Little is known about the Greater Flamingos, their occurrence is
quite erratic.
Botnet Hafez is a picturesque marshy bay closed from the lake side by sand bar
which create shallow area excellent for the water, and wadding birds. The bay is
one of the few semi-natural remaining sites on the southern part of Lake Qarun.
It was famous as one of the hunting sites of the shooting clubs, but closed after
the designation of Lake Qarun as protected area. This is an excellent location
for seeing a wide variety of water birds. It is a quiet, scenic area that has been
recommend to be a nature reserve with hiking trails and hides.. A nice resort
established in the western end of the bay called El Robooa. The site is close to
Ezbet Tunis 2km.
Northwest Tip
of the lake
Qarun
74. Botnet
Hafez
TRAILS
144
Great crested and black necked grebe, tufted duck, pochard, and many coot with
small number of waders can be seen here. The herons and marsh harriers are
common in winter on the reeds beds areas. Even Osprey winter here along with
greater black headed gulls.
The track linking Wadi Natrun to Fayoum is part of a larger desert route from
Alexandria and the Mediterranean Coast to Wadi Rayyan and points south. It
passes into the Fayoum from the north, east of the Ghard al-Khanashat and
descends the scarp above the western edge of Lake Qarun. It continues to Qasr
Qarun and on into Wadi Rayyan.
There are two desert tracks that link Bahariya Oasis to the Fayoum, both called
Darb al-Raiyan. Passing through the Wadi Raiyan, the rst cuts north along the
western side of the lakes and goes to Qasr Qarun and beyond to Wadi Natrun.
The second passes south of the lakes to the south of Gebe! al-Deir mid the y and
enters the Fayoum at Gharaq Sultani.
The most famous traveler in the Western Desert was certainly Alexander the
Great, who rst took the coastal route to the oasis of Siwa, but then traveled back
to Memphis, where he was crowned pharaoh, by the route through the Western
Desert, from Siwa to Baharia, then cutting across the Nile Valley and presumably
passing through Sitra, Qasr, Zabu, Bahr Balama, Wadi el Rayan and Fayoum
- though it is possible that after Zabu he went to Oxyrhynchus and regained
the Nile Valley from there. He probably decided to build a temple at Baharia
after his successful crossing of the desert and his arrival there. The presence of
a temple for dynastic worship dedicated to Alexander, built about two hundred
years later at Kom Madi near Medinet Madi on the south-western edge of the
Fayoum depression, with celebratory scenes painted in Greco- Egyptian style,
also recalls the visit of the great Macedonian and his companions.
78. Darb
Wadi
Nartrun
79. Darb
El Rayan
Elbahary
and El
Qebly
80. The
Route of
Alexander
the Great
145
81. Basalt
road
As such, a road facilitated transport of the basalt blocks over the uphill
stretches.
The road's main trunk runs along the foot of the Gebel el-Qatrani escarpment,
below the quarry, and is joined in several places by short branches coming from
different parts of the quarry. The pavement has a uniform width of 2.0-2.1 m. It is
made from a single course of dry-laid, unshaped pieces of whatever stone was
close at hand: basalt and sandstone near the quarry, and sandstone, limestone
and silicied wood elsewhere. The total length of the road, including all its
branches is nearly 12 km, the last ten of which follow a nearly straight and mostly
downward course from Widan el-Faras to its nal destination on the shore of an
ancient and now vanished lake. The ancient road stands elevated partially above
the desert due to relative wind erosion estimated at 3 cm a century.
The route from the Qasr El Sagha temple to the ancient basalt quarries of Widan
El Faras passes by an ancient road that is reputedly the oldest paved road in the
world. The road is dated and quarry activity as Old Kingdom, with a possibility of
a Neolithic age. At Widan El Faras. The road is fully visible on the surface.
Annex 3
146
ZONE
DESCRIPTION
PERMITTED USES
147
PRIMITIVE
WILD
Ecotourism facilities:
Ecotourism services and facilities are
allowed in this zone including
- 10 small ecolodges (maximum of 50
rooms each) will be accepted in this
zone
- Camp sites & camp grounds
- limited low-impact ecotourism
activities and facilities (mainly of an
interpretive nature) such as interpretive
centers, bird watching, boat rides.
campgrounds, trail corridors.
- Pre-existing local settlements, limited
animal grazing, previously authorized
low-scale mining
- Domestic stock grazing in permitted
areas.
- Protected Area management
facilities.
SEMI_PRIMITIVE
DEVELOPMENT ZONE
148
ZONE
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
SPATIAL
DISTRIBUTION
AND
PATTERN
HEIGHT
RESTRICTIONS
(MAXIMUM)
Camp grounds
- Only 10 campground is permitted
with maximum capacity of 20
tents (according to Ecotourism
Development Plan).
- Camping is at-large except in very
rare cases where campsites may be
temporarily designated for resource
protection.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
(Special Protection
& Strict Natural Zone)
Not applicable.
PRIMITIVE
WILD
NET
DENSITY
(MAXBUILT-UP
AREA/LOT)
LODGING FACILITIES
DEVELOPMENT ZONE
Ecolodges
- Permitted only on the designated sites
- Maximum of 50 rooms located in a
minimum number of 25 separate cabins
or tented units.
- Buildings should utilize local construction
techniques, recycled or locally-produced
materials, local craftsmen, and cultural
images wherever possible.
- Structures and building must be painted
in colors that do not sharply contrast or
conict with the landscape.
- Provide building forms and images in
harmony with the natural environment.
- Camping in designated areas, unless
during emergency situations.
SEMI_PRIMITIVE
PRODUCT
IMAGE
ZONE
149
- Authorized vehicles
only, access would
be restricted with
permitted access only
- No new paved roads
will be allowed only wild
and primitive trails
- Walking is
encouraged or other
forms of minimalimpact transportation,
such as horses,
donkeys, or camels.
- All authorizations
by EEAA, access
prohibited without
EEAA permission
and accompanied by
licensed guides or
rangers.
(Special Protection
& Strict Natural Zone)
PRIMITIVE
WILD
SEMI_PRIMITIVE
DEVELOPMENT ZONE
150
SEMI_PRIMITIVE
PRIMITIVE
(Special Protection
& Strict Natural Zone)
ZONE WILD
TRAILSYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT ZONE
- Educational signs at
intersections of the main trails
may be provided, explaining the
concept of the loop trails and the
sensitivity of the resources.
(Special Protection
& Strict Natural Zone)
ZONE WILD
SINAGE SYATEM
151
SEMI_PRIMITIVE
PRIMITIVE
DEVELOPMENT ZONE
152
Not applicable.
PRIMITIVE
(Special Protection
& Strict Natural Zone)
ZONE WILD
LANDSCAPING
SEMI_PRIMITIVE
DEVELOPMENT ZONE
Not applicable.
PRIMITIVE
(Special Protection
& Strict Natural Zone)
ZONE WILD
SITE DISTURBANCE
153
SEMI_PRIMITIVE
DEVELOPMENT ZONE
154
Should be zero
PRIMITIVE
(Special Protection
& Strict Natural Zone)
ZONE WILD
INFRASTRUCTURE
LOCAL
COMMUNITY /
CULTURE
SEMI_PRIMITIVE
DEVELOPMENT ZONE
Rock climbing
- Climbers are required to employ minimumimpact climbing techniques.
- The use of power tools to install bolts or
other hardware is prohibited. All hardware
must be removed upon nishing the route.
SEMI_PRIMITIVE
PRIMITIVE
(Special Protection
& Strict Natural Zone)
ZONE WILD
OTHER RESTRICTIONS
LICENSE
155
DEVELOPMENT ZONE
156
REFERENCES
157
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158
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159
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160