 |
|
| There are only a few places in the world where a first-time visitor is confronted with a mountainous desert landscape as spectacular as that of the Sinai. On this BAOBAB Desert Dweller Safari, you will actually trek into the heart of the desert on camel and by foot. You will visit some of the awesome Sinai canyons and spend time with a Bedouin tribe, learning about their techniques of survival in this harsh desert environment. We will also take you to some of the ancient biblical sites in the Sinai, such as St. Catherine Monastery (reached by jeep), and to explore the Mount Sinai area by foot. To top it all sleeping under the stars in the desert is a most breathtaking and soul recharging experience. |
|
 |
Day
2-5 |
The next few days you will experience the desert in its most natural form, travelling in the ancient traditional way either by camel or on foot. The steady rocking progress of a camel ride can be very therapeutic, allowing you to relax and watch the landscape open up around you. It is difficult to judge distances across the vast plateaus and wadis (dry river beds) that cross them. The softer sandstone rocks are worn into wavelike patterns by the constant battering of wind and sand. This produces unlikely shapes, which rise from the desert floor long before you reach them and change as you pass them by. Along the way, you will visit many incredible natural features including the White and Narrow Canyons, the Frozen Dinosaur and the Great Dunes. |
|
|
|
You will always be accompanied by local Bedouins and their essential desert skills - only those who live here know how to find the shade, firewood and water needed to survive. You will learn how the hardy shrubs that survive here can be utilised for food or medicine, bake flat bread on open fires and spend some time with the Bedouin families located at the eco-lodge, who continue to live a traditional life-style.
|
Once in the solitude of the deep desert the silence becomes intense. Sitting amongst the changing colours of the rocks of the desert as the sun sets, without a sound to be heard, it is easy to see why so many people have chosen the desert as a place of retreat. Meanwhile, your Bedouin guides will erect the Bedouin tents - with carpets and sleeping mats on the ground – in perfectly chosen locations (including 1 night at the eco-lodge) and prepare wholesome meals. Camping underneath the stars in the clear desert skies can be an even more fulfilling experience. Star constellations and the Milky Way emerge as the sky darkens and the bright streaks of shooting stars are often glimpsed by the patient stargazer. |
|
 |
Days 6 & 7 On day 6, a jeep will pick you up from the eco-lodge and transfer you to St. Catherine’s Monastery, set beneath Mount Sinai, where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments and the site of the biblical Burning Bush. This area is the roof of the Sinai, where rocky peaks reach over 2500m and even snow falls in winter. In the middle of the desert, St Catherine’s Protectorate offers a surprising ecosystem with many freshwater pools and even some streams! We avoid the overused paths up Mount Sinai and therefore take you to up a more challenging trail with superior views across the Sinai, e.g. Gebel Katherine. You will be staying the night camping in St Catherine’s area and at the end of day 7 return to Dahab by jeep. |
Day
6 Transfer
and return to Sharm airport. |
 |
All BAOBAB’s trips are priced excluding the international flight.
This provides more flexibility for you, especially when based outside
the UK. BAOBAB arranges all other transfers once you have arrived at
your destination. A private taxi will pick you up from the airport in
Sharm El-Sheikh and take you to your accommodation in Dahab and return
you a week later. This trip will take approximately 1¼ hour. |
|
Price: 8 days Sinai Desert Dweller Safari starts from £515 per person Price includes 4 days camel safari - camping (FB), 2 days St. Catherine's trek - camping (FB), 2 nights Coral Coast Hotel (B&B), National Park fees & all land transfers and is based on 2 people sharing. International flights to Sharm El-Sheikh are not included, however we can assist you in booking flights through our preferred, fully ATOL bonded flight agent. This trip
can also be run throughout the year on a tailor-made basis for small groups. Please note that July/August is somewhat hot and January/February nights quite cold. Contact BAOBAB for prices and availability.
|
| |
Embah Safaris is a unique team with almost 20 yrs of safari experience within the Sinai area, combining a complete understanding of Western needs with Eastern knowledge and culture. An integral part of their safaris are the traditions of the Bedouin lifestyle with regards to tented camps, camel handling, food preparation & bread making, herbal medicine, healing and star gazing. Over the years, Embah Safaris has built up special relationships with many local Bedouin families and helped them with issues such as medical care, building of animal water troughs, contruction of an eco-lodge run by local Bedouins and employment. |
|
Many Bedouin families choice to live a traditional desert dwelling life-style. However, in the present day they also need an income, which can be provided through tourism. All BAOBAB Sinai trips help local Bedouins by giving them regular work, either as jeep driver or camel guide, and paying them a fair daily wage. While based in the desert, special care and attention will be given to issues such as fresh water usuage and waste disposal. Water is a scarce resource in the desert but a necessity for cooking, drinking and washing. Sufficient fresh water will be available at all time, but we ask all people to take great care to avoid wastage. Any waste decays extremely slowly in desert environments and will therefore be burned on a daily basis rather than burried. Coral Coast is Bedouin owned and has a nearly all Bedouin & Egyptian staff. |
|
