There are many places to visit in Egypt that’ll satisfy every single interest out there. The ancient country has almost everything to offer, ranging between sightseeing, religious tourism, leisure, adventure travel, and more. As a traveler, Cairo will mostly be a sightseeing spot for you; you’d never have enough time to explore it all, let’s be honest. But what if you’d like to chill or do some outdoorsy activity? I’d recommend you head to Wadi Degla Protectorate; at least that’s what I did for my 23rd birthday!

About Wadi Degla Protectorate

First things first, Wadi Degla in Arabic mean “Degla valley”. It’s located in the suburbs of Zahraa El Maadi, about a 15-minute drive from the heart of Maadi. The valley, stretching over 30 km contains limestone rock formations that date back to the Eocene Epoch more than 50 million years ago. Which explains why the valley is rich in fossils!

If you decide to go deeper into the dessert, you might stumble upon wildlife. Mammals like mountain rabits, dear, red fox, as well as 18 species of reptiles, among others were all spotted at Wadi Degla.

Things to Do

Aside from admiring some of nature’s finest work, there are various outdoor activities that you can do there. You can go on an easy hike, enjoy the biking trails, go bouldering, go camping, or do like I did on my birthday and go BBQing with your friends. Either way, this is one of the coolest places to visit in Cairo and it’s definitely a good change and escape from the hustle and bustle.

Prices

Entry tickets cost EGP 3 for Egyptians and EGP 5 for tourists. The protectorate is open every day from 7 am to 6 pm. In case you’d like to go camping, it’s only allowed in designated areas and you must obtain a permit in advance. Camping ticket costs EGP 50 for Egyptians and EGP 200 for tourists.

*Please note that these prices are subject to change overtime.

Useful Information

• The place is pet-friendly; my golden retriever and my friend’s lab accompanied us. There are some stray dogs, but no need to worry if your furbabies are good boys/girls.

• The best time to go is in the fall when the weather is not too hot. That’s usually from late September till mid-November.
• Mobile coverage is almost nonexistent.
• Cars are allowed inside. If you don’t have a car, you can order an Uber or Careem as no public transportation passes nearby. You can take the metro to Maadi station or Thakanat El Maadi station and order the Uber from there.

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