„ explore the secret jewels of the Bejas and nubian lands – going west ….

entering a forgotten paradise where regular guidebooks stop... „

On January 19th, 2014, we will launch an Expedition into the southeastern corner of Egypt, a true Paradise known as a “mist oasis” with abundant vegetation and wildlife.  The trip will continue along the southern borders of Egypt westward through Wadi Allaqi and end on an island in Aswan.

This special Expedition will lead us from January 19th till January 28th, 2014 to the seldom traversed natural paradise of the Gebel Elba National Park. Generally, the guidebooks stop where this Expedition starts (since permits are difficult to acquire for foreigners in this border area between Egypt and Sudan).

This Expedition will take place under the auspices of several Egyptian ministries and institutions.  With the combination of a number of organisations and sponsors, a very interesting program will be organized. Accompanying scientists and experts will provide explanations and guided tours during the trip. This tour is also meant to raise awareness through the media about this sensitive region and why it is endangered.

Since the area we are visiting is a politically sensitive region, the relevant security forces have been contacted and informed about this expedition and permits have been acquired.

Agenda

16 – 18 January 2014

Overseas participants arrive in Cairo or Marsa Alam. We will assist with hotel bookings and we will be delighted to assist and organize transfers to the hotels (only hotels listed as participating in Kamal Expedition).

19 January 2014

The expedition starts. We will pick up the participants from their hotels around Marsa Alam.  People who arrived individually can meet us in one of those places (by the morning all participants should have arrived at Marsa Alam).

In Marsa Alam we will finish the last formalities with the government after which we will head to the south. Following the coastal road for nearly 1 hour, we will arrive in Wadi Ghadir, where we will prepare our lunch. We will drive to Nogrous, a place where emerald was mined since the pharaonic times. Nowadays the quarry is left open and could be visited (you have to be careful and have to carry a torch with you – no security measures are in the mine- no holes are secured so high precautions have to be taken). Entering the mine will be on everyones own risk. Persons who don't want to take that risk should not enter the mine in the first place. We will set up an overnight camp nearby.

20 January 2014

We will start to visit the Roman Village Seket which nowadays is lying in ruins.  Throughout the day, we will cross over some landscapes and wadis. We will find a nice camping place in the area. Also an emerald mine would be visited on that day.

21 January 2014

Our days target will be the left open gold mines (precausions please have a look above) at the hangareya mines. An experience you should not miss.

22 January 2014

Our target is to visit the village of Sheikh Shazly and his mausoleum. We will find out who was Sheikh Shazley and why the sufis pilgrimage to that isolated place every year. Legend has it that a long time ago, Sheikh Shazley was on his way from the west to pilgrimage to the Holy Mekka in Saud Arabia, so he came across plenty of countries and towns. He stated in his will that he wanted to be buried in a place on earth where no human being ever committed a crime, so that was the isolated place in the mountain now named after him.

We will drive into Wadi Naam where we will spent the night near Bir Betan.

23 January 2014

On that day we might have an excusrion on the Ras Banas semi-island

24 January 2014

The next day, we will visit the Oasis of Abraq where we will find plenty of prehistoric engravings all over the rocks. A fort in ruins lies just on the hill on top. We will drive into the Wadi Abu Saffa exploring the wadi ains (waterholes) and engravings, reaching Bir Amreit where we will spend the night nearby.

25 January 2014

After breakfast, we will pass by Bir Dif returning to Wadi Hodein crossing the mountain to arrive at the sculptural rock wadi of Tariq el Ghaleya. From here, we will drive along the road that will take us to the marketplace of Shalatin. Here all products of Africa come on the market including exotic herbs, African music, and a large camel market. The sold camels are loaded onto trucks to go northwards. Sudanese Trucks (Safinga) are loaded in an artistic way to meters of height so the trucks look like overloaded camels. After a rest we will leave Shalatin to camp on the mouth of Wadi Hodein.

26 January 2014

We will be driving along the Wadi Hodein to reach near the Bernice – Aswan road.

27 January 2014

We will be driving along the road towards Aswan. We will park our cars and get into boats to get to the Nubian Heisa Island, a forgotten paradise, which became famous through the cultural festival “Characters of Egypt” which was held there in October 2011. We will be hiking on the island, visiting traditional Nubian households and we will spent some time on a boat to explore the areas around the island.

28 January 2014

We will have breakfast on Heisa Island and after that we will have to say goodbye to the hospitality of those nice Nubian families. By boat, we will return back to our cars and drive to Aswan. Here, we will have one last lunch together and celebrate the end of our expedition through the enchanting land of the Bejas.

Our service afterward the trip:

1. •Would could assist you with bookings for the following:
   

2. •If you would like to stay in Aswan for a few days, we could reserve a Nile cruise to Aswan, a fishing boat trip on Lake Nasser, a flight to Abu Simbel, or transport by plane or train to Cairo.
   

Route: Marsa Alam - Wadi Ghadi - Nogrous - Seket - Sheikh Shazly - Wadi Naam-  Bir Betan - Abraq  - Abu Saffa - Bir Amreit/ Bir Dif - Wadi Hodein - Tarik al Ghahilya - Shalatin - Heissa Island - Aswan

This tour will show us highlights, besides the wildlife and desert plants, Roman ruins, ruins of open gold mines, prehistoric rock-art, African market products, and the camel market in Shalatin. We will enjoy the hospitality of the Nubian people of the Haissa Island.

Prices for sit-ins will be Euros 1.500 per person

Places are limited on this expedition. Registration is now open. Bookings will be on a first come first served basis.

To participate you have the choice of sitting in one of the organized vehicles, or you could bring your own car and participate as a self-drive.

Reservation & Booking

Reservations and booking is open: info@kamal-expedition.com