10 - 16 May 2001
Issue No.533
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 10 - 16 May 2001 Issue No.533 |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
A THOUSAND AND ONE FISH
A THOUSAND AND ONE FISH: Ras Mohamed, declared a national reserve in 1983, became Egypt's first marine national park in 1989. The one thousand or so species of fish living in this part of the Red Sea are represented within the lagoons and reefs which border this peninsula, as are the 150 types of corals. Although divers are the ones likely to reap the most benefit from what the park has to offer, there are also sites for snorkellers. The general preference is a visit by boat (approx. LE100 for a day excursion). However, a trip by jeep (little under an hour from Na'ema Bay and costing approx. LE120 for the vehicle) will give you the opportunity to see the land section of the park. There are several trails: one leads to Aqaba beach, Eel Garden, the main beach and the cliff side Shark Observatory, where telescopes are positioned. Another leads to Hidden Bay, Anemone City and Yolanda Bay, while a third leads to the Crevice Pools and the Mangrove Channel; the latter listed in guide books as the perfect place for children to swim.
The deeper sites, however, can only be accessed by boat, and these include Shark Reef and the Mushroom.
The visitors' centre is open from 10am to sunset. It has a library, a gift shop and cafeteria, and shows videos in English and Arabic.
For the more adventurous, camping permits can be obtained for a fee at the park entrance.
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