It only costs $2 to live like Bedouins at Wadi El Gemal National Park

CAIRO – 9 December 2017: Wadi El Gemal is not only the most wonderful marvelous national park in the Middle East and Egypt, it is also the first park of its kind to contribute in raising the national income of the country.

Wadi El Gemal is a coastal area along the Red Sea. It features several coral reefs and over 1,200 species of fish. It is also a home to many animals and desert plants alongside five islands, inspiring workers and government officials to exploit the natural wealth by imposing entrance fees.


Wadi El-Gemal Protected National Park – Courtesy of Five Photos.com

The park will be one of the most important resources for national income as the Egyptian Ministry of Environment headed by Khaled Fahmy has imposed a $0.281 fee for Egyptians and a $2 fee for foreigners as entrance fees to Wadi El Gemal National Park. Meanwhile, the imposed money will be reused for the park’s development process.

“This decision comes as a part of many prior agreements with official authorities,” said Ahmed Ghalab, manager of the Red Sea natural park.

He added that Red Sea officials have waited many years for this decision to positively utilize this area in increasing Egypt’s national income and developing the park itself.


Group of Dolphins underneath the sea at Wadi El-Gemal – Courtesy of Five Photos.com

Wadi El Gemal is south of Marsa Allam, with many diverse ecological habitats and a rich variety of animals, such as dorca gazelles, Nubian ibexes, wild donkeys, camels and gazelles.

It stretches over 500 square kilometers and acts as a channel to transfer water from mountains towards the coastline to support the area’s vibrant ecosystem.

Although the park is easily accessed by an entrance from the coastal road 45 kilometers south of Marsa Allam, it is recommended that individuals should not enter alone as it is easy to get lost.

Wadi El Gemal Natural Park has a sufficient historical background due to prehistoric rock art and Ptolemaic and Roman ruins situated on its site. It conjoins a lot of historical sites that date back to ancient Egypt, like the Roman settlement of Sakit – a temple dedicated to the god Isis.


Coastal area of Wadi El-Gemal National Park – Courtesy of Five Photos.com