Egypt Travel Guide

**FACT FILE**
NAME	Via the altin word 'Aegyptu', meaning 'Home of the soul'
CURRENCY	Egyptian Pound
LANGUAGE	Arabic
POPULATION	80,335,036
SIZE	1,001,450 ^km2
CITIES	Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan, Asyut, Luxor
RELIGION	Predominantly Muslim

LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY

Egypt is a country in North Africa that includes the Sinai Peninsula, a land bridge to Asia. Egypt borders Libya to the west, Sudan to the south and the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east. The northern coast borders the Mediterranean Sea; the eastern coast borders the Red Sea. Apart from the Nile Valley, the majority of Egypt's landscape is a sandy desert. The winds blowing can create sand dunes more than 100 feet high. Egypt does not receive much rainfall except in the winter months and climate is arid.

CAPITAL CITY

Cairo is ideal for anyone interested in the mystique of ancient Egypt where the Sphinx and Great Pyramids dominate the landscape. Cairo is a hot, chaotic city that also offers Egypt’s unique antiquities, perfume, gold jewellery and souvenirs in one of the world’s largest bazaars. Situated on the Nile, Egyptians refer to Cairo as the 'Mother of all Cities'.

NATURAL WORLD

From wide stretches of desert to the fertile banks of the Nile, Egyptian landscapes are a wide palette to choose from. Plants are those common in dry subtropical and tropical lands, such as papyrus. Egypt has no forests but does have date palm and citrus groves. Sheep, goats, and donkeys are found throughout the country, and camels are found in all the deserts. Egypt has some 300 types of birds, and wild animals are few, except for the hyena, jackal, lynx and mongoose. The Nile is stocked with fish, but crocodiles have been reduced to a few along the shores of Lake Nasser. Reptiles include the horned viper and the hooded snake.

FOOD & DRINK

Egyptian cuisine consists of local culinary traditions while sharing similarities with food found throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Traditional dishes include;

Kebabs and Falafel (fried ball made from spiced fava beans and/or chickpeas)
Ful medames (fava beans mashed and slow-cooked in a copper pot)
Kushari (brown lentils, macaroni, rice, chickpeas and a spicy tomato sauce)
Shawerma (pita bread sandwich of shredded meat/chicken with Tahina sauce)

HEALTH & SAFETY

There are unfortunately a number of health risks associated with travelling to Egypt. Typhoid, Hepatitis A and polio immunisation is recommended. Go prepared for the heat with high factor sun screen, and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. It is advisable to only drink bottled water. Traveller's diarrhoea is the most common form of illness for travellers; visitors should only eat thoroughly cooked food and fruits they have peeled themselves. The waters of the Nile are contaminated and should not be consumed or bathed in. For a list of relevant vaccinations and other health precautions click here.

There is a significant threat from terrorism in Egypt. Visitors to the cities and tourist sites will experience a fair amount of hassle and are advised not to carry more money on them than needed at a time. Women should take extra caution when travelling alone, and be warned that Egypt also has a poor train safety record!

TRAVELLING

UK citizens must have a valid passport, and a visa is required.Egypt is a conservative society and visitors should respect local customs and sensitivities. Homosexuality is solemnly frowned upon and homosexual acts are illegal. Religious customs should be recognised, particularly during the month of Ramadan when eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours is forbidden in the Muslim culture. Travellers to Egypt should dress modestly. Egypt is + 2 hours (GMT).

Egypt is famous for its ancient civilization and some of the world's most famous monuments, and is widely regarded as an important political and cultural nation of the Middle East.

Egyptian Palm