Wadi Degla Protectorate
First and foremost, Wadi Degla means “Degla valley” in Arabic. It’s in the Zahraa El Maadi suburbs, about a 15-minute drive from Maadi’s downtown. The valley, which stretches for 30 kilometres; features limestone rock formations that date back more than 50 million years to the Eocene Epoch. That explains the valley’s abundance of fossils!
If you venture further into the desert; you may come across wildlife. Mountain rabits, dear, red fox; as well as 18 different reptile species, have all been sighted in Wadi Degla.
The Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency classified the Wadi Degla area in Cairo governorate as a protectorate in 1999, with a land area of 60 square kilometres. This desert terrain is only 10 kilometres from Cairo and is easily accessible. The protectorate is also home to one of the most important valleys in the eastern desert; which runs east to west and rises in the highlands. The Wadi winds its way across limestone hills before cutting into a deep; winding canyon where floodwater has sculpted the rocks into magnificent forms. Many fossils can be found in the rock formations, as well as scattered areas of petrified wood.
You can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities in addition to viewing some of nature’s best work. You can go for a short trek, bike on the trails, boulder, camp; or do what I did on my birthday and go BBQing with your pals. In any case, this is one of Cairo’s coolest spots to visit, and it’s a welcome respite from the city’s rush and bustle.