Wildlife
If the number of divers who come to admire the waters of the Red Sea is anything to go by, the marine fauna remains exceptional to behold. On the route of annual migrations, more than 430 species of birds inhabit Egypt. The animals you'll come across most often are domesticated animals such as donkeys, buffaloes and dogs; Cairo is also teeming with street cats. Here's a quick tour of the three main regions and the animals that inhabit them.
In the desert and Sinai
Golden jackal. The wolf-sized but harmless golden jackal is very present and lives in packs.
Black-necked cobra. Spitting cobra of African origin, capable of spitting venom from a distance. Particularly dangerous.
Dromedary. Bears only a hump containing fat, which it uses to feed itself when food is scarce. The fat can also be transformed into water (the 40 kg of fat can be transformed into over 40 liters of water). The dromedary can thus walk for 8 days in the middle of the desert. It was very common in Egypt when it was used in trade caravans.
Fennec. Of the fox family, with larger ears. Typical of the sands, where it can dig itself a den in a matter of seconds, its ears are useful for spotting its prey, but above all for dissipating excess heat. It's common to see them when you spend a night in the desert.
Dorcas gazelle. It manages not to drink for long periods, drawing the water it needs from plants and dew.
Gerbil. A small rodent that spends its days in its den and only comes out after sunset to avoid the heat and raptors.
Scorpion. Common in Egypt, especially active at night, it is difficult to spot during the day because it is capable of perfect mimicry on the sand or among the pebbles.
Along the Nile Valley
Crocodile. The Nile crocodile has not disappeared. It can still be found, in fairly large numbers, in Lake Nasser... and in the vivariums of Nubians living in Aswan. Based on ancient beliefs, the animal provides families with a guarantee of happiness.
Gamousse. Introduced to Egypt in the 18th century, the black-coated buffalo is used for field work, pulling ploughs and chadouf. In the evening, it is customary for the gamousse to take its place on the first floor of traditional homes, bringing warmth in winter.
Ox heron. This white, round-headed bird nests in colonies in the trees and bushes along Egypt's rivers and lakes. It is also known as the "farmer's friend", as it is often seen in the fields alongside farmers. It feeds on parasites on large animals.
Hoopoe. Called houdhoud in Arabic, from the call it makes. It likes to wander through cut grass.
Nile perch. Can resemble a pike-perch. Its ability to reproduce is such that it has been introduced to Europe.
Catfish. The Nile catfish prefers marshy, shallow, oxygen-poor habitats. Because it loves muddy waters, it was believed to guide the solar boat when it sailed the world's river at night.
Nile monitor. The adult Nile Varan can measure from 1.50 m to 2 m. It weighs between 3 and 6 kg. It can be distinguished by its fairly long neck. Its body is dark green-grey and black with yellow spots and lines. It is solitary, except during the breeding season. It is a carnivore and detritivore.
In the waters of the Red Sea
Barracuda. An elongated fish with fearsome teeth. Claude François talks about it in Alexandrie, Alexandra.
Dugong. An endangered species. A mammal that can grow up to 3 m long, and can be seen lazing around, particularly in Quseir.
Red grouper. A large fish with a red coat spotted with blue; it lives a peaceful life among the rocks.
Grey moray. A long, slender, undulating fish with a dangerous jaw that likes to huddle in the rocks, waiting for its prey.
Angelfish. A particularly beautiful fish. Its coral-like flavor makes it difficult to eat. Beware, its operculum has a sharp point.
Clownfish. Among the best-known of fish, it is often found in close proximity to a sea anemone, with which it forms a perfect symbiosis, one protecting the other. Its coat is orange with white stripes.
Parrotfish. This herbivorous fish eats algae and coral, which it can crush with its powerful jaws. Deep blue in color, it can reach 60 cm. Its coat is blue.
Manta ray. This particularly rare ray weighs around 1,360 kg. It measures from 3 to 6 m. Its coat is dark blue on the back and usually white on the belly.
Shark. Hammerhead, white and leopard sharks can be found in the Red Sea. Caution dictates that you do not move in their presence.
Hawksbill turtle. A protected species in danger of extinction. Only 500 hawksbill turtles lay eggs each year in Egypt.
The flora
A land of the reed and the lotus, symbolizing Upper and Lower Egypt, the Nile waters that bathe it present the traveller with a wide variety of flora.
The Egyptian landscape is marked by tall palms, sycamores and dark mango trees. Luxor and Aswan are particularly well-suited to the observation of multiple flower species. Vibrant colors are combined with the intoxicating scents of jasmine and frangipani.
Henna (Lawsonia inermis): lythracea. Shrub 2 to 3 m tall, sometimes thorny when old. Whitish bark. Oval, evergreen leaves. White or pink flowers in sweet-smelling clusters. The reddish-orange leaves have been used since ancient times. Mummies have been found with henna-tinted nails. This is still practised today, especially at wedding ceremonies.
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica): leguminous. Tree 15 m high. Pinnate leaves with numerous pale-green leaflets. Yellow flowers with red veins, arranged in clusters. Brown fruit in 15 cm pods. Inside, the seeds are surrounded by a tangy pulp with laxative, antiscorbutic and anti-hypertensive properties. It's also used to make a popular drink called tamar hindi, consumed especially during the month of Ramadan.
Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus): reed up to 4 m high, with a triangular stem and filamentous inflorescence. Young stems and rhizomes were eaten roasted over a fire. Applied to wounds, it accelerated healing.
Sesame (Sesamumindicum): a small annual herb with a triangular stem, lanceolate leaves and large, white flowers. Sesame is used in many Egyptian dishes and breads. An oil is extracted from it as well as a paste, tahina, used in pastries, notably halwa.
Sugar cane (Saccharum) : poaceae. Tall grass, 2.5 to 6 m high. Solid stems 1.5 to 6 cm in diameter. Leaves alternate in two opposite rows. Cultivated mainly in Upper Egypt, it is used to produce sugar. Frequently consumed as juice.
Frangipani (Plumeria acutifolia): apocynaceae. A small deciduous tree, reaching 6 m in height, with thick, double-branched branches. Fragrant, star-shaped white petals appear from June to September. Widely planted in tropical regions.
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera): palmaceae. Vigorous palm reaching 30 m in height. Slightly bluish pinnate leaves. Dates are the fruit. Initially yellow when fresh, they turn brown with age. This tree is of irreplaceable economic importance in desert regions.
Egyptian doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica) : palmaceae. Palm with an often branched trunk, reaching 10 m in height. Stiff, erect, fan-shaped, blue-green leaves. Gingerbread-flavored, oval-orange fruit. Many are found in the wadi Dom plantation, south of Aïn Sokhna.
Banana (Musa acuminata): musaceous. 1.50 to 3 m, characteristically shaped, with long, light-green leaves. The flowers are surrounded by a large purple scale. The banana tree is not a tree, but a herbaceous plant that dies when the banana crop is ripe. It reproduces by underground stems. There are hundreds of varieties.
Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua). An evergreen tree that can reach 4 m in height. Leaves are compound, thick, oval and glossy. Fruits are large brown pods 20 cm long. They are used to make drinks. The seeds were used as a unit of measurement: one karat is the weight of one carob seed.
Fig tree (Ficus carica). Deciduous shrub with flexible wood. Thick, oval leaves with three lobes. Fruits twice a year, in summer and autumn. Figs were associated with goddesses: they were often found on offering tables alongside sycamore. The fig is mentioned in the pyramid texts. A liqueur is made from them: arak.
Flamboyant (Delonix regia): leguminous. Reaches 15 m in height, with widely spreading branches. Deciduous, finely cut, fern-like leaves. Magnificent scarlet flowers, arranged in clusters, appear in April, when the tree is leafless. Fruits are very long, flattened pods, 45 cm long.
Pomegranate (Punica granatum): Punicaceae. Shrub or small tree 6 m high, sometimes thorny. Deciduous, elongated, dark-green, glossy leaves. Red flowers appear at the same time as the first leaves. The fruit is used for its juice and as molasses in cooking. In ancient Egyptian love poetry, pomegranates represented women's breasts.
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) : bignoniaceae. Medium-sized tree, 15 to 20 cm high, with a wide, airy crown. The fern-like leaves fall in late spring. Then comes the bloom, with large pyramidal clusters of lavender-blue bell-shaped flowers. Flattened, castanet-like fruits.
Mango (Mangifera indica): Anacardiaceae. Large tree, 18 to 30 m high, with spreading crown. Dark-green, glossy, elongated leaves. The mango tree was imported to Egypt in the 19th century. Today, it is planted throughout the country. Ismailia mangoes are distinguished by their particularly sweet taste. Its many varieties are very popular with Egyptians.
Sycamore (Ficus sycomorus). Large evergreen tree, up to 15 m high, highly resistant to drought. Its branches and leaves form a majestic, spherical crown. The goddess Hathor was called the Lady of the Sycamore. Its wood was used to make sarcophagi.
