Wadi Degla
Wadi Degla
4
About
Located only 15 minutes from the Cairo suburb of Maadi, this rugged valley contains a wide variety of animal life including deer, hares, red foxes, reptiles, Egyptian turtles, twelve species of resident and migrant birds and 64 kinds of plants.
Features animals
Learn more about animal welfare in tourismSuggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Wadi Degla and nearby attractions
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
47 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
18
Average
10
Poor
2
Terrible
1
TTOverseas
Cairo, Egypt206 contributions
Jan 2020
While this would not be on my tp ten list if visiting Cairo for the first (or second or maybe third) time, as a resident of Cairo having a protected wadi area so close is really appreciated. This was our go to place for an "adventure" when my kids were smaller (2-10 +/-) and now we go for mountain biking and picnics. The area gets busy with family and teens (looking for privacy...) on holidays or weekends, but is empty early Friday and on weekday afternoons. The BBQ areas can be dirty, but we bring our lunch and can stop anywhere- plenty of undisturbed, quiet areas left.
This is probably the closest and easiest "desert" area to get to near Cairo.
This is probably the closest and easiest "desert" area to get to near Cairo.
Written January 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Usama Mabrouck
Cairo, Egypt645 contributions
Sep 2018 • Friends
a natural preserved valley , located in zahraa al maadi mid south of cairo , agood place for a hike , running , climbing , cycling , BBQ , a good place for a day trip
Written November 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Salli K
Cairo, Egypt75 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
Choose a time where it's not too hot, because it gets unbearable in the summer out there. So it is a good idea to go early and in winter. Anyway the Wadi "closes" at sunset and the entrance is something like 5LE. Get your own everything! Get your own food and water supplies for the day, tissue and entertainment etc. It is really nice to go by car and to find a nice platform and/or cave and to stop and go climb to it and chill up there. There are some amazing ones. It is also nice to hike along the valley and when you get too hot, find that cave, it's like air conditioned in there.
Written July 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Benoit
Cairo, Egypt89 contributions
Jun 2021
On the south west suburb of Cairo, you will find the Wadi Degla, a canyon like desert which gives a rather quiet place where to walk when you visit or live in Cairo. Unfortunatly, this beautiful natural place is also an open dump and you might see more plastic bags and bottles than desert trees or bushes. Despite the place is considered as protected, there is no cleaning or no garbage management policy, and egyptians still consider normal to leave their trash in the nature. Sad ... After enjoying diving among plastics in the red sea, you can enjoy walking among plastics in the desert. It's high time all countries wake up and tackle the plastic issue seriously.
Written June 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hans-Peter G
Kairo2 contributions
Feb 2012 • Solo
The Wadi Digla is or could be a very nice place.There are some disadvantages: First I do not understand why this protectorat can be visited by car. On weekends there are too many cars in the wadi. The wadi is littered with plasticbags, plastic and glasbottles, broken bottles and other garbage. Any car, passing the gate should pay additional LE 25.- and should get a garbagebag. When the visitors with the car leave the wadi they should return the carbage in the bag and would get LE 15.- back. This is just an idea but something should be done to avoid more and more garbage in the wadi
Written February 5, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nada P
Cairo, Egypt77 contributions
Dec 2016 • Friends
Just a few minutes from chaotic Cairo traffic, you can find this treasure of nature. Easy to rich by taxi, entrance 5 le for foreigners, if you want to enter by car you will pay 10 le. There is possibility to overnight in tent. You can consider this as five billion stars hotel :)
Written December 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Husain Y
55 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
I found this place in trip advisor, while looking for a place for sand driving in Cairo.
This place is located very near it just took me 20 mins to reach.
It has an already made trail where you can drive you car does not have to be a SUV any car would be fine. Also, for the driving enthusiast you can also make you own way to through the sand.
What s more to this location, is that you can hike. So after driving after about 7 KMs I parked my car and hiked up the the mountain, and it was great fun.
This place also always for camping and is a great spot for bbq and gateways.
This place is located very near it just took me 20 mins to reach.
It has an already made trail where you can drive you car does not have to be a SUV any car would be fine. Also, for the driving enthusiast you can also make you own way to through the sand.
What s more to this location, is that you can hike. So after driving after about 7 KMs I parked my car and hiked up the the mountain, and it was great fun.
This place also always for camping and is a great spot for bbq and gateways.
Written February 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Isabella W
Vienna, Austria49 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
The Wadi Degla Protectorate is a 12 km long canyon south east of Maadi, Cairo, Egypt. Like other visitors already wrote: only 5 minutes away from a bustling town with congested streets and highways, pollution and noise. We chose a weekday and were walking alone amidst the wilderness. Now, Wadi Degla is not Grand Canyon, but it has impressive rock formations, petrified wood and fossiles and you can see some rare birds and other desert animals. The ridge of the canyon is accessible - please wear reasonable shoes - and you can enjoy some panoramic views.
The entrance to the protectorate is at the end of a poor road in an industrial area. Google maps should bring you there without problems. Drive your car into the canyon, as further insude the better. We had a very small car, no 4wd, thus we could only make it to km 7 and continued walking the remainder and some small branch valleys. Choose cool weather, it can get pretty hot. On the other hand, I would not like to be there in stormy or rainy weather. There are camping possibilities. But: no water and toilets there! There are trash cans in the beginning of the road, not everywhere... would wish that people take their waste back to them.
In summary: a positive surprise to nature lovers bound to stay in Cairo!
The entrance to the protectorate is at the end of a poor road in an industrial area. Google maps should bring you there without problems. Drive your car into the canyon, as further insude the better. We had a very small car, no 4wd, thus we could only make it to km 7 and continued walking the remainder and some small branch valleys. Choose cool weather, it can get pretty hot. On the other hand, I would not like to be there in stormy or rainy weather. There are camping possibilities. But: no water and toilets there! There are trash cans in the beginning of the road, not everywhere... would wish that people take their waste back to them.
In summary: a positive surprise to nature lovers bound to stay in Cairo!
Written February 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ansary
Cairo, Egypt24 contributions
Feb 2013
It's a good outdoor place for mountain biking, jogging, bbq with friends and letting your dog out.
It's good that every now and then go breath some fresh air and enjoy the sun.
There are no place for buying anything so better get your water and food if you are planning for a long stay.
Ppl at the gate are friendly and would help you in anything if needed
It's good that every now and then go breath some fresh air and enjoy the sun.
There are no place for buying anything so better get your water and food if you are planning for a long stay.
Ppl at the gate are friendly and would help you in anything if needed
Written July 23, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
desertmirage
Cairo, Egypt93 contributions
Feb 2013 • Friends
This is our getaway place in Maadi, Cairo, Egypt. Maadi is a suburb of Cairo and Wadi Degla is the closest thing you can come close to a park. Don't expect to see great landscapes or incredible scenery, it's a rocky terrain park with one big main trail from beginning to end of the park (around 13.5 KM long) with loads of mountain biking and walking trials on the side. It's great for walking and cycling or nice bbq out with family and friends.
I've been going there for the past 25 years of my life, it's definitely our getaway from the polluted air of Cairo, we mountain bike, walk, picnic, etc... Air there is a bit better than in the rest of the city. Without it for some of us (the outdoor enthusiasts) it can make living in Cairo a very difficult scenario.
You could camp overnight but after you get your permits from the EEAA office in Maadi (behind the Sofitel Hotel in Maadi).
We would like to promote a nice clean sustainable park for everyone to enjoy, so please promote it in that direction, it needs a major push in the management and financing part.
Enjoy it and don't forget to leave nothing behind please.
I've been going there for the past 25 years of my life, it's definitely our getaway from the polluted air of Cairo, we mountain bike, walk, picnic, etc... Air there is a bit better than in the rest of the city. Without it for some of us (the outdoor enthusiasts) it can make living in Cairo a very difficult scenario.
You could camp overnight but after you get your permits from the EEAA office in Maadi (behind the Sofitel Hotel in Maadi).
We would like to promote a nice clean sustainable park for everyone to enjoy, so please promote it in that direction, it needs a major push in the management and financing part.
Enjoy it and don't forget to leave nothing behind please.
Written February 28, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How do I get to Wadi Degla using public transport (a bus)? What's the best bus to ride (and where do I ride it) even if I need to take a taxi after I get off?
DAVID L
Los Angeles, CA8,327 contributions
Hi Yasmine, It’s not a place suited for Public transfers as it’s very isolated, remote & has no infrastructure. We saw only other SUV’s mostly. As a young woman it’s best to travel there with a group of your friends by SUV / rough terrain. As a Father, I’d say that Yes, the Scenery is great, but your safety comes first! Dave
yassin
Cairo, Egypt
Can you see the stars at night?
Usama Mabrouck
Cairo, Egypt645 contributions
i don't think so
AgusPrianto111
Bangkok, Thailand77 contributions
Is it possible to camp in wadi degla? A friend in Egypt mentioned wadi degla when I ask about the camping site near Cairo.
Thanks for any respond.
Isabella W
Vienna, Austria49 contributions
Yes, but you must carry everything with you and there is no water and toilets
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingWadi Degla - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Wadi Degla Information
Excellent Reviews | 16 |
|---|---|
Very Good Reviews | 18 |
Wadi Degla Photos | 68 |