Banana Island (Gezira el-Mozh)
Banana Island (Gezira el-Mozh)
2.6
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Does not meet animal welfare
guidelines
Tripadvisor does not provide bookings for this experience because it does not meet our animal welfare guidelines.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
2.6
322 reviews
Excellent
48
Very good
48
Average
64
Poor
45
Terrible
117
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AmbassadorBas
Sydney, Australia744 contributions
Sep 2017 • Friends
Ok, the bananas are good and I suppose it has a rustique charm but for me the animals were a big turn off. I know that animals do not receive the same care and attention in these poor countries but I found it very say and I couldn't wait to leave. The best part was being on the Nile to get there
Written February 26, 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.
Kayla F
Denver, CO33 contributions
Aug 2019
We went on this tour one afternoon when we made our way to Luxor Museum and found out it was closed from 2-5pm. A man at the boats nearby told us about this trip and we figured we would check it out since we no longer had any afternoon plans. The boat ride was pleasant, but the extra we got charged for the island wasn't worth it. We spent 5-10 minutes walking around looking at some banana trees and some poor animals trapped in tiny cages, before we ate some bananas and left the island. It was overall underwhelming and we felt cheated out of money and guilty for supporting a "zoo" that appears to only be there as a gimmick to attract tourists. Moustaffa, the guy who told us about the tour, was generally friendly, agreeable and not too pushy, but this tour felt oversold....I would advise people against this "tour" and to instead just pay 150 for a one hour Nile boat ride and call it a day.
Written August 24, 2019
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.
sarah g
Worksop, UK413 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
There is nothing to do here. There is a pleasant 3 minute walk through the banana grove to the enclosures which are inhabited by two fed-up looking crocs and a smallish monkey pen with no greenery or trees or anything that might stop them getting bored. The boat trip there was pleasant.
Written April 28, 2019
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.
Matúš T
Bratislava, Slovakia2 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
We visited Banana Island on a tour, expecting to see exotic animals in a pleasant environment. Instead, we were horrified by the poor conditions. Monkeys were cramped in tiny cages, a boy was hitting a camel out of boredom, and a crocodile was stuck in a tiny enclosure.
The animals looked neglected and stressed. To make things worse, a frightened baby monkey bit my wife, and we now have to deal with post-exposure vaccinations.
I strongly recommend avoiding this place—it’s heartbreaking and supports animal mistreatment.
The animals looked neglected and stressed. To make things worse, a frightened baby monkey bit my wife, and we now have to deal with post-exposure vaccinations.
I strongly recommend avoiding this place—it’s heartbreaking and supports animal mistreatment.
Written December 5, 2024
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.
Ben H
5 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Offered as part of our trip to Luxor from hugarda. We knew that we did not want to do this as myself and my partner love animals and did wish to see them chained up as suggested.
This must be a common theme as the majority of our coach did not take the offer to pay an additional ÂŁ10 each for this part of the trip at the end of the day.
The guide must have not had any luck because just as we where crossing the Nile waiting for the boat he whispered to us he would let us go on in for ÂŁ5 for two.
We didn't break tho and would no promote anything like this.
Luxor trip 100% worth it but not sure this paid extra is. Feel free to experience it for yourself and if you do just wait until around dinner time and pay less. The less money this part of the day generates may force them to change it up.
Thank you for reading.
Ben
This must be a common theme as the majority of our coach did not take the offer to pay an additional ÂŁ10 each for this part of the trip at the end of the day.
The guide must have not had any luck because just as we where crossing the Nile waiting for the boat he whispered to us he would let us go on in for ÂŁ5 for two.
We didn't break tho and would no promote anything like this.
Luxor trip 100% worth it but not sure this paid extra is. Feel free to experience it for yourself and if you do just wait until around dinner time and pay less. The less money this part of the day generates may force them to change it up.
Thank you for reading.
Ben
Written March 23, 2024
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.
zin
1 contribution
Nov 2024 • Friends
Our guide proposes "an excursion on the Nile and then a visit to a banana farm in the middle of nature with animals."
What an unpleasant surprise! The crocodile is in a tiny tank, the 20-30 monkeys bump on the edges of all the chicken crates, the employees play with small crocodiles like puppets twisting them in all directions,... I left crying and it ruined my day and my vision of Egypt. It was the trip of my dreams, it's a real nightmare!
What an unpleasant surprise! The crocodile is in a tiny tank, the 20-30 monkeys bump on the edges of all the chicken crates, the employees play with small crocodiles like puppets twisting them in all directions,... I left crying and it ruined my day and my vision of Egypt. It was the trip of my dreams, it's a real nightmare!
Automatically translated
Written November 22, 2024
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.
Tati I
23 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
It was nice to go with the boat on the Nile. Once arrived we were offered fruit (Bananas, dates, Mango, Guava, Figs and Grapes)
Then the Guide told us that there were monkeys and a crocodile behind inside the island. We went to see and for me the scene was and is not advisable. Monkeys ca.6 or more, locked in a cage. People threw fruit at her. I saw a monkey that must have just given birth and I wondered where the babies were... we turned around to see that a vacationer was holding a baby crocodile. We got closer and I saw a horrible scene. An Egyptian gentleman was holding the little monkeys. They hugged each other had been detached from their mother and the gentleman continually demanded $1 to hold them in his hand. These things no longer have to do with tourism but with immense ignorance on the part of Egypt and tourism.
I really do not recommend doing this tour. Among other things, it involves crossing the Nile and then giving a dollar to people who keep innocent animals in cages. Absurd. Absurd and vulgar.
Then the Guide told us that there were monkeys and a crocodile behind inside the island. We went to see and for me the scene was and is not advisable. Monkeys ca.6 or more, locked in a cage. People threw fruit at her. I saw a monkey that must have just given birth and I wondered where the babies were... we turned around to see that a vacationer was holding a baby crocodile. We got closer and I saw a horrible scene. An Egyptian gentleman was holding the little monkeys. They hugged each other had been detached from their mother and the gentleman continually demanded $1 to hold them in his hand. These things no longer have to do with tourism but with immense ignorance on the part of Egypt and tourism.
I really do not recommend doing this tour. Among other things, it involves crossing the Nile and then giving a dollar to people who keep innocent animals in cages. Absurd. Absurd and vulgar.
Automatically translated
Written October 19, 2024
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.
Corin A
14 contributions
Mar 2023
this should not be an attraction it is a waste of money, time and unhygienic. i got suspicious when the guide asked if we wanted to go for a bit of site seeing down the Nile before the trip ( weird as we had just spent 6 days on a Nile cruise ) them started telling us about the surrounding buildings on the banana isle that seem to have no baring on the trip. We were offered drinks and fruit on the speed boat to the isle nobody wanted it as we had not long had lunch. on the island we are greeted by the toilet block some dirty looking people a chair with fruit juice in cup with lids in 30 degree heat (no idea how long they had been there warming up). We were taken down a dirt road stepped into what looked like a small patch of banana trees given little bit of a talk by our guide told to take some pics them shuffled on to the 1 crocodile in a cage and a baby one with tape on it's mouth asked if we wanted to have a pic with the croc again we all said no we were shown some monkeys in a cage and a boy had 1 and we were asked again if we wanted to have pics taken and again we said no. the guide then said we had free time to look around and take some more pics we walked about 30 paces and all decided that we did not want to be there so sat and waited in the eating area for the guide to come back were we again was offered fruit that no body wanted in the end me and my partner went and sat on the boat and waited. while we were waiting for our guide more boat loads came and 4 of them only stayed about 15 minutes this was a big waste of money we paid ÂŁ30 each
Written March 28, 2023
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.
Andrea M
10 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
I wouldn’t recommend going to banana island
There isn’t much and the animals are kept in very small enclosures there was a monkey with a chain on its waist and it couldn’t leave the tree and the crocodile enclosure had no space for the animal to move around. There is nothing here the only thing a bit interesting is a pregnant donkey. This is animal abuse
I would not recommend even thinking about coming here they make you pay 25 pounds per person to see an animal kept in a small cage
There isn’t much and the animals are kept in very small enclosures there was a monkey with a chain on its waist and it couldn’t leave the tree and the crocodile enclosure had no space for the animal to move around. There is nothing here the only thing a bit interesting is a pregnant donkey. This is animal abuse
I would not recommend even thinking about coming here they make you pay 25 pounds per person to see an animal kept in a small cage
Written August 5, 2023
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.
Asiyah Noemi K
Pula, Croatia5,372 contributions
Nov 2022
The name says it all, it's the land of bananas! After a great lunch at the Nile Queen Restaurant, we went along the beautiful Nile River to this island. Banana Island is located north of Luxor and is open for tours daily. It is one of the best places to watch the sunset on a felucca during warm evenings. A trip to Banana Island is simply beautiful and unusual. The journey starts from a quay in the very center of the city, where we were picked up by a motorboat. We enjoyed the peaceful Nile River as we made our way towards Banana Island, and its dynamic banks that are always full of life. It only took us a few minutes to get there. In addition to large banana plantations, many fruit trees grow on the island. However, the main attraction is the banana. Fresh, just picked, extremely tasty with vanilla flavor. A rare opportunity to enjoy such delicious fruit. It is a unique experience to walk along the multitude of banana trees and see the fruits up close. There is an excellent cafe - restaurant on the shore where we drank excellent mint tea and coffee with cardamom, and cold refreshing drinks. Real refreshment during a hot day under the sun. We also ate excellent goat cheese with black honey made from sugar cane with an excellent Egyptian bun. An extremely tasty combination. The setting is a peaceful, beautiful place with many palm trees and reeds along the Nile. The beautiful nature relaxed us after the exciting sightseeing of the magnificent Karnak.
Written April 13, 2023
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.
Why isn't this place shut down? Why does tripadvisor say it meets animal welfare guidelines when it clearly doesn't?
Written March 11, 2024
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