Ras Sudar, Abou Sedr, S. Sinai
Ras Sudar, Abou Sedr, S. Sinai, Egypt
About
Leave the cacophony of Cairo "Klaxes" behind on the Suez road heading for Ahmed Hamdy Tunnel, and things soon quieten down. Emerging from the Tunnel into Asia, it is not long before you will spy the outsized military helmet on the right hand side of the road, informing you that the entrance to the fortified firing position of Ayun Moussa is just ahead on the left. No prior booking is needed to enter the site, and it is worth a visit, even if only to look incredulously over the wired-off minefield behind. Sinai has a great number of places where you can overnight if you are taking a leisurely drive, with a number of hotels and new resorts springing up virtually all the way down the eastern coastline. Ras Sudr is the first place of any size, and has a wealth of places to stay. If you are touring around the peninsula, and intend to camp out, then most of the land belongs to somebody or other, so in even a sparsely populated area, you should try to find a local who can tell you if the area is safe for camping, or if you are liable to face problems of any kind. I have always found the Bedouin to be very friendly, although at times incredulous that anybody would WANT to sleep in the desert, and when the purpose of my visit has been explained have been greeted with; "Welcome – this is my land - come and stay here whenever you want, for as long as you like…" A few nights in Sinai, camping away from the hustle and bustle of Cairo in virtual silence with no TV and mobile contact only if you walk to the top of the nearest hill, can do wonders for anyone jaded by the pressures of city life… If you do camp out, please make sure that you have sufficient "bin-bags" to take your accrued waste home with you, or to drop off at a convenient waste disposal unit or station. If you decide to have a fire, make sure that you dig a suitable pit, dig the remnants into the ground before you leave, and cover the site of the fire with fresh sand. Remember – LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS…!! Moving to the southern tip of the triangle of Sinai, Ras Mohamed Protected Area is a National Park of great natural beauty. Facilities are minimal, but the snorkelling or diving, serenity and ecology of the area is outstanding. A fee is payable at the entrance on a daily basis, and the small cost is well worth the investment whether you are there for a few hours, or staying overnight.
