Whales in the desert

On the road again

It's another very early start today as we're off to the Sahara dessert all together in a 4x4 jeep. Even at this early hour of the morning there are lots and lots of cars all driving like maniacs, weaving in and out, whole families on one moped or a sofa strapped to the back, goats roaming across the road, people walking across the 4 lane motorway and of course a truck which cant be bothered to go to the turn round point so it drives the wrong way down the motorway. The motorway gradually gives way to empty dessert roads with sand blowing over the roads before the road disappears and we head off road bumping along until we reach an old temple and further on a cave which was home to a hermit and finally the Black and White dessert a fascinating area of pure white sand covered in black fossilised trees.

Salt Plains

Rob & Tom dune surfing

The drive continues past salt plains and endless dessert sands until we reach the National Reserve and head towards Wadi El Hitan. I really thought we were nearly at our end location but after another half an hour of bumpy driving I realise I'm mistaken! I have no idea how the driver is navigating as I can't see any road signs, rocks or markers but we do arrive at the visitor centre, which from a distance is almost invisible, its sand covered buildings cleverly blending into the surrounding dessert. The area is rich in fossilised remains of whales and is an important part of our understanding of the evolution of whales, in fact it's called The Whales Valley.

After a walk and a sand blown BBQ we set off for the fun part of the day, dune surfing. It starts out with the 4x4 climbing to the top of a huge sand dune, Rob and Maria can't see what's coming until we dive over the top into seeming nothingness and down the other side. After doing this in a 4x4 of course we must have a go on skate boards, I volunteer to be chief photographer, purely because I'm too chicken to do the boarding! After this there is still a stop at a local pottery factory, El Fayoum before the long, long drive home, some drinks and a wonderful Egyptian take away.

Water in the sahara desert