Bedouin: The Bedouin of Sinai are made up from approximately ten
tribes, the first of whom arrived in Sinai at the time of the Muslim conquest
of Eqypt. One tribe the Gebeilleh (or Mountain people) exhibit quite European
features and are descended from the first Roman Guards of St Katherines.
a nomadic people moving with the seasons and their livestock, home is a goatskin
tent. The traditional white dress of the Muzeina tribe is a regular sight amongst
the markets of Dahab to this day.
The Sinai Desert:
The amazing contrasts of the Sinai desert will never cease to surprise
you with craggy mountains, cascading gorges and a rich diversity of dunes, isolated
oasises, waddis and fascinating rock features.
Home to the nomadic Bedouin
and a variety of unique flora and fauna it is a place of unearthly silence. The
almost painful beauty and mystical aura of the region has intrigued travellers
since the time of Moses.
The Red Sea:
There are many different aspects to the Red Sea Area. Depths along
the Gulf of Aquaba plunge to 6000 feet and fringing coral has developed all along
The water temperature is warm and relatively constant ranging
between 30c in Summer and not dropping below 21c in Winter. Infrequent rainfal
and mild currents prevent sediments slowing the coral growth and allowing excellent
visibility of up to 30m.
The Red Sea is one of the saltiest and warmest
seas on earth which means that a large variety pf colourful species have developed.
All in all about a thousand different species inhabit the reef areas of which
an incredible one hundred are endemic, or in other words only exist in this body
As a habitat the Red Sea has two major groups of fish- reef and
pelagic. Reef fish exist in beautiful colours and are generally small, living
close to the corals. Pelagic on the other hand are larger living in the open and
approaching the rich fauna of the reef to feed.
The Sinai is host to four
coastal National Parks and Protected areas.