Sharm El-Sheikh is home to Ras Mohammed National Park.
Ras Mohammed National Park is a place for conservation. It was Egypt’s first national park when it opened in 1989, and the country is very proud of it. It was made to protect the species of plants and animals that live there, as well as their natural growth.
The park is 480 square kilometres in size, and more than two-thirds of that is water. The park’s land is made up of two islands: Tiran and Sanafir.
Ras Mohammed National Park, also called “Cape of Mohammed,” is in the south of the Sinai Peninsula, about 25 km southwest of Sharm el-Sheikh. It is on the coast of the Red Sea. Some of the best places to snorkel in the world are in the southernmost part. Corals that are about two billion years old can be found in the park.
Lake of Desires and Salt Lake are two very different lakes in the park. The water in the first one is partially salt-free because it comes from fresh springs that bubble up from the ground. The second lake is fed by unique salt springs, so its water is twice as salty as the sea.
Turtles, weird fish like Napoleon fish, butterflyfish, and angelfish, and a lot of other species make up the underwater world. Reefs start 6 metres from the water’s edge, and their colours and variety make them look like fairy-tale forests. Coral fish of amazing beauty live in these reefs, such as hedgehog fish, parrotfish, etc., as well as starfish, sea urchins, sea lilies, seahorses, stingrays, barracuda, and even sharks.
There are many birds, including migratory birds, gazelles, foxes, hyenas, reptiles, and other animals that live on land in the reserve.
Mangroves are very important to the park. Geological rocks are another good thing about the reserve.
About 50,000 tourists visit Ras Mohammed National Park every year, and that number is growing as the Sinai region becomes more popular.
Ras Mohammed’s fun things to do and see
Be sure to look at the mangroves, whose roots are covered with a thick layer of dried salt because they have adapted to living in saltwater. They don’t look like much, but their strong will to live is admirable. Visit the Magic Bay, which is almost as salty as the Dead Sea.
People believe that the salt and mud in the bay are good for you and that souvenirs made from them are sold in the reserve. They also believe that if you dive into the water head first and make a wish, your wish will come true, and that you can’t take a picture of a magical place from space. There are plenty of things to do, so just take your time and look around. Then, if you’re lucky, you might be able to see animals and birds that live in the reserve.
Ras Mohammed diving
Strong underwater currents make it dangerous to snorkel near some of Ras Mohammed’s reefs. Of course, you should pay attention to what local dive masters say.
The coral reefs in the reserve are truly amazing. They look like seamounts with a big flat top and cliffs off in the distance that you can’t see.
No matter which dive site you choose—Eel Garden, Anemone City (just a blooming garden at a depth of 14 m! ), Yolanda Reef, Shark Reef, Shark Observatory, or one of the other amazing natural creations in the park—the underwater world will blow you away.
If you want to avoid cutting yourself, it’s best to go down with your shoes on. If you want to see as many fish as possible living between the corals, it’s best to go diving in the afternoon, when the number of tourists has died down a bit.
Here in the reserve, you can rent gear, or you can order your own set when you buy a tour. When someone goes diving for the first time, they will get a special certificate. And anyone who has been underwater in Ras Mohammed will have seen a truly amazing and one-of-a-kind sight.
Egypt trips with Egypt via travel
Check out our Egypt vacation packages to see the beautiful landscapes and monuments of Egypt. If you want to see the temples and tombs of Upper Egypt, check out our Nile cruises.
