Mangroves
Trees in salt water.
Hatem Moushir — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hatem Moushir — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Roland Unger — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hatem Moushir — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hatem Moushir — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hatem Moushir — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hatem Moushir — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hatem Moushir — CC BY-SA 3.0
A wide nature reserve on the Gulf of Aqaba coast north of Sharm el-Sheikh, declared in 1992 and covering about six hundred square kilometres of desert, mountains, coast and reefs; it is less crowded and wilder than Ras Mohammed. Its best-known feature is the mangrove forest on the shore, trees that grow in salt water with aerial roots poking out of the mud like pegs, sheltering many birds such as herons and white-eyed gulls; it is one of the largest mangrove stands on the Sinai coast. The reserve also has sand dunes and valleys home to gazelles and birds, a small Bedouin village, a stone-built visitor centre, and a stranded shipwreck near the shore that shows above the water, along with coral reefs for snorkelling. It is usually visited on a four-wheel-drive safari from Sharm el-Sheikh, and the reserve fee of a few US dollars is often included in the trip price. Bring water and sunscreen, as there are few services inside.
Trees in salt water.
Herons, white-eyed gulls.
Visible above water.
Gulf of Aqaba coast, between Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab
Ras Mohammed is better known for its dive reefs; Nabq is quieter and larger, standing out for its mangroves, dunes and wild Bedouin feel.