Camping Around Cairo/Giza

[kuntushi]

I am looking to find a decent campsite around the Cairo/Giza area, preferably somewhere we can safely leave the car and don't have to drive into the city.

I've searched for this on HUBB and know I have seen something before, but can't find it again.

I remember someone talking about there being a cab driver there that would take us into Cairo to the required embassies for our Sudanese visas too.

Anything like that is great. Somewhere just out of the city we can camp at, leave the car, and taxi to the city/pyramids/sights.

[Stephano]

Originally Posted by kuntushi

I've searched for this on HUBB and know I have seen something before, but can't find it again.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/sub-saharan-africa/ethiopian-visa-at-border-beforehand-48305


Tip: if you can't find something here, use a few key words in Google Advanced Search, limited to the site horizonsunlimited.com

e.g. cairo taxi driver site:horizonsunlimited.com

Stephan

[jamieT]

Salma Camp

Huge variation in reports, ..never been there, but seems to be more reasonable recently

N 29 58.170 E 31 10.540

Coming from Libya/Alexandria..... well it's messy... good luck.

Alternatively, .. park in our drive and buy us a few s.

[kuntushi]

I was hoping for an alternative to Salma, but it seems to be the only one close. I've heard 75% bad reports about it. We might just go for it, see how it goes. Shame it's hard to get there... the whole reason we're meeting up in Alexandria and then staying outside of Cairo is to avoid the crazy traffic. Oh well, will be good fun

And Stephano, good google advice

[ilesmark]

Hello

We had exactly the same concern about traffic when we were approaching Cairo from the south west in May 2007.

It was a bit too hot to camp, so what we ended up doing was following the main El Ahram street into Caro and staying at this hotel immediately next to Giza Metro Station. I don't remember the name, but it's exactly in the middle of this map (or at the junction of El Ahram and Ramseis, if Google Maps plays up). Then we were able to use the Metro to get around Cairo without having to worry about driving.

giza pyramids - Google Maps

It was a bit of a dive, but cheap and nobody did us any harm. I remember the downstairs bar was decorated with hideous fibreglass 'grotto' designs. The car was parked on the street, but right outside the front door and the security guards kept an eye on it for us.

Good luck!

Mark

[onlyMark]

Whatever happened to the other campsite, Sahara Mar?
I'd heard it might be closing down but any ideas?

[jimadams1991]

Both of them are closed down!had a bit of a shocker when we turned up, 2 nights ago, after dark and there was no where to stay!luckily a local man let us stay in his garden which was a real lifesaver!

[TurboCharger]

Originally Posted by jimadams1991

Both of them are closed down!had a bit of a shocker when we turned up, 2 nights ago, after dark and there was no where to stay!luckily a local man let us stay in his garden which was a real lifesaver!

Hi JimAdams,

Ok, sounds like things are not too sane on the ground, can you give us some of the latest info you have from Cairo and Egypt. Any other tips for cheap hotels or camping?

[jimadams1991]

Not really for Cairo I'm afraid, it took us a week to get the bikes out of customs so when we were there we just stayed in 'wake up hostel' downtown (EGP50 per night). after we left cairo and sleeping near that campsite we just headed towards the red sea coast and hurgahda. We camped out on the coast/desert which was fine and easy to do then came to Hurgahda where we are staying at the three corners hotel (make sure you make a reservation as they put the prices up) the bikes are parked outside but right infront of their security hut which is 24hours. From here we will head to luxor and then down to aswan. We prefered this route as its not as busy as the nile route and there is the red sea which is seriously nice!

hope this helps Jim

[ta-rider]

Hi,

There was a campingplace in cario when we where there 2009: (GPS N29°57,832 E031°09,590)

Travel save, Tobi
Transafrika - Riding on a motorbike through africa part 1

[Wadi Lahami]

If anyone gets stuck in Egypt, your always welcome @ N 24' 12. 934 E 035' 25.503
We are a tourist company, the Manager has a soft spot for over-landers (motorbikes more so) but 4 x4 are also welcome.
It's is also a very safe place if you need to leave you vehicle for a while.

[url=http://www.wadilahami.com]Red Sea Diving Safari - The diving experts in Marsa Alam

[SLF3b]

I have left Cairo now but people used to camp in Wadi Degla, a 'nature reserve' just outside Maadi. It costs 5 LE to get in, and I'm sure for a small hand-out the guards would keep an eye on your car. There is nothing there, so you would need to bring everything with you. About 45 minutes from downtown by taxi. If you want to do this I can send you a GPS trace of how to get there - I used to walk there when I needed to clear my head.

My advice would be to take the offer above - use the drive, buy the s.

Don't bother with the Pyramids (except for the boat, which is awesome). Go to Sakhara or the step pyramid instead. Much less hassle and much more interesting. If you want a really good English speaking guide I can recommend one (don't have the number to hand) - he digs at Sakhara but acts as guide to supplement his income - and had my kids reading hieroglyphics in a couple of hours.

Feedback from my company is that Egypt is not very stable right now and there is a lot going on that is not reported. There is no animosity to foreigners but a lot more crime than there was - and it is much harder to get help when things go wrong than it was. Be careful!

[uktosa]

Originally Posted by Wadi Lahami

If anyone gets stuck in Egypt, your always welcome @ N 24' 12. 934 E 035' 25.503
We are a tourist company, the Manager has a soft spot for over-landers (motorbikes more so) but 4 x4 are also welcome.
It's is also a very safe place if you need to leave you vehicle for a while.

[url=http://www.wadilahami.com]Red Sea Diving Safari - The diving experts in Marsa Alam

Does that offer still stand?? I'm driving down the Red Sea route (hopefully tomorrow but I've been saying that for over a week) and I'll be in a bit of a rush for the sunday Aswan Ferry... you can get me at uktosa@hotmail.co.uk. Thanks!

[maximondo]

Sorry, Im a bit confused is there now no camping in Cario?

[jamieT]

Last reports were that they'd closed, I've heard nothing since.

Get in touch when you're close and we should be able to help/advise.