Camping in Giza - Cairo?

[ursula]

hi
I am looking for informations about a camping site in Giza - Cairo
"Sahara Mar" or "Salma" or something alike
Thanks - Ursula

[jamieT]

It's foul by all accounts, I'm sure others will supply directions.

When are you in Cairo, how many people and vehicles, and for how long?

JT

[cedar]

Hi Ursula, hope this isn't too late to be useful, had to find it on google earth!
29.58.8 N, 31.10.35 E Go south from the main road with a canal on your left, turn right after third speed bump by bakery, over smelly stream, right and on your left.
Go back to the ring road, turn right, 5 k's Carrefour!
The camp site is OK and there is hot water, the staff are friendly, but the bar is dark and full of mossies, as are the showers.
Bruce

[Runner]

I really wouldnt bother with the Giza site, Ive never been that impressed and it's noisy. Go out into the desert, either on the Bahareya road for about 50km, or if you need to be nearer Cairo, go into Maadi, a suburb to the south, on the Nile, and ask an expat (any will do) for Wadi Digla.

Failing that, go to the Windsor Hotel, downtown. Real old-world charm and they will look after your car as well.

[ursula]

thanks a lot folks for all your infos - great!
Ursula

[Bossies]

Sorry but we found Salma to be a dump and this after camping all the way from London, around turkey, syria and jordan. They have just finished building a new little apartment building and clearly have bigger plans than mad foriegners wanting to camp. As the owner said: "Egyptians don't camp!". Bring your anti-mozzi!!!

Tomorrow eve we will try out Kairo Saharama Camping, also off Sharia Sakara but north of the ring-road and will report back. It's also closer to the Pyramids.

[noel di pietro]

I don't understand what everybody is complaining about on Salma!! Stayed there 2 days and its fine. It even has warm showers. Sure, it dusty and there is little shade but what the hell !! During our year in Africa we stayed in far worse places! Don't complaine, be happy that there is a campground at all!!

Cheers,

Noel
exploreafrica.web-log.nl

[Bossies]

We went to Saharama to be told by the owner that they no longer offer camping. There was a herd of goats grazing in the encloser. Directly across the road someone has cleraly spotted this opportunity and started a new camp. There is grass and he has started planting new trees so it will be a nice place in a season or two. He asked LE40pp but I quickly got him down to LE20pp after telling him Salma was LE25pp.

If you are going to run a campsite and advertise it as such then you must at least offer the basic services. Most of the campsites we have seen so far have clearly had a heyday and now the owners are sitting on their rawrels. The least they can do is clean up a bit. Yes you will find a range of campsites in Africa, and all over the world, but if you charge a price then you must offer the appropriate service. Obviously those with 4x4's and roof tents will have a different opinion on this.

[5 Eyes]

met a sound guy called James living in Cairo. He's welsh.
give him a shout as he is very helpful

jt501 (at) hotmail.com

[ursula]

hi - I spent a night in Salma Camping in october. It was not too bad -
pictures on Wüstenschiff :: Thema anzeigen - Ägypten - Camping in Kairo?
Ursula

[dajg]

does anyone have up to date info on this topic? is the campsite open? are there alternatives? any expats with a backyard...?

thanks in advance
dave

[jamieT]

Actually popped in here on Saturday to help out some landrover guys that needed a part. It's actually not that bad, but other opinions may well depend on whether you have arrived from Europe or after a spell in Africa.

It's dusty, little shade, but has showers, even hot water. Biggest problems noted were the mosquito's, not that convenient for public transport and definitely over priced. These guys were paying 25 or 30 LE per person. I would expect you can get an AC room with ensuite for that. You certainly can in Dahab.

Of course, it is much nicer to bush camp, by yourselves, in the desert, but doesn't help the inevitable embassy access requirements.

Hope this helps

[maximondo]

This place is open and isnt that bad! The showers are hot and there is shade and power plugs around the place... so i was totally happy.
Its just hard to find without a GPS... long story!

[Birdy]

I would recommend not going to the campsite, and staying at the Dahab Hostel instead. (Not actually in Dahab - it's off Tahrir.)

It think it's about 15 a night, not well air conditioned, but it's in a good location and always has a really vibrant crowd of travellers.

arid irja' ila a-qaahira

Birdy.