The Aswan Botanical Garden covers a whole island in the Nile, opposite Aswan‘s Corniche. Shaded paths wind past palms, flowering trees and plants brought from across Africa and Asia. It is a peaceful break from temples, and you reach it the best way possible, by felucca.
History
The island was given to Lord Kitchener when he commanded the Egyptian army in the 1890s, which is why it is still often called Kitchener’s Island. He loved plants and had seeds and saplings sent from India, Southeast Asia and other parts of Africa. After his time the Egyptian government turned the island into a research garden.
Visiting
Allow about an hour on the island. The garden is lovely in the late afternoon, and birdwatchers will find herons, kingfishers and hoopoes. Most visitors combine it with a felucca sail around Elephantine Island at sunset. Ask us to add it to your Aswan day tours.
