The Black Desert, Egypt: Can You Visit It on Your Own?

The Black Desert is one of the most prominent and beautiful geographical landmarks in North Africa, extending between the Egyptian and Libyan territories.

It is characterized by its rich and ancient history and unique terrain that attracts visitors from all over the world, making it home to many civilizations throughout the ages. 

The Black Desert is distinguished by its distinctive dark color, which indicates an abundance of volcanic rocks and dark ash covering vast areas, giving it a special natural beauty and irresistible charm.

This desert is an ideal destination for nature and adventure enthusiasts and those seeking tranquility and recreation. 

In this article, we will learn about the importance of the Black Desert, the best times to visit it, some fun activities that you can practice while visiting the Black Desert, in addition to reviewing the most prominent tourist attractions near it.

The Black Desert and its prime location in Egypt

The Black Desert is located in the New Valley Governorate, and it is very close to the Bahariya Oasis.

It was named the Black Desert because it is covered with a black powder resulting from volcanic formations. 

There are some volcanic hills at the edge of this desert that erupted thousands of years ago and emitted black volcanic material that covered the sands and rocks of this desert, giving it this distinctive dark color.

This area is considered one of the most important areas that can be used to conduct biological scientific research, due to its unique biological diversity. 

It contains the skeletons of the largest dinosaurs in the world, and this area was declared a natural protected area in 2010, in order to preserve this unique biological diversity and protect the living organisms that live in it.

The geological importance of the Black Desert

The Black Desert is considered one of the most prominent and important places that many geologists and researchers around the world use, due to the diversity of its surface features and unique rock formations.

It has many distinctive mountains that are worth visiting, the most important of which is Mount Al-Marsus. 

It was named this name because columns of remnants of lava appear on it. There is also Mount Panorama, which many visitors use to climb and take some wonderful panoramic photos of the area.

There is also the English Mountain, which is located between the city of Al-Bawaiti and the village of Mendisha. 

This desert contains iron oxides in its different colors, red, yellow and orange. This desert is considered one of the best places that attracts many tourists and visitors from different parts of the world.

Best times to visit the Black Desert

Spring and autumn are considered the best seasons in which you can enjoy visiting the Black Desert, due to the moderate temperature at that time of year, which allows you the opportunity to do various activities without being exposed to fatigue. 

However, you should avoid visiting this desert in the summer due to the high temperatures at that time, and it is also preferable to stay away from the cold winter nights, because the temperature drops significantly in this area during the night.

How to get to the Black Desert

The Black Desert is located south of the Bahariya Oasis in western Egypt, and can be reached by moving from Cairo to the Bahariya Oasis, then moving from the Bahariya Oasis to it. 

It is considered one of the most challenging and adventurous trips. Many tourists go there to see the beautiful natural scenery and the slopes of the mountains, all of which tend to be black.

Tourist activities available in the Black Desert

There are many fun and exciting activities that you can enjoy when visiting the Black Desert. The most important of these activities are:

• Sandboarding: There are many soft sand dunes that you can enjoy sandboarding on and take some wonderful souvenir photos.
• Visiting the English Mountain: This mountain was named this name because the English used it during World War I as a monitoring site. It can be used to practice mountain climbing.
• Fun Safari Trips: You can enjoy fun safari trips to explore the beautiful natural scenery and volcanic hills and learn about some of the traditions and customs of the indigenous people.
• Photography: Photography on the slopes of the mountains is considered one of the most important activities that many people enjoy when visiting the Black Desert, in order to capture some distinctive photos that reflect the beauty of nature in this area.
• Exploring the White Desert: The White Desert is located near the Black Desert, and you can explore it and enjoy its unique natural scenery.

Camping in the Black Desert

The Black Desert is considered one of the most important areas in which you can enjoy camping, where you can enjoy views of the mountains, sand dunes, rock formations, and attractive natural scenery.

You can enjoy many activities while camping in the Black Desert. 

The most important of these is visiting the Bahariya Oasis to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery that exists there. You can also have barbecues, watch the sky at night, and enjoy the view of the sparkling stars.

It is a fun and exciting trip for lovers of excitement, suspense and adventure.

Safety tips while visiting the Black Desert

We will now provide some important tips for travelers when visiting the Black Desert, in order to ensure their safety and enjoy the trip:

• Choose the appropriate time to visit in a way that is commensurate with the climatic conditions and temperature.
• It is preferable to bring a local guide to introduce you to the fun and dangerous places in the desert.
• Wear comfortable and loose clothes that are compatible with the weather during the visit.
• You must take enough water and drinks to avoid dehydration.
• Know how to deal with emergencies and first aid.
• You must preserve the environment and not harm it, and not leave any waste in the desert.

Other tourist sites close to the Black Desert

There are some tourist and archaeological landmarks that exist near the Black Desert, the most important and closest of which is the White Desert, where you can enjoy practicing some activities, the most important of which are safari and camping.

You can also enjoy seeing the Crystal Mountain, which is considered one of the best mountains in the world. 

It is considered an open natural museum for nature and adventure lovers, where there are many sand dunes and fossils that indicate the existence of life millions of years ago.

It is also close to the oases, which are among the most charming places in Egypt, where you can enjoy the beauty of nature while learning about the distinctive customs and traditions of the indigenous people.

One of the most important oases located near the Black Desert is the Farafra Oasis. Although it is a small oasis, there are some historical and archaeological landmarks in it, the most important of which is the Farafra Palace, which is a palace built of mud brick. 

There is also the Abu Minqar Palace and some antiquities that date back to the Roman era. In the Pharaonic eras, it was called “Land of the Cows” because it contained a large number of cows and pastures.

FAQs

Why is the Black Desert in Egypt black?

It was named this because its mountains and hills are covered with a black powder resulting from the remnants of volcanic eruptions that accumulated and dried over millions of years.

How were the black hills in the area formed?

The volcanic hills erupted thousands of years ago in this area, which led to them being covered with dry black material over the years, and it became one of the best places that many tourists enjoy visiting to see the impact of these black powders on the mountains and hills and practice some activities.

Is there wildlife in the Black Desert?

Yes, there is a lot of wildlife that exists in the Black Desert, such as some birds, reptiles, and some animals and plants such as small shrubs and dry grasses that adapt to the harsh climatic conditions.

Are there facilities available for visitors in the area?

There are some facilities that visitors can enjoy in the oasis area near the Black Desert, where they can enjoy staying in the hotels and resorts located in this area, and going to the Black Desert on safari and camping trips.

The Black Desert area is one of the most important areas that many visitors enjoy visiting to see the beautiful natural scenery, sand dunes, mountains, hills, and hills covered in black.

It is a distinctive environment for adventure and excitement lovers, where you can enjoy many different activities and spend a fun and unforgettable time.