The reserve is on the Red Sea Coast of Egypt, about thirty miles south of Marsa Alam. High waterless mountains, a wadi alternately dry and flash-flooded, an area of mangroves, a salt marsh, sand dunes, a beach with crabs scuttling in the waves, a coral reef, a sea-grass bed, an offshore island; Wadi al Gamal National Park contains a diverse range of ecosystems supporting a wide variety of plants and animals. The park occupies an estimated 3500 sq km
The park is also known for “the emerald mountain” which was the only source of emeralds within the Roman Empire. The ancient sites which were used for hundreds of years exhibit a wealth of antiquities ranging from roads to watering stations, outposts, residential settlements, temples and others
Wildlife
The area supports a rich assemblage of marine and terrestrial species including Dugong, Dugong dugon, Dorcas Gazelle, Gazella dorcas, and the Ocellated Spiny-tailed lizard, Uromastyx ocellata. The mouth of the wadi lies a small island, Wadi El Gemal Island, that is of considerable importance for breeding sea birds such as the endemic White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus
Activities
You can visit the beach and mangroves from the coastal road, or take an organised trip by camel or four wheel drive to see the wadi and the mountains. The scenery is spectacular and a surprising amount of wildlife lives here. There are rides to the desert with camels
