Ras Mohammed National park
Ras Mohammed National Park, located about 20 kilometers west of Sharm el-Sheikh on the way to Al-Tor, was called by local fisherman after a cliff that resembles a man’s profile. The seas around the peninsula are regarded as the Red Sea’s crowning achievement.
More than 50,000 tourists visit the park each year, drawn by the chance of seeing some of the world’s most stunning coral-reef ecosystems, which include a plethora of coral varieties and abundant marine life. Most, if not all, of the Red Sea’s 1000 fish species may be found in the park’s waters, including sought-after pelagics like hammerheads, manta rays, and whale sharks.
Ras Mohammed’s History
The oldest corals in Ras Mohammed are two million-year-old fossil reefs. Because they are identical in composition and structure to modern reefs, they are a great source of scientific knowledge on shifting sea levels and historical climatic circumstances.
Ras Mohammed was designated as a marine reserve in 1983 and became Egypt‘s first national park in 1989.
The park was controversial when it was established, but it has since shown its worth in preserving the area’s delicate nature from being devastated by the kind of development that has altered the Sharm el-Sheikh shoreline.
Hotels are not authorised, just 12% of the park is open to guests, and the number of diving boats allowed is limited.
Ras Mohammed encompasses 480 square kilometers of land and water, including the desert in and around the ras (headland), Tiran Island, and the coastline between Sharm el-Sheikh port and the Nabq Protectorate.
To access the park, you’ll need to show your passport. Visitors with Sinai-only licences cannot go to Ras Mohammed overland since it is outside the Sharm el-Sheikh border, but should have no trouble on dive boat tours — check with the diving clubs if you have any worries. The park’s entrance is around 20 kilometers from the reefs.
A visitors’ center with a café is designated to the left of the main entrance road in Marsa Ghoslane.
Videos are displayed here, and you may be able to pick up a pamphlet featuring local animals. The park is organised with color-coded routes and pictograms indicating what each location has to offer.
Activities to do in Ras Mohammed
If you want to dive at Ras Mohammed, you’ll need to take a boat trip or a liveaboard, both of which leave from Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab.
If you come by private vehicle, you may trek to a variety of wilderness beaches and snorkel on a variety of offshore reefs — you will need to have your own equipment.
A pink route extends from the park’s laboratory to Khashaba Beach and a camping spot. Yellow arrows point to Marsa Bareika’s sandy beaches and calm seas, which are ideal for snorkelling and are suitable for children.
The blue arrows go to Main Beach, which becomes congested with day tourists but remains one of the greatest spots to witness vertical coral cliffs.
Brown arrows go to Aqaba Beaches, which surround the Eel Garden, called after a population of garden eels 20 meters below.
Just beyond here, orange arrows lead to Shark Observatory, a cliff-top spot where you may sometimes view sharks feeding on Ras Mohammed’s bountiful offerings.
The red arrows go to Yolanda Bay, another beach with outstanding snorkelling, while the green arrows point to the Mangrove Channel, Hidden Bay, and Old Quay, a stunning vertical reef filled with fish and accessible to snorkelers.
Sleeping
Camping is allowed in selected places, with permits available at the entry gate. You’ll need to carry everything you need; the closest stores are in Sharm el-Sheikh. Respect the environment by cleaning up after yourself if you camp.
Don’t bury toilet paper or trash in particular, since the unrelenting winds here ensure that nothing remains beneath the sand for long. Rangers police camp regulations, and violators may face prosecution.
How do I get there?
If you don’t have a vehicle, you may take a cab from Sharm el-Sheikh to get here. If you don’t mind company, the most convenient alternative is to join one of the numerous day trips by jeep or bus from Sharm el-Sheikh and Na’ama Bay, the majority of which will drop you off at the beaches and snorkelling spots.
Divers are also often brought in by boat from Red Sea tourist areas. To go around the park, you’ll need a car. Access is limited to specific areas of the park, and it is prohibited to leave the designated trails for conservation reasons.
Explore Sharm el Sheikh by Easy Tours Egypt
