Abu Galum Reserve | Taba, Egypt
Site: The Abu Galoum area is a multi-purpose nature reserve, is located in South Sinai Governorate in Egypt, overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba on the road in the north by the line connecting the Sharm El-Sheikh/Taba intersection with Wadi Al-Rasasah, at a depth of 3-5 km, from the line of coral reefs in the east and to Wadi Al-Murra Hill in Jabal Al-Jamra until its meeting with Sharm El-Sheikh / Taba Road in the south and bounded in the west by Sharm El-Sheikh Road / Taba.
Importance: It is represented in the presence of a special topography where the mountains are close to the beaches, and that it contains a variety of ecosystems of coral reefs, marine creatures, seagrass, lagoons, and desert and mountain ecosystems, meaning almost everything at one place. The valleys and mountains here are home to a large variety of birds, wild animals, and plants which have helped in turning this protectorate into a major tourist attraction in Egypt. Also for newbies here there are diving plans, safari as well as animal and bird watching programs. The reserve overall has more than 165 species of plants of which 44 are restricted to just this habitat. The reserve is also known for the underwater cave system which lies at a depth of more than 100 m. The system is extremely dangerous and unstable. Thus management of this area is very important to ensure the continuous flow of tourists to the place.
* Mountains and valleys abound with wild animals, birds, and plants.
* The areas separating the natural reserves located on the Gulf of Aqaba are considered environmental protection areas, and they include cities and investment areas "Sharm El-Sheikh City - Dahab City".
The protectorate is referred to be the best-kept secrets of Sinai and depicts a picturesque protected area of Egypt. Its spectacular granite mountains ending abruptly on a narrow coastal plain fronted by rich coral reefs make it a worthwhile visit.
How to reach Abu Gallum
You can reach Abu Gallum by driving from Taba. Also, you can choose to trek from the Blue Hole Camp at Dahab which can take somewhere around an hour for the journey. Also, available is a camel ride to Abu Gallum, which can be rented along with a local guide from the Blue Hole. If thinking about driving to Abu Gallum from Dahab the road trip may take two hours.
