Nature · Faiyum
Wadi El Rayan Protected Area
A desert escape of lakes, waterfalls and golden dunes in Faiyum's Western Desert, and an ideal day trip from Cairo.
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The story
Wadi El Rayan is a desert depression that, from the early 1970s, was turned into two lakes when surplus agricultural drainage water from Faiyum was channelled into it, so that water began to spill from the upper lake to the lower one over a series of small waterfalls. The Ministry of Environment declared it a nature reserve in 1989, and it was listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance in 2012. Beyond the lakes and waterfalls, the protected area holds natural springs, sand dunes and open desert, home to gazelles and desert foxes and visited by large numbers of birds, especially in winter. It lies next to Wadi Al-Hitan, the UNESCO World Heritage site known for ancient whale fossils.
Good to know
- The lakes and waterfalls were created by agricultural drainage water directed into the depression from 1973, rather than by purely natural processes.
- It was declared a nature reserve in 1989 and listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance on 4 June 2012.
- The Ramsar site covers about 175,790 hectares, taking in two lakes, natural springs and sand dunes.
- Wildlife includes the slender-horned and dorcas gazelles and the fennec fox, and the area hosts many resident and migratory birds.
Visiting tips
The milder months (roughly October to April) are best, and arriving early on a weekday helps you avoid crowds and heat. For the dunes and unpaved tracks a 4x4 with a local driver is advisable; bring sun protection, a hat and some cash for small purchases. Please check hours and ticket prices before visiting, as sources differ.