Ras Mohamed Protected Area

Situated at the southern-most tip of the Sinai Peninsula, Ras Mohamed is the headland overlooking the juncture of the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba. The islands of Tiran and Sanafir are part of the sight.

Tourism in southern Sinai is linked to the natural resources of the area. Though much of the Sinai is hot dry desert, it is not devoid of life. In the center the acacia trees and clump of tamarisk, survive in dry gravel wadis. On the edges of the coastal dunes, plants manage to hold on for dear life. In contrast to the desert next to it, Ras Mohamed is an explosion of color and life.

Ras Mohamed is the main natural attraction in the Sinai and it’s no surprise. Inside the park’s boundaries are some of the world’s most spectacular coral reef ecosystems, some of them dating back 2 million years, making the park a divers paradise. In fact the Sinai is considered one of the top five places in the world for divers. Jackfish Alley, Shark Reef, Stingray Station and Beacon Rock are great dive sites in Ras Mohamed.

Although the area’s rich marine life will delight underwater enthusiasts, there is a lot to do above water in Ras Mohamed. At the entrance gate, about 20km from the reefs, you can pick up a diagram of the park and booklets about the flora and fauna of the area. Ras Mohamed is important to bird-watchers as it is a bottleneck for migratory soaring birds, the majority of the population of white storks pass through the area. The island of Tiran has one of the largest populations of ospreys in the Red Sea.

Realizing that all these marvels of nature have to be protected the Egyptian government established Ras Mohamed as its first national park in 1983. Since then the authorities have kept a close and careful observation on the park’s 480 square km delicate ecosystem. So remember the motto while you visit the Sinai ”take nothing leave nothing”