Siwa Oasis
Siwa Oasis is a magnificent region of beauty packed with ancient and elegant natural living creatures. The purpose of this article is to provide all of the facts and information about Siwa Oasis to any traveler.
This post was prepared by a group of tour operators, tour guides, and travel advisors who are very educated and competent and will shed some light on Siwa Oasis. The Siwa Oasis is known for being a slice of heaven, a greener patch in the ocean of Sahara sand, and one of Egypt’s most beautiful secret sites.
Siwa Oasis is well worth a visit, with a variety of hot and cold springs, large sand dunes, fascinating history, and fascinating culture. All of the residents of Siwa speak their own language, which is close to the Zenata language and is more like the Berber language than the Egyptian Arabic spoken elsewhere in Egypt. Siwa’s geographical location, environment, and inaccessibility have resulted in the formation of a unique and unusual community distinct from Egyptian culture.
The Siwa Oasis in Egypt is incredibly old and intriguing, with its own history and culture. A human footprint was discovered there that is considered to be three million years old, making it one of the oldest human prints ever discovered.
The name Oasis comes from an ancient Egyptian word that means “palm land,” and it was given to the Berber tribe and the Asian (Falcon), a species of prey bird that was one of Amun symbols, Ra’s which explains how the city got its name. It also rose to prominence in ancient times as the seat of the Oracle of Ammon, whom Alexander the Great sought advice from in 331 BC.
Siwa Oasis has a long history.
The Siwa Oasis dates back to 10,000 BC, displaying the first evidence of civilization, and the first signs of human habitation in the oasis of Siwa were discovered in the 26th dynasty around 525 BC. In the 7th century BC, ancient Greeks came into contact with the Siwa Oasis, which served as the home of Amun’s oracle temple, which Alexander the Great visited while hunting large birds across the desert. The Oasis of Amun-RA was the name given to it.
The ancient Egyptians called the Siwa oasis the Fields of Trees under the Ptolemaic dynasty, and the legendary historian Herodotus referred to it as the Sun’s Foundation. In the 12th century, it was known to be the official home of the Berbers. It was previously home to the entire population in Shali, a 13th-century mud-brick castle that was destroyed by a thunderstorm in 1926.
Location of Siwa Oasis
It is an Egyptian urban oasis located between the western desert’s large sand sea and the Qattara Depression, some 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of the Libyan border and 560 kilometers (348 miles) from Cairo. By automobile, the trip from Cairo takes roughly 8 hours. Siwa is one of Egypt’s most remote places, with a population of 33,000 people, most of whom are Berber and speak their own language, Siwi. It is a deep depression that reaches a depth of around 60 feet (about 19 meters) below sea level. By automobile, it takes roughly 8 hours, and by overnight bus, it takes much longer.
Siwa Oasis has a diverse range of wildlife.
Siwa Oasis is home to olive and palm trees, as well as crystal-clear springs that provide a welcome respite from the scorching heat. There are numerous lakes and hundreds of springs, but saltwater agriculture is limited due to the presence of over 300 freshwater springs and streams shaded by an estimated 300,000 palm trees and 70,000 olive trees. Some birds, such as the turtle dove and the Streptopelia, as well as endangered species like the Slender-horned Gazelle and the Fennec Fox, can be found here. The Oasis also serves as a natural habitat for the cheetah, one of the world’s most endangered cats.
Attractions to See in Siwa Oasis
The Siwa Oasis is one of Egypt’s most gorgeous, mysterious, and enthralling oases. Siwa Oasis offers a wide range of activities, places to explore, and distinctive attractions, including:
The Shali
Shali is a popular tourist destination where visitors can climb a melted pile of mud and salt, which was used as a typical Siwan building material in the 13th century. The view of dates and olive orchards that extends out for infinite meters in each direction of the Siwa Oasis will be seen by every traveler.
The Spring of Cleopatra
The route going to the Oracle temple passes by Cleopatra’s Bath and Cleopatra’s Pool. Cleopatra’s Spring is a natural spring water stone pool in the village of Siwa where visitors can enjoy the health advantages of a spring bath. The spring is said to have belonged to Queen Cleopatra VIII personally. Because it is one of Egypt’s most beautiful and nicest natural pools, it attracts a large number of locals to bathe and visit. To minimize unwanted attention, it is recommended that you dress appropriately for swimming.
The Salt Lakes
The Salt Lakes is one of Siwa’s most attractive landscapes, with pure, translucent green plant life. Floating and swimming in the Salt Lakes of Siwa is a really magnificent and spectacular experience that attracts people all year long because of its health benefits due to the high concentration of salt.
The Temple of the Oracle
Siwa was known for the Oracle Temple, which was built in the 6th century BC and was well-known throughout the Mediterranean. Alexander the Great traveled to Siwa to speak with the oracle regarding his fate, whether or not he was the son of Zeus. Alexander’s generals are said to have urged that he be buried in Siwa. The remnants of the Oracle’s temple are still open to visitors today.
The Mountain of the Dead
The Mountain of the Dead, located near Siwa’s center, is a rocky hill with more than 1500 tombs dating from the late pharaonic period. Some of the tombs are decorated with beautiful and ornate funerary designs, indicating that they date from the Greco-Roman period.
Fatnas Island
Fantas Island is located on the outskirts of the oasis, on the shores of Lake Siwa, some 6 kilometers from the oasis’s center. At dusk, the hot spring gives the opportunity to swim and enjoy the health advantages of the healing waters, as well as all of the wonderful cafés and restaurants that can be located across the lake.
The Great Sand Sea
The Great Sand Sea is in front of the Siwa Oasis, affording stunning views of sands shaped like mountains scattered across the vast desert. A magnificent safari tour is a fantastic way to see the stunning springs and rock formations that dot these vast and exquisite landscapes.
The Siwa House Museum
The Siwa House Museum is a mystical location brimming with divine art and history. The Museum is filled with authentic artifacts from the ancient Siwa population, providing a detailed look at ancient Siwan traditions and local customs such as the Siwa wedding traditions, which are known to last for seven days and feature a special outfit worn by the bride, which can be seen inside the Siwa House Museum.
When is the best time to visit Siwa Oasis?
The weather in Siwa is pleasant and restful, with bright sunshine illuminating the entire oasis for most of the day. It is best to visit Siwa during the milder months of the year, such as winter, spring, and autumn, which run from October to April, as the summers can be quite hot, especially in the Sahara.
Siwa Women’s Appropriate Dressing
Siwa is a very welcoming place, but women should remember to dress appropriately to avoid offending others and to respect the local customs. Everyone should keep their upper arms and legs covered by the wind. Women who swim in public springs, such as the popular Cleopatra’s Bath, should expect increased attention; however, if you want to avoid the attention, swimming in desert hot springs is the best option.
Set out on a journey to Siwa.
When you visit all the historical artifacts in the immortal cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, and Aswan through our Egypt-customized tours, you will get to feel the appeal and bliss of ancient Egyptian culture and life.
