Riding in Wadi Degla, Egypt

Just thought I'd to share with you a few pictures from our home trail, Wadi Degla just outside Cairo, Egypt:


Wadi Degla is an ancient (millions of years old) water-carved valley located in the Egypt's Eastern Desert, on the south eastern fringe of Cairo. The area was declared a national protectorate in the 1990s.



The area has a massive trail network that makes for a wide spectrum of excellent riding opportunities. From beginner-friendly wide and forgiving jeep trails, to rolling serpentine singletrack heaven on the valley's southern and northern shoulders, to ultra-technical cliffside goat trails further south. Killer climbs, hair-raising descents..it's all there!

The wadi (wadi is arabic for "valley") bottom...

A narrow pass with a tricky rock step...

Descending into one of the ravines...

Riding a rocky spine...

Singletrack heaven on the south wall of the valley...

The trails are harsh and very rocky. Some times the fall penalty is just too high to risk a steep technical descent...


The desert fauna is elusive to spot, but we are always shutter-happy when we do spot any of the area's wildlife forms (the Wadi is home to a large variety of desert wildlife, including red fox and nubian ibex)


Sunset rides are always my favorite. This picture was taken on one of my favorite rides, known as The Balcony, 8+ KMs of zigzaging technical cliffside singletrack on a hill overlooking limestone quarries to the north of the valley.


Happy riding!
--Hani