The Aswan Botanical Island (Kitchener's Island)
One of the best reasons to visit Aswan is to see the botanical gardens. Travelers can reach this island by sailing on a local felucca boat or taking a motor boat to the eastern bank of the Nile. It is located opposite the city of Aswan and the vast island.
History of the Island:
The island is also called Kitchener Island because in 1899, during his military campaigns in Sudan, Lord Kitchener made it the headquarters for his army, which was then known as Lord's House.
Soon after he left the island, it was returned to the Ministry of Irrigation and became known as King's Island.
Since 1928, the Ministry of Irrigation has transformed the island to feature trees from the five continents.
How to Visit the Island:
The island has three entrances. The main entrance is located on the island's northern tip; the entrance fee is 10 EGP. The best way to see the island with little walking is to enter the main entrance and walk the entire length until you reach the southern tip. Book a felucca from there and ask the captain to wait for you at the other end. The Aswan botanical island is divided into 27 squares with vertical and horizontal paths cutting each other, making it like a chess board. It is a fantastic experience exploring this island and all it offers.
Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge them:
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There is a massive variety of plantations and trees on the island. Some were naturally found on the island before it was converted into a botanical island; others were brought in. There are several rare palm trees, such as the royal palm tree, the sabal palm tree, and the phonic palm tree.
