Travel Guide Siwa

This area is not recommended by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time of printing. For over 2,000 years, the name of this oasis has been associated with Alexander the Great. It was in the temple dedicated to Amon, in the heart of this oasis, that in 331 BC the oracles confirmed the divine nature of Alexander, declared son of Amon. A useful verdict for the conqueror, which legitimized his reign over the Egypt of the Pharaohs.More recently, a Greek archaeologist thought she had discovered Alexander's tomb at Siwa. Wrong though it may have been, the announcement of the discovery had a small impact and boosted the reputation of an oasis decidedly rich in mystery. Because of its proximity to the Libyan border, Siwa has long remained closed to the world, jealously guarded by the Egyptian army. And indeed, this isolation, for military purposes, has contributed to the preservation of a particular identity in Egypt.If we follow the theories of certain geographers who dissociate the Maghreb from the Middle East on the basis of people's dietary habits (civilization of couscous in the Maghreb, rice in the Middle East), Siwa is indeed a Berber enclave in an Eastern Egypt.The Siwi are also distinguished by their Berber dialect, which is quite distant from Arabic. Unwilling to give up their traditions and give in to modernism, the people of Siwa are extremely proud.They make no secret of their contempt for Egyptians from the Nile, Cairo or Alexandria, whom they regard as invaders and barbarians.They probably won't tell you, but their opinion of you is hardly more favorable. In fact, most of the villagers you will meet in the oasis will be reserved towards you. Married women live sheltered by a grey-blue cotton veil that leaves not a single square millimeter of skin visible. Their faces are a mystery that no one - except their mothers and husbands - can reveal... It's a long way to Siwa. From Cairo, it takes one day and as much to return. In other words, a lightning trip is out of the question. You have to take your time. The oasis is immense and offers many walks through palm groves and deserts, dotted with bathing spots. However, be sure to check that the water is running and that it's notoriously safe to bathe in it, as amoebae lurk in stagnant water.