Gabal Elba National Park

Gebel Elba (meaning Mount Elba in Arabic) is the name of a mountain and a region in the remotest south eastern corner of Egypt.   The mountain, which rises to a peak of  1,435 metres, and the surrounding National Park are situated in what is known as the Halaib Triangle.  It's an area of territory disputed by Sudan and Egypt, but currently under Egyptian government control.

It lies 250km south of Marsa Alam and the main coastal road runs through the national park. However, getting permission to visit is difficult and even if it is given you may need to have a police officer with you on your expedition.  This is due to the close proximity of the Sudanese border and also due to concerns about the impact of tourism on the delicate environment.   As a result Gebel Elba is one of the least explored areas of the country which is a great bonus for anyone who obtains the necessary papers as it has an ecosystem and range of species unparalleled anywhere else in Egypt.

The national park was set up in 1985 and covers an area of 35,600 square kilometres.  That's considerably larger than Belgium, Wales or Massachusetts.  It includes a vast stretch of coral reef and mangrove coastline, 22 Red Sea islands, a 20 km wide stretch of desert coastal plain and a mountain range, whose main peaks include Gebel Elba, Gebel Shellal (waterfall mountain) at 1,409 metres, Gebel Shendodai at 1,526 metres and Gebel Shendib at 1,911 metres. Gebel Elba lies closest to the sea while the other peaks are located further south and inland near the Sudanese border.