Kicking Back in Ras Mohammed!

We recently headed out to Ras Mohammed National Park for a snorkelling trip. For those who haven’t been there, Ras Mohammed National Park is, simply put, surreal.

The entrance is flanked by tall stone pillars and once inside, the landscape feels reminiscent of what the surface of the moon could be like. It’s a wide desert expanse with ‘roads’ created from red granite, quarried nearby. The roads head up and down hills and trenches, guided by signs painted onto large boulders, leading to pristine snorkelling spots and wide shallow lagoons.

Travelling in style

Travelling in style this time, thanks to a borrowed Hyundai Elantra (Thanks Jumma!) We left the faithful Hilux’s back in Dahab and opted for air conditioned comfort. We packed our mini chilly bin with a few sandwiches from the bakery and drinks. We also packed in a few ears of frozen corn to keep it all cool because, like always, I never remember to make ice and instead have to use frozen vegetables.

On the trip was myself, Jumma and a Belgian free-diver friend, Annemie. The drive itself takes just 1 hour and 30 minutes. Down past Sharm, around the tip of the Sinai and through the El Tor gate. On the way I broke the electric window somehow and we didn’t get any air conditioned comfort. (Malesh, Jumma! But I fixed it eventually)

Ras Mohammed

In the Ras Mohammed National Park itself, we snorkelled in 2 different spots, Eel Garden and Yolanda. Both feature big drop offs and shallow reefs with easy entrances flanked by yellow rocks. We spotted Stingrays, groups of Trevally, a huge Tuna and my favourite, Batfish, amongst all the reef fish. For divers familiar with the National Park, Yolanda is, of course, the wreckage situated at the famous dive site, Shark & Yolanda Reef.

Post snorkelling we wallowed – well Jumma wallowed anyway – in a wide shallow lagoon. It had a few patches of Mangroves and lots of shifting sand bars which create beautiful colours and ripples through the water. Fed by the incoming tide, the lagoon is the perfect place to flop after exploring the Ras Mohammed National Park.