Kitchener's Island in Aswan

Description

Kitchener's Island , is also known as Island of Plants (Geziret an-Nabatat), situated on the Nile near Aswan in the South of Egypt. Presented with the island in gratitude for his military exploits in Sudan, Consul-General Kitchener indulged his passion for exotic flora, importing shrubs and seeds from as far afield as India and Malaysia. Today this island-wide botanical garden is a lovely place to spend a quiet afternoon (except on Fridays), with lots of birdlife. The island is accessible by rowing boat or felucca from the west bank or Elephantine. The craggy strait between Elephantine and Amun island looks its best from a felucca. If you're not already waterborne, the surrounding coves are frequented by lads who'll happily sail you to any of the islands or the west bank.