The Nile Cataract

The perfect location for a boat ride is around Nubia just south of Aswan. The Nile River passes through formations of hard igneous rock for around 5 km (3 miles), resulting in a series of rapids, or cataracts. In Ancient Times it was credited as being the source of The Nile.

The Nile cataracts provide beautiful scenery as well as exotic birds, such as The Kingfisher and Black Ibis, making it an ideal spot for photographers and nature lovers.

The cataracts are rocky areas of boulders in the narrow channels of the River Nile which until a century or so ago, before the construction of the Old Aswan Dam in 1902, formed treacherous rapids of foaming water, making it dangerous to row between the rocks. Larger vessels were forced to unload their cargo in order to negotiate this stretch of river.

Standing on top of the hill overlooking the Nile River gives us a good idea of how hazardous the river journey would have been and why the traveller would have felt in need of divine protection.

We can stop on the West Bank, with a small climb to the top of a sand dune, which is the best place to view the granite island, The Blue Nile, and the Golden Desert. It is advised that, when exploring The Cataract, you take a small motorboat with an expert sailor for the best experience.