The Real Four Seasons

The Sinai high mountains have the best climate in all of Egypt. There is always a fresh breeze in the hot summer months and the nights are pleasantly cool, and in winter, although night temperatures might fall below 0 °C, the days are sunny and warm. All the seasons have their own feeling and beauty; the clouds in winter add a more dramatic touch to the scene and snow in this desert environment is something special; in spring the granite pools, springs and creeks are full of water and the vegetation is lush and green; the summer days are long and ideal to laze around, and the gardens are full of fresh organic fruits; autumn is colourful and sentimental, with trees dropping their leaves and the first clouds and cooler winds arriving.

The high mountain region is a unique high-altitude desert eco-system, with a surprisingly diverse flora and fauna. The flora of Sinai is represented by 1262 species of plants of which 520 are endemic to Egypt and 36 species are purely endemic to the mountains around St. Katherine. There are many beautiful wild flowers, bushes and herbs, different types of trees, cane, high grass and date palms. Most of the mammals, such as the shy ibex, stay well away from humans but if you are lucky, you might spot some. There are harmless foxes, hyraxes and the colourful Sinai agama, a lizard changing its colour from blue to green. Luckily, the more nasty creatures, such as snakes and scorpions, are not too common, and the most dangerous ones, such as the triangular headed Burton's viper, are virtually non-existent at this elevation. There are no wolves or hyenas, but, sadly, the Sinai leopard has disappeared all together.

Bedouins are a pastoralist people, and they still graze sheep and goats in the mountains, and you will probably encounter feral donkeys. And, of course, you will see a lot of camels, often just let freely to graze.