Siwa - an oasis of culture and nature

By Ibrahim Omar Baghy/National Focal Point Unesco/Natural World Heritage Sites

Siwa and its surroundings represent one of the most distinctive regions of Egypt. It retains notable cultural and natural resources ... spectacular landscapes, exceptional geo-morphological features and an outstanding diversity of habitats and living organisms.

Siwa Depression is irregularly shaped and is some 82km long and 28km wide, covering about 1,088 km2; Its lowest point has an elevation of approximately 25m below sea level.

Climate

Siwa region falls in the extremely arid zone of Egypt. Rainfall in Siwa is very scarce, in fact practically negligible. Mean annual precipitation is 10.5mm on average. Temperatures may exceed 48°C in summer, while frosts are not uncommon during the winter season. Relative humidity and wind speeds are generally low. The hot and dry Khamsin wind blows in early summer(April-may) and causes sizeable sandstorms.

The Siwans and their rich culture

The Siwans: Although it was a hub for caravan routes, Siwa’s history has grown in relative isolation for hundreds of years and its culture is unique and different from any other areas of Egypt, including the other oases in the Western Desert. Several characteristics of the Siwan culture are still discernible, although it has changed over the last decades.

The population has changed throughout the centuries with the fortune of the oasis, and today 30,000 people live in Siwa. Descendents of the Berber tribes of Zanatah, today, Siwans belong to eleven tribes administered by twelve sheikhs. Of  these the Westerners comprise three tribes, the Easterners comprise five tribes plus the Shohaybat tribe, the Aghurmi tribe and the Gara tribe.

The Siwan language belongs to the Berber group of languages, and is mutually comprehensible with the language spoken by some Berber groups of Algeria and Morocco. However, Arabic is generally spoken and is used in public education.

The local economy is largely dependent on harvesting dates and olives. Other livelihoods include animal husbandry, the salt trade, and lately, tourism.  Many Siwan prefer traditional medicine – the knowledge of which is passed on through certain families – to consulting a doctor.

Social relations are quite conservative in Siwa and people show respect for each other. The relations within the family are tightly knit, the man is the corner stone, role model and head of the family. The women do the housework and seldom leave their homes. Children love to play their traditional games, sing and dance from a very young age. Marriage is a crucial and vivid tradition in the life of the Siwans. Age-old customs include unique festivities, clothing, family advice meetings, gifts, wedding ceremonies, brides’ hair styles, feasts and other colourful and rich traditions.

Crafts

Siwa Oasis has a rich craft tradition and many items are highly prized by collectors worldwide. These include a large array of traditional pieces such as baskets, pottery, jewelry and woodwork. Embroidered women’s clothing, produced with colourful silk, are among Siwa’s most impressive crafts.

The Siwans, like other cultures in North Africa, use five colours in their baskets, clothing, and other crafts: red, green, orange, yellow, and black. These colours symbolise the fruit of the date tree at different stages of maturity.

Vernacular Architecture

The traditional style of architecture in Siwa, known as Karshif, is one of the main features of interest for visitors. Based on the use of natural materials, it has been in use in Siwa since the 12th century and has made large use of Karshif. Karshif is a stone extracted from the ground and is comprised of salt and fine sand mixed with clay, made very hard by the action of water and the baking sun.

Karshif makes for ecologically sound living, cool in summer and warm in winter. Although Karshif houses are suitable for the climate, they suffer  during periods of heavy rain and from the rising water table which softens the Karshif foundations causing the house to settle and crack. Many have become unlivable and have been abandoned; consequently the use of this material has nowadays declined and is substituted with cemented, sawn stone foundations and brick masonry.

Siwa Protected Area

The Siwa Protected Area and its vicinity represent one of  Egypt’s most fascinating regions, a rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes and an outstanding diversity of habitats and wildlife.

Siwa Protected Area was established as a natural protectorate, under the provisions of Law 102 of 1983, by prime ministerial decree n. 1219/2002. Since the establishment of the Siwa PA, the development of sustainable forms of tourism had been identified as one the main opportunities in the region that could provide sustained economic benefits to both the local community and the nation as a whole. At the same time tourism could help generate a source of income for the administration charged with the management of the protectorate, and contribute to the associated management costs.Overview of current status of tourism in Siwa: Generally Siwa is not considered as a destination itself, but is marketed as part of a tour package though safari tours

represent a growing segment of the foreign tourism along with the daily tours from resorts on the north coast. Tourism to Siwa is highly seasonal and road access options are limited to daily bus or private transport.

Siwa remains mainly a “secondary destination”, with the majority of visitors spending only a few days in the area a pattern which results in less benefits from the tourism sector accruing to the local community as well as to the PA.

Siwa’s attractions reside in its reputation as a distant and isolated oasis, where tourists can have experiences very different from those they can have in other parts of Egypt. Its natural resources together with the archaeological and cultural Tourism in Siwa heritage provide the opportunity to expand and diversify the existing range of activities and attractions on offer, but at the moment few visitors really appreciate this full range of attractions.

Role of the Local Community and preferred tourism model

In general the local people interviewed are in full support to the government policy towards tourism development in the country and there is a consensus among local communities on the importance of tourism to the local economy in Siwa. Many believe that tourism could become their main engine for economic growth along with agriculture but recognize the need to have a long term vision for tourism. They do not want the tourism development model in Siwa to replicate mass tourism models adopted elsewhere in Egypt but one which conserves the pristine environment and culture of Siwa and does not impact its natural landscape.

The most challenging areas for sustainable tourism development, from the point of view of the involvement of the local community, is Qara oasis, as this is the only area inhabited by a community within the PA boundaries.