Aswan Botanical Garden (Kitchener's Island)
Aswan Botanical Garden covers the whole of Kitchener's Island in the Nile, planted in the 1890s with species from India, Asia and Africa. It opens daily from roughly 7 am to 5 pm, is reached only by boat, and takes about 1 hour to see.
Kitchener's Island, whose official name is Geziret el-Nabatat ("Island of Plants"), sits in the Nile just to the west of Elephantine. In the 1890s it was handed to Lord Kitchener, at the time commander of the Egyptian army, and he stocked it with plants and trees shipped in from India, Asia and Africa.
It now operates as the Aswan Botanical Garden: shaded paths under royal palms, trees in flower and plenty of birdsong, with the river all around. When Aswan is baking, it is a cool and calm place to spend an hour.
What to see
- Avenues of royal palms
- Rare tropical trees from around the world
- Birds along the shoreline
- Views of the West Bank dunes and the Aga Khan Mausoleum
Visiting
- Opening hours: daily, roughly 7 am – 5 pm
- Tickets: entry ticket at the landing
- Getting there: by felucca or motorboat from the Corniche
- Time needed: 1 hour
- Nearby: Elephantine Island, Aga Khan Mausoleum, Aswan Corniche
Getting there
Coordinates: 24.0936, 32.8869
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Aswan Botanical Garden?
Only by boat, either a felucca or a motorboat from the Corniche. You buy the entry ticket at the landing on the island.
What are the opening hours of Kitchener's Island?
Daily, roughly 7 am to 5 pm. An hour is enough for a walk around.
Can I add the botanical garden to a felucca trip?
Yes. Ask the captain to wait while you walk. From the island you can see the West Bank dunes and the Aga Khan Mausoleum.