Kitchener’s Island

The Kitchener’s Island In Aswan

In the River Nile, an island shaped like an oval was handed to Lord Horatio Kitchener at some point during the 1890s. As the Egyptian Consul, his participation in various Sudanese campaigns had earned him the island. Kitchener was an avid gardener, so he made a botanical garden out of his island home. He had exotic trees and plants imported into the island, and they adapted quickly to the Aswan climate. In 1899, the botanical garden was complete. The Ministry of irrigation supervised the construction of the garden.

In 1928, many more plants from different equatorial regions were imported to the island as an experiment to see if they would flourish there. Trees like the Date Palm and Sycamore Fig were planted next to the native plants and trees of the island. The purpose was to grow the trees into a wood resource for the timber industry. The Ministry of Agriculture also experimented with various fruit and oil crops on the island too.

When you visit Kitchener’s Island in modern times, it is a relaxing paradise vacation setting. You’ll see gorgeous flowers, shady-providing trees, and exotic plants that trail next to the paved walkways. You’ll even find rare bird species flying around on the island. Look for them on the branches of the trees as you walk around and explore the island. The island has a peaceful atmosphere that you’ll love to explore. When you get hungry, go to the southern end and visit the cafeteria there.

The Egyptian government owns the island. It features a biological research station in the south, but tourists cannot go there. The purpose of the research station is to supply exotic timber trees and plants to various areas of the world.

Updated On May 06, 2020