Oasis Kharga travel guide

Like nearly all oases, Kharga too is surrounded by a very steep chain of hills which consists of chalk cliffs and rises in terraces towards the desert to a height of 430m/1400ft.

The contrast between the lush greenery of the palm groves and fruit plantations and the ochre yellow of the desert rocks makes for a wonderful view.
The southernmost of the oases in the Western Desert, the so-called south oasis or “Great Oasis” of the ancient Egyptians extends about 200km/125mi from north to south and extends 20 – 50km/12 – 30mi in an east-west direction. A road links it to Asyut in the Nile valley. A new section to Luxor is under construction. HistoryIn ancient times, Kharga was very fertile, due to its numerous springs, and had many cities and settlements whose ruins are still well preserved in parts. As an important resting station on the “40-day caravan route” which started at Asyut and led to Darfur oasis in Sudan, Kharga had a lively economic and cultural life. Probably due to a deterioration in the water supply, the importance of the oasis has declined greatly since the Middle Ages. The residents of the oasis, who are partly of Berber origin and partly Nubian settlers, live from the extensive date cultivation(about 200,000 date palms) and also grow fruit, rice, grains and vegetables. Phosphate mining in the northern part of the region has recently gained importance. Within the context of the New Valleydevelopment programme, which intends to irrigate and render fertile an area of the size of Scotland, the area between Kharga and Dakhla is being developed energetically. Accompanying measures include noticeable improvements in the infrastructure (road construction, airport) as well as living conditions, and with this, new settlements by immigrants from the overpopulated Nile valley.

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