Book Review: Egypt Rediscovered

Egypt Daily Star News

I posted a review of this by Rehab Saad on Al Ahram Weekly back in November 2007, and here's another one, this time by Farah el Alfy:

Away from Sharm El-Sheikh, El-Gouna and other similar places, “Egypt Rediscovered” provides an intriguing guide to places around the country you may have never known existed. The must-have book sums up Egypt’s natural heritage and gives an array of choices that are not only spectacular, but so close to home.

With camera in hand, talented writer/photographer Mohamed El-Hebeishy embarked on a two-year adventure, taking stunning pictures of scenery, monuments and animals found at the nation’s rich landscapes. Instead of relying on words to tell his story, he let his photos do the job. They say a picture is worth a thousands words, and it’s never been more true.

The journey starts in El Gilf El Kibir —“a gigantic plateau the size of Switzerland,” as he describes it — located in the much ignored southwestern side of the country. The area is filled with prehistoric carvings and wall drawings in valleys and caves, of cattle and human figures performing various activities. The area also stands witness to modern times, with remains of World War II trucks and carcasses of Barbary sheep.

In the Great Sand Sea, another fascinating location, El-Hebeishy’s pictures capture sand dunes, palm trees and the unique rare silica glass.

If you want to get a direct flavour of Mohamed El-Hebeishy's work, see his article Into the heart of a mystery, written about his travels in the Gilf Kebir (on Al Ahram Weekly).