About the initiative:

10. About the initiative: • This is a community initiative run by the Jabaleya Bedouin tribe, aimed at helping the gardeners of the Sinai high mountains. The idea emerged after the devastating floods in early 2013, when paths, gardens and stone buildings got badly damaged or washed away. The aim is to support the gardeners, to help them rebuild and improve their gardens, and in the long run to encourage the younger generations to carry on with the tradition. At the same time it offers visitors a unique chance to see and learn about this unique gardening tradition, to have an authentic Bedouin experience and to discover the Sinai high mountains. However in this case, instead of paying a tour company, visitors' contributions will go directly and in full to restoring the gardens. The gardeners used to receive trekking groups in the past and are used to dealing with foreign visitors, and many gardens have simple, but adequate facilities, such as composting toilets and showers. There are also excellent Bedouin safari and trekking guides who take part in the work, so visitors will feel comfortable at all times. • How it works: • Visitors can enquire about and book a programme on: sinaigardens@gmail.com. We can tell more about the gardens, practicalities and so on, if needed we can help with booking transport and accommodation. • If requested, a taxi will pick up visitors from the airport or any address in Egypt and transfer them to the town of St. Katherine. In St. Katherine an English speaking Bedouin guide will welcome visitors and explain everything, introduce the gardener and help with settling in for the first night. There is a wide range of accommodation in town. • Following morning visitors will set off to the high mountains, arrive at and settle in the garden. You will have your private area, mattress, blankets etc, either in an “arisha” (a sun-roof) or a stone hut. Three meals a day and plenty of tea, coffee or herbal tea will be provided by the family. There is drinking water available in the gardens, but bottled water can also be brought up by camels if needed. Feel free to explore the garden, make yourself home. • Ideally the workers and/or family members will already be present by the time visitors arrive and everything is ready for the work. You can help with what you prefer, people will show you what you can do. You can work at your own pace, and you should work only as much as you feel OK with. • You can explore the surroundings yourself, but always tell someone where you go. If you want to go for a longer hike, a Bedouin guide will accompany you. • When your stay comes to an end, you will be escorted back to town. You can spend another night – or more if you wish – in town or head back to the coast or Cairo. • You can find further information on: www.sinaigardens.net