That Time I Went Camping With Complete Strangers in the Sinai Desert

SceneTraveller

One thing about me is—I could easily be persuaded into going to the sketchiest rave in town. A little risky, sure, but I’d be popping up to techno, at least. Though, willingly getting stranded in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by the type of deafening silence that allows your deepest thoughts to be heard and all the creepy, crawly creatures the Sinai desert has to offer? No, thank you. 

So, when the Egypt Hiking Community (which is just as the name implies) invited me on a three-day hiking trip in Sinai, I was more than a little hesitant. And while my best friend came through with an enthusiastic “Oh, sounds fun!” when I broke the news, all I could think was—No, Susan. Sleeping and hiking in the mountains with a cohort of complete strangers does not sound like fun. 

You see, I may look spontaneous at first glance (my Aquarius star sign is to blame), but in reality, I’m more of a giant squirrel, prone to hibernation and usually just want to lie aimlessly in the comfort of my beloved bed. Yet, for some unknown reason (work, stress, life), I found myself packing up my bags and prepping for the desert. 

On the morning of our departure from Cairo to Catherine Town in southern Sinai, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed for very obvious reasons. Firstly, I was insanely overwhelmed by the exhaustive packing list Charif—the founder of the Egypt Hiking Community—had sent me the day prior. Secondly, and most importantly, the reality that I had never been on a hiking, much less camping, trip before in my 23 years of existence had begun to dawn on me. 

With my stomach churning, I considered calling it off at the last minute and coaxing my mother into writing me an apology letter like she did when I was in middle school. My inexcusably (very) late arrival at the pickup point in Heliopolis, combined with the disarray I caused by getting lost in the vicinity of Baron Palace, can clearly attest to my unwillingness to go on this so-called “adventure”. 

But the moment I stepped into the van, I was taken aback by the enthusiasm and the warm greetings I received from everyone in the group. I couldn’t help but think: What are they excited about? We’re about to sleep in the desert! In some weird way, the two people seated beside me, Oumaiyma and Bakr, seemed to sense my inner turmoil. They took pity on my poor state and started poking it gently with small talk.