The Black and White Desert is a natural beauty in the Egyptian desert that can be explored by anyone who can withstand some heat and a short car ride. This giant depression in the land has created the Black and White Desert in the Western area of Egypt, between Dakhla and Bahariya. The Black desert was created after the land split creating an eruption of the Earth's magma to flow above the surface and create a hard, black covering. After some hundred years, the black tile split and left smooth, shattered disks of black shards that covered the mountain tops and plain levels of the desert. The White Desert was created where a giant lake once stood. The white material is left over organic material and due to sandstorms and weathering on the material; structures and objects have been naturally created. The two deserts can be accessed on the northwestern side of Egypt. A wonderful stop before heading into the desert is a town called Farafra. Here the Black Desert can be seen at the hill tops that overlooks the small, charming town. Not many restaurants or shopping, this town offers a homey, non-city feel with enough hotels to host the travelers heading into the desert. Some lodges have natural hot springs and offer a stunning panoramic view of the city. Grab your camera, some water, and your shoes and walk one of the many paths that lead up to the small mountain that shows you the whole city. This view at sunset is breath taking and begins your excursion off to a wonderful start. The sunset shades the whole city orange, white, and red; then the green mosques light up and the call to prayer begins. The next day grab some breakfast and load into your jeep to begin your two day adventure into the Black and White Desert. Make sure to bring water, a cover up, sunglasses, and any camping needs. The first main stop is a giant sand dune where visitors can run around on the plateau of sand taking pictures, creating sand-angles and look into the horizon to see nothing but black sugar sprinkled on the light brown mountain sides. This location is great for the non-experienced sand boarder – grab a board and slide down the medium sized sand hills. The sand will be hot, but one can bury their feet an inch or so below the surface and find cool, soft sand for some relief from the heat. After playing in the sand, the travel guide will take you back on your way further into the Black Desert. Off-roading across the flat desert you will see numerous mountains with black tops. If you are physically capable, the driver will take you to a tall mountain where you can walk up the side of the mountain to the very top: a view of scattered black-top mountains awaits you alongside a cool, refreshing breeze. Continuing the adventure, back packers can walk in between two mountains that create a small valley. This shows one the details of how the magma has hardened and cracked creating a black and brown contrast in the desert. After walking around the desert, a small oasis is reached. There is nothing here but a few small trees and a medium sized, rectangular pool where a giant pipe floods out cool, clear water. Put in your feet or whole body – this cold spring is just what one needs after a hot afternoon in the Black Desert. Drive for about two more hours and you will begin to see the opening of the White Desert. Unlike the smooth Black Desert, the white substance that creates the White Desert is crystallized, hard, rough surfaces. The white powder easy comes off on your hands when you touch the rock, but it is still hard and rough. While the Black Desert is a black layer over the earth, the White Desert is filled with naturally formed sculptures and figures. The White Desert includes giant pillars, mushroom-top figures, and caves/arches; one can make out different objects in these white figures just like watching the clouds and letting your imagination wander. Find but one mini palm tree, there are many spots to climb up a giant boulder and take a look all around the desert sea of sand and white figurines. The most famous in is the ‘Chicken-Mushroom' where a small, full white chicken sits below a towering white mushroom. While the sun sets, find an open area to set up camp. When the sun begins to set, with hardly ever a cloud in the sky, the sun will appear as if out of an Arabian movie: a cherry red circle with a purple, royal blue back ground. When the sun sets and the rays hit the desert, the white, porcelain figures have a hint of orange as they sit upon a golden, reddish desert sea. A night in the desert is a priceless gem one must enjoy. After eating dinner lay on your sleeping bag and try to count the diamonds in the sky. Seeing more shooting stars than planes, the starry night sky will create enough light to see what is around you but not keep you awake. The only company out here is a few desert foxes, hide your shoes and share your left over's and these curious animals mean no harm. The next morning pack up camp and see the rest of the white desert. Like a theme part, different areas of the White Desert provide different sculptures: arched ways, giant white hillsides, and more. After filling your sight-seeing head back into Farafra village to grab some lunch and rest. One can take a bus back to the major cities of Egypt or continue on their journey wherever they may be headed. BM
