THE present academic year has been fraught with problems for Egypt's students caused by the nightmare of swine flu the effects of which aren't over yet. In view of the panic and fright, which still affects many, Egyptian families are eager to look to spend a mid-year holiday to eliminate the stress and pressure they have encountered over the year. There are many places that can be visited at which people can spend good times with their children, and at the same time won't add another burden to the Egyptian family's finances. To avoid being overwhelmed at the sheer number of things to do in Cairo, here is a run down of the best 'family friendly' things to do in the city. Giza Zoo is one of those distinguished places, which holds the attention of children who enjoy spending hours with the animals and birds. Inside the zoo, the visitor will find a kiosk, built in a Japanese architectural style during the time of King Fu'ad in1924, on the occasion of a visit paid by the Crown Prince of Japan to Egypt upon that time. This museum includes photos of past and recent times and is a lovely reminder of times gone by. The number of visitors to the zoo is estimated at 2.5 million people, which simply proves how popular it is as a destination for a family day out. The park also includes a number of cafeterias and restaurants, and can be reached by all means of transport, including the Cairo Underground Metro. The beauty of the zoo, therefore, is that it can be enjoyed by everyone. The entry ticket costs LE2. Al-Orman Park is also near to the Giza Zoo. This park houses the largest and oldest plants and contains rare group of trees and plants. Al-Orman Park was once a part of Khedive Palace that was known as Giza Palace. The seeds of trees and plants from all over the world have been planted here, which makes a beautiful and unique landscape. Moving from Giza to Cairo Governorate sits the spectacular Al-Azhar Park, located at the heart of historic Cairo and built on a massive area of 30 feddans (acres). Al-Azhar Park includes two main restaurants, the first built in the Mamluk style on the right side of the park, while the second restaurant is built on the left side of the park near an artificial lake. After spending an enjoyable time at Al-Azhar Park, visitors can make their way to the nearby Military Museum, which includes several halls through which Egyptian history is highlighted. The museum also includes a memorial to the October 1973 War, which is considered a very interesting place to be visited by school and university students during the mid-year holiday. The impressive Citadel of Saladin in Islamic Cairo, was constructed by King Saladin in 1170AD, and completed by his brother King El-Adel. It is located on a high hill that is lucky enough to overlook the old city of Cairo and mainly consists of enclosure walls and watchtowers, as well as many, many gates! At every 120 metres, there are gates into the Citadel that were built at various times in history. The Citadel is a beautiful place to visit in Cairo, testament to the fact that both tourists and Cairo natives can be found wandering its cobbled streets for hours.
