Surrounding the oasis of Farafra stands the White Desert of Egypt. Hulking boulders of chalk and oceanic sedimentation known as inselbergs can be found up to 20km beyond the northern tip of the escarpment sheltering the oasis. These impossible sculptures have been chiseled away by time, and what was once a plateau is now reduced to odd shapes and precarious stacks. These are split into three concentric rings, the Old Desert, the White Desert Park and the White House which overlaps with the New Desert. The primary difference is the accessibility and the rock features. Despite their differences, they all bear a passing resemblance to the barren grounds of Mars.

Farafra was once termed the Land of the Cow (‘Quasr El Farafra’), barricaded by a mud-brick fort that could house a 120 rooms. The fort is no more but it has shielded parts of the old village, leaving behind alleys and sundried brick houses that once bustled with traffic and trade. It has since been taken over by the Bedouin who continue to occupy the lands in squat, one-storey affairs of brick and mortar. They tend to the lush gardens by the village borders, a startling emerald green against the sea of white dunes and rolling peaks. The oasis is open for you to explore the impossible paradise of olives and date crowns. Public hot springs accommodate tourists while the friendly villagers will welcome you with open arms despite these troubled times. Farafra is not just a miraculous haven for wildlife but a testament to the will and strength of the Egyptian people.