Getting Around & About in Egypt
By Hoda Nassef
Egyptian public transport is, on the whole, pretty good. There is an efficient rail network linking the Nile Valley, Delta and Canal Zone and elsewhere you can travel easily enough by bus or collective (service) taxi. On the Nile you can indulge in feluccas or cruise boats, and in the desert there's the chance to test your camel-riding prowess. For the hurried, EgyptAir and Air Sinai also provide a network of flights.
Egyptian public transport is, on the whole, pretty good. There is an efficient rail network linking the Nile Valley, Delta and Canal Zone and elsewhere you can travel easily enough by bus or collective (service) taxi. On the Nile you can indulge in feluccas or cruise boats, and in the desert there's the chance to test your camel-riding prowess. For the hurried, EgyptAir and Air Sinai also provide a network of flights.
By Rail
Covering a limited network of routes, trains are best used for long hauls between the major cities, when air-conditioned services offer a comfier alternative to buses and taxis. For shorter journeys, however, trains are slower and less reliable.
By Bus
Inter-city buses are an inexpensive way to travel, and often preferable to trains. Besides being quicker for short trips along the Nile Valley, buses serve areas beyond the rail network, such as Sinai, the oases, Abu Simbel and Hurghada. Travelling in Egypt for any length of time, you are likely to make considerable use of the various networks.
By 'Service' Taxi
Collective service taxis ('servees') are one of the best features of Egyptian transport. They operate on a wide variety of routes, are generally quicker than buses and trains, and fares are very reasonable. On the downside, maniacal driving on congested roads calls for strong nerves and a certain fatalism. There is now the yellow City Cab; you pay LE.3 to board, then every mile more.
Diving, Biking and Hitch-Hiking
Driving in Egypt is not for the faint-hearted or inexperienced motorist. Cities, highways and backroads pose a challenge to drivers' skills and nerve. Pedestrians and carts seem blithely indifferent to heavy traffic. Though accidents are less frequent than you'd think, the crumpled wrecks alongside highways are a constant reminder of the hazards of motoring.
Yellow City Cab
As soon as you enter the taxi (yellow cab) you are charged three pounds, and then every mile is included at the end of your destination. They are the cleanest taxis as well as the newest, but too expensive for most people. Yet at least one does not have to hackle for a bargain, as the fees are fixes.
City Transport
Most Egyptian towns are small enough to cover on foot, especially if you stay in a hotel near the centre. In larger cities, however, local transport is definitely useful. Learn to recognize Arabic numerals and you can take full advantage of the cheap buses, minibuses and trams that cover most of Alexandria and Cairo (which also has river taxis and an excellent metro).
Equally ubiquitous are four-seater taxis (black and white in Cairo, black and yellow in Alex), which often pick up extra passengers heading in the same direction. As meters are rarely used (or work), the trick is to know the fare and pay on arrival, rather than ask or haggle at the beginning. Above all, don't confuse these cabs with larger special taxis (usually Peugeot 504s or Mercedes), which cost three times more and prey on tourists. If you do rent a special, establish the price – and bargain it down – before you get in.
H.N.
