Have you ever heard of a Sannur cave? Neither did I until I was forced to go there, and the whole experience changed my life. Calling it one of the most magical places in Egypt, or anywhere else for that matter, is an understatement.
For those who are like me and do not know what I’m talking about, Sannur cave is a protected area located 70 kilometers east of Beni Suef, and it’s by far my favorite hidden gem in Egypt. Reaching the place is very easy as one can drive from Cairo to Beni Suef in two hours (perfect for a weekend getaway, I say). Sannur is a classic karst cave created by groundwater percolating through the Eocene limestone of the Galala Plateau.
The cave contains geological formations known as stalactites and stalagmites that formed millions of years ago, 60 million years to be exact. The reserve is filled with a large number of quarries dating back to different eras. While me and my friends channeled our Indiana Jones and explored the cave with some of the locals, they’ve told us that “most of the quarries belong to the ancient period which was used at the time of pharaohs in Egypt and still others date back to the modern era and are more recently exploited.” If we didn’t know any better, we’d think that we traveled back in time.
The quality and rareness of the natural formations found in the cave make this place one of the rarest places in the entire planet. The cave is an ideal arena for researchers to conduct detailed and comparative studies which can help in getting a deeper understanding of the environmental conditions that were present during the ancient era. I, on the other hand, would prefer to camp there with friends, get our barbecue game on and watch the beautiful sky turn dark while the stars light it up.
WE SAID THIS: Do something different this weekend and drive to Beni Suef. You won’t regret it.
