One of the world’s oldest botanical gardens containing rare species of plants from across the world, the Aswan Botanical Gardens are nestled on an island in the Nile opposite the ancient Egyptian Tombs of the Nobles. They are one of Aswan’s most significant tourist attractions, drawing visitors from around the world.
Covering an area of 18 feddans, the oval-shaped gardens feature a network of longitudinal and transverse walkways, allowing visitors to explore and enjoy the diverse plants on display. The gardens are some 700 metres long and reach a maximum width of 115 metres.
This floral haven or botanical oasis has a rich history. The gardens were initially inhabited by Nubians, who referred to the area as the Natron Gardens. In the late 19th century, the British repurposed the area as a military base, renaming it the Radar Island. Egyptian king Fouad I later renamed it the King’s Island, a title it held until the 23 July Revolution in 1952, when president Gamal Abdel-Nasser renamed it the Botanical Island.
The origins of the gardens themselves can be traced back to 1898 during the British occupation of Egypt, when Lord Kitchener, commander of the British forces in the area, used them as his headquarters following the suppression of the Mahdist Revolution in Sudan. The location’s strategic significance also led to its use as a station for carrier pigeons relaying messages to and from Sudan.

After the British troops left the area, the Ministry of Water took over the supervision of the Botanical Gardens, entrusting their management to its Horticulture Department. Discovering the island’s remarkable natural diversity, the department decided to turn it into a research centre to study how plant species adapt to the extreme heat of summer in Aswan. Beginning in 1928, it sent out expeditions to bring back tropical and semi-tropical plants to the gardens, many of which have been preserved to this day.
The gardens were used for activities held during the recent 13th Arab Youth Forum on “Artificial Intelligence and its Role in Sustainable Development” that took place in Aswan and Luxor and was organised by the Arab Union for Youth and Environment with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Some 250 university students from Egypt, Arab, and African nations participated in the forum, along with experts and officials who toured the Botanical Gardens.
“The gardens serve as an open international botanical museum and a scientific research hub. They are home to over 820 plant species, including some of the rarest and most beautiful in the world,” said Amr Mahmoud, director of the Botanical Gardens. He revealed plans to display a collection of heritage photographs of notable visitors to the gardens, including figures such as 20th-century politician Mustafa Al-Nahhas Pasha and artists, ambassadors, and ministers from around the world.
“The island is not only a scientific and environmental treasure, but it is also one that is frequently visited by notable figures. For instance, during the Aswan African Film Festival in 1978, the gardens welcomed renowned personalities such as iconic actor Farid Shawki, his wife Soheir Turk, the actress Lebleba, and directors Atef Salem and Hossameddin Mustafa, who toured the gardens as part of the festival’s activities and were the subjects of some memorable photos,” Mahmoud said.
“The gardens also possess images of late president Gamal Abdel-Nasser. They have hosted various prominent international figures, including former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, former Yugoslav president Joseph Tito, and former UK queen Elizabeth II, along with artists, athletes, and other dignitaries,” he noted.
“This horticultural oasis is home to 109 plant families, with approximately 449 genera and 767 species, each clearly labelled with classification information. Beyond the rich collection of plants, the gardens also have a herbarium with a collection of dried plant samples with detailed identification attached to each.”
The samples are categorised by plant families, with each family then divided by genera and species. The system is aligned with the latest updates from the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system maintained on the GRIN Taxonomy website for global access to the most current plant classifications. The Aswan Botanical Gardens herbarium houses a collection of 1,779 specimens, spanning 117 families, 442 genera, and 656 species,” Mahmoud explained.

MUSEUM AND LIBRARY: The Botanical Museum at the gardens serves as an exhibition and storage centre for dry herbarium specimens collected from the gardens.
Alongside the fruit and seeds of the respective species, these specimens are displayed in wooden cases covered by glass. The fruit and seeds of the plant species are showcased on wooden panels encased in glass boxes. Adjacent to each display, there is detailed information about the species including the scientific name, common name in Arabic and English, plant family, original habitat, and economic significance.
The museum, which opened its doors in 2005, houses 99 herbarium specimens representing 95 plant species from 85 genera and 34 families. Each display provides a comprehensive view of the plant’s dry parts, as well as the fruit and seeds, offering visitors a chance to observe the various stages of its life cycle.
It is located on the ground floor of the administrative building north of the gardens and directly across from the entrance stairs. The air-conditioned hall is open to visitors without special fees, allowing them to explore the dry plant specimens alongside their living counterparts. Additionally, visitors can view a three-dimensional model of the entire island.
“The Aswan Botanical Gardens also have a seed bank that was established alongside the herbarium in 1995 and contains a valuable collection of fruit and seeds from all the fruit-bearing species in the gardens. They are organised according to the code number of each specimen, facilitating easy access for research and study,” Mahmoud said.
“After they are collected, the seeds are air-dried at room temperature and then placed in paper envelopes labelled with the scientific name of the plant, its family, the herbarium specimen’s code number, and the precise location from which the seeds were gathered. Currently, the seed bank contains approximately 393 types of fruit and seeds, representing 268 genera and 79 plant families, all meticulously preserved in a scientific manner. This collection is unparalleled in other Egyptian herbariums.”
“The library has some 800 volumes covering various aspects of agricultural sciences, including printed books, academic journals, and a selection of Masters and doctoral theses. The gardens also have four greenhouses to propagate and nurture rare plants. There are also additional gardens and a nursery where rare plants, interior plants, and those used to renew the gardens and those for sale are cultivated,” he added.
Hafiz Raphael Habib, a senior researcher in the Flora Department at the Horticulture Research Institute, told Al-Ahram Weekly that “scientific research in botany requires access to a wide range of plant samples, including buds, pollen, stems, leaves, and fruit, especially those in various stages of development, from embryo formation to seed maturity.” He said that the Aswan Botanical Gardens are “home to numerous rare species, such as the jackfruit, which can sometimes weigh up to 25 kg in its native regions.”

The gardens have other rare plants and flowers from tropical regions, including species from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, and many African countries. Habib explained that they are divided into seven sectors, each dedicated to rare plant life and designed to provide optimal climatic conditions for the plants, including with the help of plastic greenhouses.
“In these sectors, visitors can find trees that are many decades old, with detailed information about each tree displayed next to it,” he said.
The seven sectors include collections of trees that are cultivated for their wood, tropical fruit trees, medicinal and aromatic plants, spice plants, ornamental plants, plants used for vegetable oil, and palm trees. Aswan granite-covered pathways serve as separators between the sectors, with palm trees lining both sides of the paths.
Mamdouh Rashwan, secretary-general of the Arab Union for Youth and Environment, said that as part of an annual visit organised by the Ministry of Youth there is a trip to the Botanical Island.
“The experience begins with a scenic boat ride across the Nile from the dock opposite the Island, allowing visitors to admire the rare plants and trees that the gardens house. As part of the experience, Nubian women are on hand to execute traditional henna designs, while local vendors offer botanical herbs and handcrafted clothing. The gardens also provide several charming spots along the Nile where visitors can relax and enjoy the surroundings,” Rashwan said.
“The participants in the youth forum were eager to explore the gardens, taking photographs and engaging with the director, who explained the significance of various plants. These included the jackfruit, teak tree, royal palm, crosia tree (elephant thorn), kigelia tree (Abul-Nagaf or sausage tree), alstonia tree (devil’s tree), and ginger plants — it’s like an integrated pharmacy,” Rashwan noted.
“Eco-Edens like the Aswan Botanical Gardens should be preserved and not treated as just public parks. They are valuable scientific resources containing a rich diversity of plant species and should be recognised for their scientific and educational value,” he said.
Karam Amin, a professor at the Faculty of Agriculture at Assiut University, explained that the Aswan Botanical Gardens are a reference point for agricultural researchers, students, and those with an interest in studying geography and biology. “The gardens have a research centre dedicated to such scientific fields, where monthly courses and seminars are organised to discuss the latest developments in agriculture,” he said.
The visit to the gardens by young people participating in the 13th Arab Youth Forum enhanced their agricultural and scientific knowledge, he said. “It offers valuable opportunities for students from various Egyptian universities, as well as youth delegations from Arab and African countries, to study the environment, explore nature, and consider potential topics for their graduation projects, Masters theses, and doctoral research.”
Amin stressed that the gardens are not only an aesthetic haven but also fertile ground for advancing agricultural science. They are home to some of the finest wood-producing trees in the world, such as ebony and sandalwood, as well as well-known medicinal and aromatic plants like ginger and hibiscus and various ornamental and spice plants. They also have a wide variety of fruit trees.
“The Aswan Botanical Gardens are much more than just a botanical space. They are part of a scientific institution, with the gardens themselves being only a small part of the comprehensive facilities. By hosting diverse plant families suited to the local climate, and introducing and adapting new species, the gardens contribute to the development of agricultural knowledge,” Amin said.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 23 January, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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