Wadi Hitan National Park Travel Guide: Top Sights in Egypt, Tours &

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Wadi Hitan National Park- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Natural Scenery; Egypt; 5 Reviews

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Suggested Duration: 2 hours

Wadi Hitan National Park, located in Egypt's Faiyum Governorate, is renowned for its extensive fossil deposits, particularly the remains of early whales, which offer critical insights into the evolution of cetaceans from land animals to marine mammals. The park contains over 1,500 marine vertebrate fossils, including well-preserved skeletons of Basilosaurus and Dorudon whales, along with sea cows, crocodiles, and various marine reptiles. The fossils, which date back to the Middle Eocene, are accessible within a 200 km² area, providing an exceptional view of ancient coastal ecosystems. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, the park is an essential location for studying the transition of life from land to sea.

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Reviews of Wadi Hitan

Dennis van Bart

4
Reviewed: 2025-03-17

What Unesco World Heritage is meant for. Impressive to see these old bones in the middle of desert after a wonderful drive.
Andrew Vanzyl

5
Reviewed: 2025-02-23

Awesome place to visit. Glad we came. Great museum and blown away by the whale bone fossils found here.
Raouf El-Naggar

5
Reviewed: 2024-11-07

A spot that's free from urban noise, light pollution, and other distractions. offering an abundance of fossils that narrate the history of the region when it was once an ocean. Recommended if you are into star gazing, camping, quietness, or just nature and geology.
Lars L

5
Reviewed: 2024-10-12

Just seeing bones being more than 37 million years old, puts things into perspective. The way this UNESCO site is built, protects the excavation and offers income to the local people. There is no mass tourism, which benefits this site.
Oz Khan

5
Reviewed: 2024-09-10

Amazing Adventure in the middle of the Egyptian desert. Whale Museum is incredible. The big whale fossil is 69 ft. You will need a 4x4 vehicle to get there.