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Province · Nile Delta
Kafr el-Sheikh
Kafr el-Sheikh, the northern coast of the Delta: Lake Burullus and its birds, Baltim beach and the mosque of Ibrahim al-Desouki in Desouk.
In the photo: Fishing boats along the shore of Lake Burullus.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The province
Get to know Kafr el-Sheikh
Kafr el-Sheikh lies in the northern Nile Delta, between the Rosetta branch and the Mediterranean. The capital shares the same name, and the governorate has a long coastline, with Lake Burullus behind the dunes.
Lake Burullus is a shallow, brackish lagoon separated from the sea by a sandbar, with islands, reedbeds and fishing villages. It is a protected area and in winter it usually receives migratory waterbirds coming from Europe.
Baltim, on the coast, is a seaside resort popular with Egyptian families in summer, with sandy beaches. In Desouk, on the bank of the Rosetta branch, the mosque of Ibrahim al-Desouki, a Sufi mystic, is the focus of an annual mulid, the celebration of his birth, with processions and stalls.
Near Desouk are the remains of Buto (Tell el-Fara'in), one of the sacred cities of ancient Egypt. Outside the towns, the governorate is made up of rice fields and fish farms.
When to go
Baltim beach has a season from June to September. For the birds of Lake Burullus, the most common period is from November to March. Winter brings wind and light rain on the coast.
Getting there
Kafr el-Sheikh is about 140 km from Cairo, with trains and buses from Cairo and from Tanta. The coastal international road links Baltim to Alexandria and Damietta.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Kafr el-Sheikh
What is Lake Burullus?
It is a shallow, brackish lagoon on the northern coast of the Delta, separated from the Mediterranean by a sandbar. It is a protected area with fishermen and waterbirds, which are usually more numerous from November to March.
What is Baltim?
It is a seaside resort on the coast of Kafr el-Sheikh, with sandy beaches, popular with Egyptian families from June to September.
What is the mulid of Desouk?
It is the annual festival in honour of Ibrahim al-Desouki, a Sufi mystic, centred on his mosque in Desouk, on the bank of the Rosetta branch. The date changes each year: confirm before you go.
How do I get to Kafr el-Sheikh?
By train or bus from Cairo in about two to three hours, or from Tanta. The coastal road connects the governorate with Alexandria and Damietta.