Nabq Protectorate

Nabq runs along the Gulf of Aqaba north of Sharm and protects an unusual combination: fringing reef, sand and gravel plain, arak thickets, and a long strip of mangrove along the shore that is the among the most northerly mangrove stands anywhere, growing at the limit of what the species can tolerate. Behind it are dunes and the wadi systems that drain the mountains, used by Bedouin of the Muzeina. On the reef sits the wreck of the Maria Schroeder, a freighter that ran aground in 1956 and has stayed there, rusting apart in the shallows and visible from the beach. Dugong feed on the seagrass beds offshore, along with turtles, though neither is easy to see. The reserve is quiet and largely undeveloped.

What you actually see

• The northernmost mangroves - a shore stand at the species' latitude limit.
• The Maria Schroeder wreck - a freighter aground on the reef since 1956.
• Seagrass beds - dugong and turtle feeding grounds offshore.
• Bedouin settlements - Muzeina camps in the wadis behind the coast.

When to go

October to May. A day trip from Sharm; snorkelling is best in the morning before the wind gets up. Dugong sightings are a matter of luck at any season. Camping is permitted in designated areas with a permit.

Honest expectations

Dugongs are rarely seen and should not be the reason for the trip; boat pressure on them is a real conservation concern. Inner tracks need four-wheel-drive. There are no facilities beyond the entrance. The wreck is unstable and should be looked at, not climbed on.

Nearby

Sharm El Sheikh is south; Dahab lies further north along the gulf.