Ship of the desert

The ultimate survivor of the desert.

Able to travel without food and water for months at a time, they access areas that the modern day jeeps would get stuck in.

This is 7 year old Mimi, waiting with other camels by the river. A small group of tourists will cross the Nile by 'Lunch' or motorboat and head out to a small village as the sun sets over the Qorna Mountain. 'Camel Convoy' I call it.

If you have never ridden a camel, the first time can be both scary and hysterical, as you have to lean back, as she begins to get up. You are then thrust forward as she pushes herself up with her back legs and it doesn't end there! Camels walk like the motion of a rolling boat - move both feet on one side of their bodies, then both feet on the other.
I find it quite entertaining to watch people, as they mount and prepare for the strange journey from the ground to standing up, screams are inevitable!

Mimi has only one hump and is called a dromedary camel, while a 2 humped camel is a Bactrian camel. The humps are large fat stores, which their bodies use when there is no food available.

I love camels, they have this air of dignity about them and seemingly look down on all around them. And their eyelashes, ginormous! So cute.