As a general rule, I do not partake in any kind of animal tourism. Common tourist activities like swimming with dolphins, petting "wild" animals like tigers, and riding elephants pose a lot of risk to the animal's safety and well-being, from the introduction of human disease to cruelty and mistreatment. I've seen these effects firsthand.
On our first trip to Thailand, when I was a teenager, Mom and I rode an elephant. I still have the photo somewhere of us grinning as we set off. As we were riding around the jungle path on the back of that magnificent animal, though, I became very uncomfortable with the way our driver kept prodding the elephant. Any time she slowed to take a drink or eat a leaf, he kicked his heels into the side of her neck and urged her forward. He didn't have a bull hook in his hand but others did, and they used them. I was horrified. As soon as we returned to our hotel, I spent an hour googling "elephant tourism ethical?" and "do elephants feel pain?" I've forever been ashamed that we took part in such a harmful activity.
There are a few reasons that Mom and I decided to opt-in to camel riding in Egypt, and it was not a decision we took lightly. Camels are a great deal like horses, which humans have been safely riding for centuries. In many desert communities, including rural portions of Egypt, camels still provide transportation to people in their daily lives.
Our journey through Egypt was led by a wonderful tour director named Ahmed. He's been guiding tours through Egypt for over 30 years, and we learned a lot from him. We also learned very quickly to trust him. Having worked with tourists at the pyramids for decades, Ahmed knows that a lot of tourists want to experience the camel ride. So, he forged a relationship with a family of camel herders who provide rides at the pyramids.
As we approached the pyramids, Ahmed promised us that this family he knows truly care for their camels. Once I saw them, I believed him! Other camels near ours had visible ribs, open sores, and flies buzzing around their heads. Ours did not. The guides who walked with our camels used no hooks or whips, only holding onto the long tails of the bridle. The walk was slow and smooth, and the camels were allowed to wander (to an extent).
I felt comfortable participating in this event because of the guides we used and the level of care being offered for our camels. I wish the same could be said for all of the camel rides we saw being offered at the site.
Pro tip: if you're going to ride a camel, search for camels that appear well treated and healthy, with herders that don't use violence. Your tour guide can help with this. If something seems shady, move on! There are dozens of camel herders looking for your business at the pyramids and you can find one that offers an ethical experience.
Riding a Camel at the Great Pyramids
Day One of our journey started with a bang as our group arrived at one of the most iconic sites on Earth: the Great Pyramids of Giza. We got there as soon as the site opened, which I highly recommend in order to beat the heat and the crowds. It didn't matter how familiar with the pyramids I thought I was before arriving, the photos and videos are nothing compared to the real thing.
You can see the excitement on my face. I couldn't believe that I was actually touching a monument that has survived for thousands of years. Cleopatra VII looked at—perhaps even touched!—these same stones. What?! Our group spent a solid three and a half hours at the pyramids, visiting each of them, taking plenty of photos, and, of course, enjoying the view from camelback.
Mom's camel was named Akhenaten, after one of the great Kings of Egypt. Mine was named Banana*. Honestly, the camel ride was a lot scarier than the hot air balloon ride we did over the Valley of the Kings. I didn't realize quite how high you are when you're sitting on a camel's back. High enough to break something rather important if you were to fall off, at least. I'm also not a terribly practiced equestrian so all of Banana's lurches were stomach-dropping. At one point, we were descending a small sand dune and I was convinced I was about to plunge ass-over-head out of Banana's saddle. But I didn't! Mom and I got our photo op and we bid a fond farewell to the great architectural marvel.
Unlike the hot air balloon ride, I don't feel particularly compelled to repeat a camel riding experience in the future. But I'm glad I could partake in such an iconic location and that Mom rode along with me. (Even if her camel did have a cooler name than mine.)
*Ok in the spirit of honesty, it was another guest on our tour and her mother that rode Akhenaten and Banana. We didn't know the names of our cuties. But it's a lovely story isn't it?
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