The Aswan Botanical Garden is basically an entire island called Kitchener Island. Nubians lived here, who called it Jet Narty. This island slowly but surely turned into a world-class botanical garden when in 1898 was given to Lord Kitchener, who was very fond of plants. This is a great place to relax if you want to get away from the crowds in Aswan.

In 1898 it was decided to give the island in the Nile River to Lord Kitchener, a famous British military man, no one expected that he would undertake the monumental task of transforming the island into what is now known as the Aswan Botanical Garden.

The island was immediately named Kitchener Island after the new owner, who soon approached the Ministry of Irrigation in hopes of getting help. After the Ministry agreed to offer their help, Lord Kitchener set to work to transform the entire island into one vast botanical garden, known today as the Aswan Botanic Garden. It is definitely one of the most beautiful and relaxing places to visit in Aswan.

Today, the Aswan Botanical Garden is very popular with locals, but it is much more than just a beautiful place for a weekend picnic or a leisurely stroll. The Aswan Botanical Garden is also an important center for botanical research, testing the suitability of certain plant species for the Egyptian climate.

Aswan Botanic Island is divided into 27 squares where vertical and horizontal paths cross each other, making it resemble a chessboard. It is a wonderful experience to explore this island and all it has to offer. You will find a wide variety of plants and trees on the island, some of which grew naturally on the island before it was turned into a botanical garden, while others were brought from different continents. Many rare palms can be found on the island, such as the royal palm, the sable palm and the background palm.

These days, more than 25 different species of palm trees are planted on the island, and the Aswan Botanical Garden also attracts many native and migratory birds, as well as various species of waterfowl. Depending on the time of visit, the island can be a fantastic opportunity for bird watchers.

Currently, the Egyptian government is responsible for the care and maintenance of the entire island, including the research center located in the southernmost part of the island.