Kitchener's Island.

It's not Kirstenbosch and it's not Kew but the small botanical garden on Kitchener's Island is surely one of the most tranquil and well-maintained parks in all of Egypt. The approach by boat of felucca from the Aswan mainland adds much to the charm of this hidden treasure, the view of which is for the most part blocked by the much bigger Elephantine Island and its horrendous hotel tower. The botanical garden (and research centre) with its hundreds of exotic trees and shrubs from all over the world occupies the entire island and for the small amount of LE10 you can spend an entire day here, exploring the many palm-fringed paths, enjoying the sweeping views and shaded picnic areas. What once belonged to the infamous Lord Kitchener, who equipped the gardens with plants from places along his Empire campaign trail from the Cape to India, now serves as a much-loved weekend retreat for Aswan locals and tourists alike. Avoid the Southern tip of the island, though, as this is where hordes of hawkers want to sell you their wares.