Shelatin has the most important tribal market in this part of southern Egypt. It is a melting-pot of different cultures. The real Africa starts here. Sudanese bring camels and mostly handmade items, trading them for necessity goods not available in their country. You will meet the Rashaid, a whealthy bedu tribe completely dressed in violet, who are the main camel breeders. The Bishari and  the Ababda are tribes that have their origins further south. They carry a whip or a dagger as symbols of their status. After finishing their business they return to which ever remote places they came from. Little shops are spread out over the market area with an incredible amount of various goods.

We start at 7:00 am reaching Shelatin after a three hour drive along the spectacular coastline of the Red Sea. In Shelatin we stroll around the market. The variety of goods offered is simply amazing. Feel free to bargain but please be respectable.

We  recommended covering clothing for all our trips. Here you have to wear them! Remember: these people are not used to our way of life and might get very offended by disrespectful clothing. Clothes should be loose and covering. Taking photos is possible but asking before helps to prevent misunderstandings.