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Sport
Cairenes are sports fans, as participants and as spectators. Football is as popular here as anywhere else in the world and there is a strong national side, mostly made up of players from the two rival Cairo teams, al-Ahly (tel: (02) 340 2114; website: www.ahly.com) and Zamalek (tel: (02) 340 5690; website: www.zamalek.com). These share the Cairo Stadium in Heliopolis (tel: (02) 260 7863 or 7865), playing on Friday, Saturday or Sunday from September to May. Horseracing takes place from October/November to May at the Heliopolis Hippodrome (tel: (02) 241 7086 or 7134) and the Gezira Sporting Club (tel: (02) 341 0434 or 6006) on Saturdays and Sundays from 1330. The Egyptian Gazette carries details of events.
Badminton: There are regular sessions on Tuesday evenings from 1930 at the British International School, 5 Mishil Lutfallah in Zamalek (tel: (02) 536 2378).
Cycling: The Cairo Cyclists (tel: (02) 352 6310) can provide details of their regular Friday and Saturday morning cycle rides, which begin outside the Cairo American College, Midan Digla at 0800.
Diving: This is naturally a popular activity in Egypt, which has some of the best diving in the world in the Red Sea. Staying in Cairo is no limitation, as the Cairo Divers Group (tel: (02) 570 3242) organises regular excursions and also meets on the first Monday of each month at the Semiramis Intercontinental Hotel, Corniche el-Nil, Garden City (tel: (02) 355 7171).
Fitness centres: These are increasingly popular in Cairo, although not all are as sophisticated as their Western counterparts. It is wise to check facilities first. Most are in international hotels (and are usually open to non-residents), but there is a 3000 sq metre (32,291 sq ft) Gold's Gym on the 8th/9th floors of the Maadi Palace Mall (tel: (02) 378 5592 or 375 3601), with a mixed gym, women-only gym, Jacuzzi and sauna. In many gyms, male and female activities are normally conducted separately and, if sharing facilities, then more time is usually allocated to the men. There is a particularly good gym at the Nile Hilton, Midan Tahrir (tel: (02) 578 0444), and Splash at the Cairo Marriott, Sharia Saray el-Gezira (tel: (02) 340 8888), has rowing and cycling machines alongside pool, sauna and tennis facilities.
Golf: Golf is not yet a major sport in Egypt but it is developing fast. There are four courses in and around Cairo. The Gezira Club (tel: (02) 341 5270 or 340 6000) is an 18-hole course in Zamalek, while the Mena House Hotel and Golf Club (tel: (02) 383 3444 or 3222) is an 18-hole, nine-fairway course in Giza, within sight of the pyramids. Green fees start at EŁ20. Further out is the Dreamland Golf Course (tel: (011) 400577), an 18-hole course in the desert some eight kilometres (five miles) beyond the Pyramids. Fees here start at EŁ150. Near Heliopolis, the Katameya Heights Golf and Tennis Resort (tel: (02) 758 0512; website: www.katameya.com) has 27 holes and a ‘tennis ranch’.
Horseriding: Good riders can hire a horse and guide for the day at the Pyramids. This usually involves a three-hour trip across the desert to Saqqara (see Excursions). The ride can be quite demanding and is not for beginners.
Rowing: There are several rowing clubs in Cairo, congregating on the east bank of the River Nile between Giza and Embaba. It is possible to join a crew at the al-Nil Sporting Club, near Kubbri ’Abbas on the Corniche at Giza (tel: (02) 393 4350). For those who just want to watch, Friday is the big day.
Running: The Cairo branch of the international running (and fun-loving) network, The Hash House Harriers, meets each Friday afternoon/evening for non-competitive runs around the city (tel: (02) 340 0820).
Swimming: Almost all the good hotels have their own swimming pools, but non-residents’ fees can be rather high. Swimming in the Nile is not recommended due to the risk of bilharzia or giardia.
Tennis: Tennis is popular in Cairo and major hotels, including the Marriott, Sharia Saray el-Gezira (tel: (02) 340 8888), and the Nile Hilton, Midan Tahrir (tel: (02) 578 0444), have their own courts, open to non-residents. Many have tennis pros for hire, and most courts are made of clay. The Katameya Heights Golf and Tennis Resort (see Golf above) has a ‘tennis ranch’.
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General
