Wadi Degla is a 30-million-year-old limestone canyon about 15 minutes' drive southeast of central Maadi, and one of the few genuinely wild escapes from Cairo's noise. Its 12 km of trails cut through Eocene-era rock formations studded with fossils, and the reserve also has caves, mountain-biking routes, and designated barbecue areas.
The contrast with Maadi's leafy streets is sharp — within a short drive you go from suburb to near-total desert silence. Entry costs a small fee and the gates are open from sunrise to sunset; bring water and decent shoes, as there's little shade.