The Discovery of 'Uweinat, in the Sahara Desert of Egypt and Libya

Sir A. M. Hassanein Bey was an Egyptian who explored and mapped uncharted desert areas of his own nation in the 1920's. He is credited by P. A. Clayton as being the discoverer of 'Uweinat, the probable location of the real-life Cave of Swimmers featured in the novel and movie The English Patient.

The photos below are from his book, The Lost Oases. To read the chapter from the book that describes the discovery of Ouenat / Uweinat, click here.

Note that Ouenat is an alternate spelling for Uweinat and 'Uweinat.

Uweinat area in 1930-31
The Valley of Ouenat.

Uweinat area in 1930-31
The caravan arriving at Ouenat.
Picture below is a magnified version of above. Note that the caravan included one horse.
Uweinat area in 1930-31

Uweinat area in 1930-31
The caravan approaching the granite hills of Ouenat. Uweinat area in 1930-31
Rock carvings discovered by the explorer at Ouenat.
Picture below is a magnified version of above. Giraffes cannot live in the area today, due to the hot dry conditions.
Uweinat area in 1930-31

Uweinat area in 1930-31
The explorer's camp at the foot of the granite hills of Ouenat.
Uweinat area in 1930-31
The hills of Ouenat.
White triangle is visible in the previous photograph and is probably a tent.

Uweinat area in 1930-31
The rock valley wells found at Ouenat.


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