SahSah Felah

When we were invited to a birthday party at Sahsah Fallah (formally known as “Fagnun Felah”), little did I know it was the beginning of an enduring love affair with the district known as “Badrashin” and the SaSah Felah family.

Since that birthday party, we have attended and hosted many events of our own at Sahsah Fallah, including homeschooling conferences, boy and girl scout campouts, and even an incredibly memorable local wedding.  We feel we have adopted the place…and you can too.  Here are some highlights of what you can expect from a magical day at Sahsah Fallah.

Best. Day. Ever.First, what to wear?  Wear clothes and sturdy shoes that can get dirty (and if you have a son like mine, shoes that might even get lost if he sheds them somewhere and can’t find them later).  If it’s hot, your kids might want to play in the fountain or in the mut pit (yes, mud pit – more on this later).  In this case, bring bathing suits and/or a change of clothes.  I’ve even seen kids in the mud pit with goggles and swim caps.

As for lunch – and this is honestly my favorite part about visiting Sahsah Fallah – you can buy fateer.  Not only can you buy this deliciousness, you can watch it being made in the traditional way in a mudbrick oven. 

One fateer (100LE) can feed four people with “healthy” appetites; more if your eaters have smaller stomachs or are too busy playing to stop to eat.  You can take leftovers home (or, better, order two fateer!) and toss them into the freezer for a quick breakfast in a week or two.  As a side note: this fateer is amazing on its own, but people often eat it with honey (“white honey”), molasses (“black honey”), and white cheese.  It is especially delicious with “Egyptian Nutella” (molasses mixed with tahina).  All of these condiments are available for purchase.  Just give the Sahsah Fallah ladies at least 1-1.5 hours advance notice if you want fateer, whether to stay or to go.

You are also welcome to bring your own food, including food for grilling or cooking over the open fire.  Grills, coal, and firewood are all available for a nominal fee.  You may even store your uncooked meats and cold items in a refrigerator if you intend to stay for some hours.

Sahsah Fallah boasts a small kiosk where you can buy water, tea, coffee, sodas, and chips for a slight markup.  You can also buy the same things across the road at a “regular” kiosk for the usual price, or bring your own from home.

Reservations can be made via Facebook and WhatsApp (011-50-88-6337), or you can just show up anytime after 9am.

And now a word on transportation: As you probably could have guessed, we were 1.5 hours late to that first birthday party at Sahsah Fallah because we took public transportation and had not yet discovered the quickest route.  We arrived just in time for the birthday cake.  Since then, we have found the fastest method: take the ferry from Maadi or a minibus from Tahrir to the “Saqqara Road,” get off at “Abu Sir,” and take a tuk-tuk directly to Sahsah Fallah.  As always, all who are actually interested in taking public transportation – even with children! – are welcome to contact me directly for step-by-step instructions.

Everyone else, please feel free to take your own private car or an Uber.  Either option is very easy; the place is marked on Google Maps and well known in the area.  Note that the road approaching Sahsah Fallah is a bit rough and takes you right along side a pungent agricultural canal.  Depending on which route your GPS takes you, you may be prompted to cross the canal over a wooden bridge (it’s safe, don’t worry!).  Either way, you’ll eventually find yourself facing the front of a large home with a huge verandah.  Drive right on up to the front of the house and make a sharp left into the parking area.

Admission is paid at the “front desk” – a little table with a canopy you can’t miss as you walk into the main play area.  At the time of writing, there are two admission packages: the “two coin” package (130LE) and the “three coin” package (150LE).  These coins are to be spent on any of the following awesome activities: zipline, pottery, woodworking, painting, silkscreening, planting, a color war (think Holi), a water “balloon” fight, and the mud pit.  Everyone aged two and up pays admission but the coins can be shared or saved for later if not everyone actually wants to participate in the activities.

Admission also gains you “free” access to the many climbing structures, tree houses, forts, swings, homemade trampolines, bread making, and farm animals.  Your children can also romp in the fountain on hot days.  Honestly, your kids could spend hours on these activities alone. 

Amenities: Sahsah Fallah has comfortable bathrooms, electrical plugs for charging cell phones, and lots of shade for those who would prefer to rest rather than climb, swing, and otherwise dash madly about.  The entire farm is enclosed by a fence so parents can relax, worry-free.

In fact, the only difficult part of a day at Sahsah Fallah is rounding up the kids to leave.  I find that four hours is the minimum amount of time we can spend here without having to forcibly drag my kids away.  And if you can’t bear to leave…don’t!  Bring a tent, build a campfire, and stay the night. 

So grab your sunscreen, invite a few friends, and live your best. day. ever. at Sahsah Fallah.  See you there!