While driving to points east via the Ismailia Desert Road, you may have seen something a little surprising out by Future City. Maybe you did a double take. Maybe you noticed a giant clown face grinning at you from the southbound side of the road. Friends, you were not hallucinating. You were looking at the mesmerizing entrance of Aqua Park. Mesmerizing – as in, like a train wreck.
Being frequent patrons of the Future City Bike Park, we have seen this crazy clown a number of times. Only recently did we finally decide to satisfy our curiosity and visit the water park once and for all.
If you’re looking for a Six Flags-quality park, allow me to break it to you gently: you are out of luck. You will need to wait until your next trip to the USA or Dubai. Aqua Park is more like Six Flags’ undersized cousin. But don’t assume Aqua Park’s relative deficiencies prevented us from having a blast, because you’d be wrong. We had a blast – big time!
Assuming you will take my advice and give this strange but satisfying water park a try, allow me to walk you through the process. After venturing bravely into the mouth of the clown (what were the original designers thinking?), you will buy your tickets at one of the two ticket windows. Right side – cash. Left side – card. Tickets come with a full meal (410LE) or just a beverage and a snack (350LE). Either way, you can bring in your own food. Children under the age of ten are discounted.
Change in the dressing rooms closest to the entrance, as these are the cleanest. Proceed to the central gathering and relaxing area. A man will offer to set up a table, umbrella, and chairs for you. He will expect a tip, but the service (and use of the table) are free.
Once you’ve established your headquarters, it’s time to jump in the water. Aqua Park features seven slides, one small wave pool, one kiddie pool, and the laziest lazy river ever. It’s a popular place, so expect some lines. Best to get there early.
Aqua Park doesn’t attract that many foreigners (we were the only ones there the day we went), so also expect some stares. The local women and girls wear full-coverage bathing suits, so Western-style suits will stand out. If you are fine with that, then go for it! Although I was definitely noticed in my tankini, I certainly did not feel unsafe.
I was told the park wouldn’t hold our attention for more than two hours, so I arranged for our ride to pick us up early. I had a meeting anyway mid-afternoon, so I felt justified in my decision. When it was time to go, however, we all found ourselves reluctant to leave. No one else was leaving; in fact, it seemed all the other families intended to stay until closing time. Even my teenager had undergone a change of heart. The park’s shabbiness was now endearing and the gangs of young men racing up the stairs to the slides were now not so thug-ish. Even the limited number of slides was now considered a bonus: less time wasted running around a huge park like Six Flags.
But don’t take my word for it. Why don’t you go see for yourself? At the time of writing, the cost of admission was only 350LE for a ticket with a drink and a snack. Most Westerners will find this price very reasonable – low enough to merit the trek from Cairo to investigate what that crazy clown face on the road to Ismailia is all about. I’ll see you there!
