Gebel Elba at 1437m is far from being the highest of the group of mountains that overlooks the Red Sea but because of its unique attributes it is the most important area for flora and fauna in Egypt and is the centerpiece of the Elba Protected Area, which covers an area of approximately 35,600km² in the most southeasterly corner of Egypt.

Although rainfall on Gebel Elba averages only 50mm, its location facing the sea and its elevation increases annual precipitation to as much as 400mm on its upper reaches. Moist air from the Red Sea condenses on the peak of the mountain creating a mist oasis in which much of the moisture is dew and mist. The coast curves slightly to the east at this point, thus Gebel Elba presents an unusually broad front to the sea across a 20-25km strip of relatively flat land. The whole of the mountain is dissected by small wadis; these drain into larger wadis that eventually debouch into the plains below. Wadi Yahameib and Wadi Aidieb drain the north and northeast flanks of Gebel Elba and several species of Acacia form dense woods in their lower reaches, supported by the moisture from above. On its southern side the principal drainage is into Wadi Serimtai, which is characterized by open Acacia scrub.

The amount of available moisture is reflected in the flora and fauna on this mountain, which has the richest biodiversity of any area of comparable size in Egypt. A surprising number of the species found on Gebel Elba are not found anywhere else in Egypt and are mostly formed of Afrotropical elements for which this mountain is the northernmost limit. The flora consists of nearly 500 species, of which cryptogams (ferns and mosses) are fairly common at higher elevations. Among these are the delicate Anogramma leptophylla, which can be found in shady rock fissures and the well-known Maidenhair fern, Adiantum capillus-veneris, distinguished by its polished black stipes (stems) and delicate fronds. This little fern grows near water in warm temperate and sub-tropical areas of the world and was used by the Ancient Greeks to treat coughs. At least one species of plant (Biscutella elbensis) is endemic. The Ombet tree, Dracaena ombet, is found in Egypt, only on the higher slopes of Gebel Elba. The Ombet is a rather small tree related to the famous Dragon Tree of the Far East and when its rosettes of sword-like leaves are crowned with 30cm-long clusters of pink flowers it presents a truly dramatic appearance.

The Gebel Elba Snake-eyed Lizard, Ophisops elbaensis, is a strikingly colored lizard that was originally thought to be endemic to Gebel Elba but has since been found in the Arabian Peninsula. In Egypt it is restricted to this area as is Dodson's Toad, Bufo dodsoni. The deadly Saw-scaled Viper, Echis pyramidum, is also found in the area.

Two of the mammals found in the area, the Zoril, Ictonyx striatus, and the Aardwolf, Proteles cristatus, are sub-Saharan species. The Barbary Sheep, Ammotragus lervia, which was thought to be extinct in the Eastern Desert has recently been found to be extant in the area and in recent years fresh pugmarks of the Leopard, Panthera pardus pardus, have been seen. The mountain has been identified by BirdLife International as one of the Important Bird Areas (IBAs) of Egypt due to the high proportion of breeding birds found there. Many of these birds are either Afrotropical species or have disappeared from their former range in North Africa and the Middle East. Among them is the attractive red-breasted Rosy-patched Shrike, Rhodophoneus cruentus, which is found nowhere else in Egypt.