Well its not every day that I am invited to stay within a secluded encampment, bedouin style, nestled within a verdant oasis deep in the heart of conservation country, let alone ride my camel into the sunset…
Dunes, deserts, flora and fauna. I am arrived at Al Maha deep in the heart of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. Hajaar Mountains providing sanctuary, and relief from howling winds (known as shamal), to the national symbols of the United Arab Emirates.
It is here that I tread softly among the oryx, ride a well-meaning camel, watch falcons swoop and go face to face with the piercing eyes of the proud eagle owl.
Come walk with me around Al Maha; be a part of this unique population made up of feathers and hooves, fur and antlers…
Watching quietly as a family of Oryxes tend to their calf…
The stern-faced eagle owl demonstrates her powerful wings and devastating talons with a swoop onto the gloved arm of a Conservation Trainer…
Al Maha Desert bedouin suites sit a distance from the shifting dunes which feel the hooves of the wandering Oryx…
Raptors such as the Peregrine Falcon is commonly encountered in Al Maha. The falcons are taught to be aggressive in kill but tameness is quickly instilled by constant handling and by a reduced diet.
The dearly admired Arabian Camel is a beloved creature for all Gulf nations; how else have folk traversed the insufferable desert for 3,500 recorded years? Dromedaries thrive in desert conditions, unlike me. Bushy eyebrows and two rows of long eyelashes protect their eyes. Big, thick footpads help them navigate the rough rocky terrain and shifting desert sands. And best of all, a welcoming grunt for when I climb on board…
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