Dubai – Abu Dhabi #1

United Arab Emirates are all desert, camels, palm trees, sea and beach clubs, luxury hotels and modern skyscrapers. It would seem that there is not much of authentic culture or untouched nature. But who seeks, shall find…

December 8, 2016

In mountains

United Arab Emirates also have their mountains. They are not green but rocky and sandy, but their majesty has also its charm. We find out that UAE have their highest point and Ivica has a car, so we are decided to explore it. Unfortunately, every hill in Arabic is called Jebel, and we have mistaken the highest hill of Emirates – Jebel Jais with Jebel Hafeet. The difference is mainly that both hills are located at opposite ends of Emirates. Jebel Hafeet is a short distance from Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, while Jebel Jais far behind Dubai in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. We can not make it to both at the same day, so we just reconcile with a smaller Jebel Hafeet. To the viewpoint on the top of the hill leads a wavy rocky road and from several places we have a beautiful view of the setting sun. On the way down, we can also visit Al Ain – the greenest city of UAE (where the UAE drinking water is packed in bottles) with an interesting sand castle Al Jahli Fort. It looks exactly like the castles we used to build from sand when we were children, it’s just much bigger… 🙂

The highest point

Today we are heading in the right direction to the highest peak of UAE – Jebel Jais in RAK (Ras Al Khaimah). There are several popular trekking trails in the mountains and many tourist choose to climb up to the highest point on their own, but me and Ivica rather drive by car as close as possible and take only a short walk up. And then, from the top, we enjoy the view and scoff at the sweaty tourists climbing up below us. They are not the mountains we are used to at home. No greenery, only gray and red dry rocks, here and there some bushes and black mountain goats. But still, it has its charm… I feel a bit like on another, some yet uninhabited planet…

In Zoo

There is also one interesting zoo in RAK – RAK ZOO. At first sight it might not seem to be exceptional, but it’s definitely not an ordinary zoo with sad animals captured in cages. The owner of this zoo is Jasem Ali, well known under the nickname The Lion King. On instagram he has over 100,000 followers (@Jasem_Ali_)! This man is able to communicate with beasts and loves animals above all. Fifteen years ago, he began collecting unwanted wild animals from wealthy Emirate families until he finally opened a zoo. Behind its gates you won’t find any animal detached from wild nature, but rejected creatures, that finally get a little love. (Admission to Zoo is 20 Dirhams.) You can also cuddle with chimpanzees and orangutans for an additional cost of 30 Dirhams. (The author of the photo below is my friend – Kristína Svitková @quicouche.)

Hatta Lake

And while you’re in RAK, be sure to check out the beautiful Hatta Lake with its green oasis in the middle of the desert. (The author of the photo is my fiend Veronika Mesíková @veronikamesikova85)

Desert Safari

Another option to enjoy a bit of nature is a safari trip to the desert. There are several travel agencies that offer similar trips. The program and prices may vary slightly. Some agencies even offer you to stay over night in Arab tents. On the occasion of a visit of our fiend’s mum, we decide for an all day safari trip with Hala Abu Dhabi travel agency. The program includes a sand dunes ride with an experienced jeep driver, watching the sunset over the dunes, some camel farm, and a dinner in the camp in the middle of the desert with a belly dancer. On the camel farm we learn some interesting things. Such a camel can be more expensive than a shiny Ferrari! We also meet the “Miss Camel” respectively. “Mr. Camel ”, a male camel who wins all beauty contests and costs fortune! Even though it has bow legs and drool as all other camels. 🙂 But his figure is really huge. A real king of the desert!