Saturday started off with a 1/2 day to ourselves, so we walked down to the creek and took an Abra (water taxi) over to the gold and spice souks on the other side. Wandering around on our own gave us more time to take in the whole flavor of the area. We didn't feel so rushed in looking for some special souvenirs and practicing our bartering skills. After lunch in our hotel lobby restaurant we gathered up our Safari gear and met everybody in the lobby.
There were sixteen 4x4 SUV's lined up outside our hotel waiting to take all of us out to the desert for our Safari. They had warned those with back or heart problems that this desert safari could be too rigorous for them. We decided to just ask our driver to take it easy at first so we could see how rough it really was. The SUV's caravaned about an hour outside of Dubai to one of a handful of "businesses" that offer these Safari tours with a Bedouin camp experience. Upon arrival to the desert base camp we were given an opportunity to souvenir shop and use the restrooms while our drivers deflated the air pressure in the tires.
The time had come--we piled into the Land Rover, made sure our seatbelts were tight and our stomach's settled before Ishmael took off. We were 12th in a caravan of 16. This is the sort of dune ride that you WILL NOT experience on the Lake Michigan sand dunes. This was dune bashing at its best--sand flying, tires spinning, rocking back and forth as Ishmael skillfully took us up one dune then spun into the next dune all while avoiding the other SUV's that were so close by or worse yet not rolling our vehicle. Gary looked a little nervous at times. I would not really compare this to a roller coaster as it wasn't as steep or as fast. And it was NOT as rough or bouncy as one of those simulator rides at Disney. A couple of times we would see a vehicle stopped and were told - oops, somebody got sick to their stomach. The Safari made two stops, one for pictures and scenery, the other a beverage stop (no it wasn't a McDonald's in the middle of the desert) before arriving at the faux Bedouin camp.
We arrived just prior to sunset and we were anxious to try riding a camel. This was a real camel ride, starting with climbing onto the camel while it was kneeling on the ground, having it stand up while you're seated, being led on a short stroll around the camp and then back to starting point. To be honest, when the camel starts to kneel down, you had better be holding on for dear life because you are not expecting it to lunge forward and down all at the same time. This part of the camel ride was more jostling than the dune buggy ride and actually a bit scarier.
Afterwards we went into the camp where they had low tables with cushions to sit on set up in a square around a Persian carpeted performance area. We had a choice of having our fortune told, smoking a Hookah, having our picture taken in traditional garb or getting a henna tattoo. I opted for the tattoo. Then it was time to enjoy the Arabian style meal that had been prepared for us...fresh breads, lentil soup, rice, stewed vegetables, kabobs, a local fish, chicken sausage and an array of desserts. They make a very tasty version of bread pudding and we have had it served at almost every meal since arriving here.
Once our belly's were filled it was time to watch some belly dancers. The performance was on the Persian carpeted area and we were all mesmerized by 2 belly dancers as they moved in ways I could never dream of moving. They even got some audience involved which was fun to see how much we didn't know about moving our belly's. It was great fun, but soon it was time to get back in our SUV's and head out of the desert. A short 5 minute ride brought us to the air refill station where Ishmael reinflated the tires so we could get back on the road to Dubai. All in all I would rate this as an A-1 excursion for the entertainment, adventure and dining value it provided.
Next time we're off to visit Abu Dhabi....
There were sixteen 4x4 SUV's lined up outside our hotel waiting to take all of us out to the desert for our Safari. They had warned those with back or heart problems that this desert safari could be too rigorous for them. We decided to just ask our driver to take it easy at first so we could see how rough it really was. The SUV's caravaned about an hour outside of Dubai to one of a handful of "businesses" that offer these Safari tours with a Bedouin camp experience. Upon arrival to the desert base camp we were given an opportunity to souvenir shop and use the restrooms while our drivers deflated the air pressure in the tires.
The time had come--we piled into the Land Rover, made sure our seatbelts were tight and our stomach's settled before Ishmael took off. We were 12th in a caravan of 16. This is the sort of dune ride that you WILL NOT experience on the Lake Michigan sand dunes. This was dune bashing at its best--sand flying, tires spinning, rocking back and forth as Ishmael skillfully took us up one dune then spun into the next dune all while avoiding the other SUV's that were so close by or worse yet not rolling our vehicle. Gary looked a little nervous at times. I would not really compare this to a roller coaster as it wasn't as steep or as fast. And it was NOT as rough or bouncy as one of those simulator rides at Disney. A couple of times we would see a vehicle stopped and were told - oops, somebody got sick to their stomach. The Safari made two stops, one for pictures and scenery, the other a beverage stop (no it wasn't a McDonald's in the middle of the desert) before arriving at the faux Bedouin camp.
We arrived just prior to sunset and we were anxious to try riding a camel. This was a real camel ride, starting with climbing onto the camel while it was kneeling on the ground, having it stand up while you're seated, being led on a short stroll around the camp and then back to starting point. To be honest, when the camel starts to kneel down, you had better be holding on for dear life because you are not expecting it to lunge forward and down all at the same time. This part of the camel ride was more jostling than the dune buggy ride and actually a bit scarier.
Afterwards we went into the camp where they had low tables with cushions to sit on set up in a square around a Persian carpeted performance area. We had a choice of having our fortune told, smoking a Hookah, having our picture taken in traditional garb or getting a henna tattoo. I opted for the tattoo. Then it was time to enjoy the Arabian style meal that had been prepared for us...fresh breads, lentil soup, rice, stewed vegetables, kabobs, a local fish, chicken sausage and an array of desserts. They make a very tasty version of bread pudding and we have had it served at almost every meal since arriving here.
Once our belly's were filled it was time to watch some belly dancers. The performance was on the Persian carpeted area and we were all mesmerized by 2 belly dancers as they moved in ways I could never dream of moving. They even got some audience involved which was fun to see how much we didn't know about moving our belly's. It was great fun, but soon it was time to get back in our SUV's and head out of the desert. A short 5 minute ride brought us to the air refill station where Ishmael reinflated the tires so we could get back on the road to Dubai. All in all I would rate this as an A-1 excursion for the entertainment, adventure and dining value it provided.
Next time we're off to visit Abu Dhabi....
1 comment:
It is absolutely right that there are so many joyful activities like as 4*4 driving ,camel riding and most popular belly dance overnight.
Oernight desert safari Abu Dhabi
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