incentives: activities saudi arabia 2012


Saudi Arabia's landscape is vast and varied, from the uninhabitable desert to the lush forests and from the awe-inspiring mountain ranges to the amazingly vibrant coral reefs along the coastline. This diversity provides a huge number of opportunities for outdoor activities, from scuba diving to desert safaris and everything in between.


NATURE ORNURTURE For wildlife enthusiasts there is over 100,000 square kilometres of wildlife reserve under preservation by the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation & Development (NCWCD) and, while written permission is necessary to visit the parks, many have camping facilities. Most of the mountain landscapes around Asir are abundant with native wildlife, includ- ing the protected Arabian leopard.


PROTECTEDAREA


The Harrat al Harrah Protected Area covers 13,775 square kilometres of exposed sedi- mentary rock, where vegetation grows on basaltic rock, the remains of old lava flows. After a heavy rain shower, this area and other desert areas in the province have a lush growth of wildflowers and plants. The area hosts a variety of wildlife, includ-


TARUT BAY


Tarut Bay is the Gulf Coast's most important bay for wintering and passage shore birds. It is also the largest shrimp nursery in Saudi Arabia.


This large and shallow bay has one of the richest and most diverse 'inter-tidal' habitats in the Gulf. Tarut Bay has also been identi- fied as an 'important bird area' by BirdLife International and, as such, is protected by local coast guards. The area is famous for sea snakes, green turtles and dugong.


THE RAIDAH PROTECTED ZONE


Although this is one of the smallest wildlife areas in the Kingdom, its steep walls and abundance of food make it an oasis for many of Saudi Arabia's endangered species. Located on the steep slope below Jebel Sawdah, the highest point in Saudi Arabia and covering only 14 square kilometres, Raidah Park is managed by NCWCD. There is some public access possible for education groups.


Hamadryas baboons are widespread along the escarpment and are considered a problem by local farmers, as they raid crops, but they have considerable appeal to tourists.


Tarut Bay has also been identified as an 'important bird area' by BirdLife International and, as such, is protected by local coast guards. The area is famous for sea snakes, green turtles and dugong.


ing wolf, jackal, reem, hyena, rabbits and lizards. The Houbara bustard and the stone curlew, plus animals such as the desert hare and the gazelle were all hunted by the Bedouin people for food.


AL-HASA


The Al-Hasa Lagoons, the only large body of fresh water in the Eastern Province, were created by an overflow from the Al-Hasa oasis. Flowing into the lagoons is also a long, narrow river with many interconnected pools. The surrounding countryside is a mixture of sand dunes, salt pans and wind- formed sand fields. The larger lagoons have been identified as an 'important bird area' by BirdLife International.


The area is also a lively ecosystem sup- porting a wide range of oasis fish, frogs and pond turtles. However, the site is regularly disturbed by shooting and hunting, particu- larly at weekends.


HARRAT LANDSCAPES Saudi Arabia also has volcanic (harrat) landscapes, with Wabha Crater and Wadi Al Lith in Makkah Province being particularly fascinating. Some compare the Wabha Crater,


in Madina al-Munawara, to a cross between the Grand Canyon and Death Valley, albeit smaller, with only an 11- kilometre circumference. The crater stands out against the black lava flows and at the bottom, some 400 metres below, is a white salt bed made up of sodium phosphate crystals.


There are two theories as to how the crater was formed. Some believe it came about from volcanic activity in the form of an underground explosion, while others believe that a meteorite struck the region. Wadi Al Lith, in Taif, Jeddah, is another vol- canic landscape. The wadi is abundant with fish, birds, sheep, goats, cows and even donkeys.


JABAL QARAQIR PLATEAU The Jabal Qaraqir Plateau is a spectacular sandstone site divided by deeply incised canyons, rising abruptly from the sandy coastal plain, overlaid by lava flows. Approximately 80 kilometres south of Tabuk, this is a protected area with some of the most spectacular scenery in Saudi Arabia.


There are majestic red and yellow sandstone canyons under the lava escarpment of Harrat ar-Raha. Per- manent water means they are brim- ming with life and the main canyons contain streams and pools. Archaeological sites include the ruined Roman temple of Ar-Rawafah, with inscrip- tions and petroglyphs (carvings in rock). There are many opportunities for wildlife viewing, botanic and photographic tours, as well as hiking, trail riding and rock climbing.


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THE KINGDOM'S RED SEA DIVE SITES ARE WORLD-RENOWNED


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