attractions ACTIVITIES
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WADI WILDLIFE There are many opportunities for wildlife watching, botanic and photographic tours, as well as hiking, trail riding and rock climbing. In the northwest of Saudi Arabia, 80 kilometres south of Tabuk, the Arabian Peninsula’s largest population of Nubian ibex graze at night along the narrow rivers in deep canyons eroded over millennia. Their home is the spec- tacular Jabal Qaraqir Plateau where they spend most of their time during daylight hours. As night falls they descend into the canyons under the cover of darkness to graze the vegetation. Canyons divide the plateau,
which is covered in ancient lava flows from the now extinct volcano Harrat ar-Raha. The successful population of ibex also attracts predators, including the rock hyrax, the Arabian wolf and the Arabian leopard. Wadi al Jizl contains freshwater
VOLCANOES AND CANYONS Saudi Arabia has some spectac- ular examples of volcanoes and canyons with Wabha Crater and Wadi Al Lith in Makkah Province offering unique formations. Some compare the Wabha
5 This large and shallow bay
is one of the richest and most diverse inter-tidal habitats in the Gulf. It is also the largest shrimp nursery in Saudi Arabia. Its most famous inhabitant, however, is the endangered green turtle, although there are also dugongs to be spotted, which come from the same family as the manatee.
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Crater in Al Madinah Al-Muna- warah to a cross between the Grand Canyon and Death Valley. Its vast 11-kilometre circumference cuts a gaping hole in the ancient black lava flows that make up the land and 400 metres below is a white salt bed made up of sodium phosphate crystals. Scientists differ in opinion
as to what caused this geological marvel. Some believe an under- ground explosion caused by volcanic activity formed the crater, while others insist it is the result of a meteorite explosion. Another volcanic landscape is Wadi Al Lith, in Taif, Jeddah, which is home to numerous fish, birds, sheep, goats, cows and even donkeys.
KNOW MUST
ENDANGERED ANIMALS One of the smallest wildlife
areas in the kingdom is Raidah Park. Located on the steep slope below the country’s highest peak, Jebel Sawdah in the southern province of Asir, it covers just 14 square kilometres. Its steep walls and abundant food supplies make it a safe haven for many of the country’s endangered species. Raidah Park is one of the few remaining habitats in the Arabian Peninsula for the Arabian leopard, Caracal lynx, mountain gazelle and Nubian ibex, as well as the wolf and the striped hyena. Hamadryas baboons are also widespread along the escarpment. Raidah Park is managed by the NCWCD and there is some public access possible for groups.
fish – a rarity in the region’s canyon wetlands. Archeological sites include the ruined Roman temple of Ar Rawafah, with inscriptions and petroglyphs still intact and there is a scattered population of residents who tend a few small farms in the canyons. In the less rugged parts of the area, visitors will see grazing camels, sheep and goats, while Ad Disah village has been built up around the conflu- ence of three canyon rivers.
DESERT ADVENTURE Saudi Arabia offers thousands of square kilometres of desert where off-road enthusiasts can indulge their passion for extreme sports, which range from sand boarding to quad bike racing, adventure-fuelled 4x4 safaris and sand yachting.
4 Uromastyx lizard in the desert 5 Great Nafud Desert 6 Asir National Park 7 Camel market
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