MIDDLE EAST WILDLIFE DESTINATIONS T


hink Middle East, think glittering cities filled


with glossy skyscrapers, gold-bedecked hotels and extravagant entertainment complexes. True – but that’s only one side. Nature reigns just as supreme in this diverse region, with an array of creatures found among its sprawling deserts, grassy mangroves and crystal-clear waters. So if you’re not already selling its wilder side, you might be missing out. Read on for some of the best


wildlife experiences from across the region, to help you widen its appeal and sell to those after a nature-filled break that’s less window shopping, more wildlife-spotting.


 VISIT A TURTLE RESERVE, OMAN Is there anything more endearing than watching tiny baby turtles take their first steps as they waddle along the shore? At the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve (in the village of Ras Al Hadd, eastern Oman) visitors can see exactly that, witnessing eggs hatching and turtles nesting against a backdrop of rugged mountains and lush-green oases. Early-morning and night-time


tours are available for clients wanting to see this natural phenomenon. There’s also an interactive museum for those interested in learning more, plus lodging for visitors wanting to stay overnight. Suggest going between May


and September to catch nesting season, and reassure clients it won’t be too scorching; summer temperatures average between 24C and 36C in the area. Book it: Emirates Holidays can tailor-make a six-night tour combining a stay at Ras Al Jinz with three nights in Muscat, and one each in Nizwa and at Wahiba Sands, from £2,685, based on two sharing. The price includes Emirates flights and chauffeur- driven transport. emiratesholidays.com


 SPOT ORYX AND GAZELLES, DUBAI With its distinctive snow-white body and ginormous, spiky antlers, the Arabian oryx is one of the most recognisable species


in the region. It went extinct in 1972 but has since been reintroduced to the Arabian peninsula, and there are now about 1,000 in the wild. The largest free-roaming


herd can be found in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, where you’ll also find gazelles (a smaller, daintier antelope), desert monitors (an endangered lizard), ospreys, the Arabian red fox and the rare Arabian wildcat, which looks similar to a domestic tabby. Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, is in the reserve and offers half-day, 4x4 drives out on the dunes in search of these creatures, alongside guided nature walks and other wildlife-focused activities, making it a worthy add-on for those


14 February 2019travelweekly.co.uk51


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