Located at the 170 kilometres to the south west of Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island is the largest naturally formed island in UAE and it is also Arabia’s largest wildlife reserve. Read on to know more about this enchanted landmass.
History
The history of this island dates back to several thousand years and remains of early settlements in the island can still be witnessed. The name Sir Bani Yas originates from the Bani Yas tribe who are the first known settlers of the island. Later on, the island was used as a retreat for the kings and in 1977 the island was transformed into a wildlife reserve with the introduction of animals to the island and along with the animals several million trees have been also planted to make the island a more habitable place for the animals.
Wildlife
As mentioned earlier the island is home to several animal species, and they are Gazelles, Arabian Leopard, Oryx, Giraffe, Ostriches, Ilamas and Rhea. These animals roam freely in the islands and can we witnessed on a safari that is provided by the reserve. The sea surrounding the island also teems with marine life and creatures such as dolphins and sea turtles.
Things to do
The offers its visitors a plethora of exciting activities to engage in, these include wildlife and adventure activities such as camping, safaris, mountain biking and hiking. The island is also surrounded by a beautiful sea where you can witness a wide range of sea life by snorkelling an diving.
Visiting there
You can visit the islands by a boat or a seaplane and most of the Abu Dhabi luury resorts offer transportation services across UAE which also includes Sir Bani Yas Island. But unfortunately the island cannot be explored fully within a day. So if you are planning to visit the island, it is recommended that you plan your stay at any of the resorts on the island in order to get the full island experience. There are many resorts and hotels located in the island itself and Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara is an accommodation option worth considering.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+
