In Abu Dhabi, wildlife desert safaris provide truly captivating adventures for young and old alike and these insights will give you an idea of what you can expect.
Arabian Wildlife Park
The best place for such an experience is the Arabian Wildlife Park on Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi; resorts on the island including the likes of Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara offer wildlife drives on open-rooftop 4×4 vehicles at this protected reserve; you will get to see many free-roaming animals not only from the UAE but other destinations too.
The Arabian Oryx
Amongst the key sightings on such a safari is the endangered Arabian oryx which is the national animal of the UAE as well. Interestingly, this species went extinct in the wild in the latter part of the 1960s; however, the founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who created this wildlife reserve made efforts to breed captive Arabian oryx here. Today, the island has one of the largest herds in the world.
Wildlife Encounters
There are plenty more animals to see including cheetahs that were in fact, first introduced here to provide a natural balance to the population of the Arabian oryx. On your wildlife drive, you may also spot Arabian mountain gazelles, reticulated giraffes, blackbuck antelopes, axis deer, urial sheep, golden jackals, the lesser Egyptian jerboa and diverse bat and bird species too.
Other Alternatives
Apart from wildlife desert safaris in a 4×4 vehicle, there are other alternatives to explore parts of the Arabian Wildlife Park; one unique way would be to do so on the back of Arabian horses where you can spot free-roaming wildlife as well. Some sections are ideal for mountain biking and guided nature walks too, both worth experiencing.
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