Tuesday 20 October 2015

CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide

UAE, has one of the most happening cities of the world, DUBAI, where there is no dearth for fun, socializing, shopping, movies, restaurants or any other exciting activity that a major city can provide. But what if you yearn for a break from all this? What if you long to go back to nature enjoy some solitude? But you, at the moment lack in time or money, to travel to Europe or Asia or elsewhere in this world?

Fret not.

Peel off UAE's glossy layers and you have an immense option of adventure. UAE's terrain ranges from vast stretches of sand , pristine beaches, rocky mountains, oases, and even mangroves.
Be what may be your interest, photography, cycling, bird-watching, hiking or even just camping there is a place for it all, if you manage to do enough research.


CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/


Last year we camped for the first time with our little daughter in MUSANDAM and then in UMM AL QUWAIN, and Jabal Jais in RAS AL KHAIMAH. It is really addicting especially in winter.

So here's a list for anyone taking the plunge of camping in and around UAE.

When to camp?

Ideally October to March is the best time to camp in UAE and nearby OMAN (which is accessible through a road trip). The temperatures vary between an average of 18 to 35 degrees centigrade depending on the time of day and the month.
Choosing the place and time of camping is very essential .
If you plan to visit the mountains always remember the temperature is probably 10 degrees cooler, and the nights are probably very chill in winter.
When camping near the wadis always be careful of flash floods. The rains fill up the wadis in an instant.
Do look at the weather report for the week.
But luckily UAE's temperature isn't as unpredictable as the rest of the world's is :)

Choosing a camping spot.


This depends on what you would love doing.

If you are an adventure sport enthusiast there is nothing like the Mountains- for trekking, hiking, watching stars, mountain biking, rock climbing etc. The Hajjar Mountains have amazing hideouts and wadis, if you follow well known trails on a 4x4.
CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

If you have kids and love a lazing day of sun, water and sand then the Beaches are the places to set up camp at. Added to swimming, kayaking, picking sea shells and also building sea castles, the beaches are an endless source of water even if salty:)
The beaches are our favorite spot for camping. Luckily this tiny country is blessed in bounty in this department. But you need to hunt for beach areas designated for camping. Sadly the beaches are underutilized for these purposes.
CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

If you love to be the Bedouin for the day and don't mind the sand all over you then the Desert is the right place for  desert drives, animal spotting, dune bashing and of course star gazing. This is in plenty too. With many tours companies providing deals and packages for night out at the deserts.
CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

Sadly, we would love to add forests/ National parks to the list, but there are none that we know of in the country, where designated camping sites are present. How nice it would be to doze on a hammock in the shades of trees:/


Where to camp?

Must have guide for road trips and camping in and around UAE and Oman. seen frequently in the stands of petrol bunk convenience stores and sports shops.
CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

We are yet to camp in all the places on our list,but have frequented RAK (Al Hamra), Umm Al Quwain (Al Rafaa), Jabal Jais (RAK), Jabal Hafeet (Al Ain), Al Qudra (Dubai) and Musandam (Oman). The others are all on our bucket list for camping.

Abudhabi
Liwa
Sila Beach
Pearl Coast
Many of the islands

Al Ain 
Al Hayer forest
Jabal Hafeet

Dubai
- Ganthoot
- Jebel Ali
- Al Qudra

Sharjah
-Kalba
- Deserts of Maliha road

Umm Al Quwain
- Al Raffa Beach

Ras Al Khaimah
- Al Hamra
- Jabal Jais
-Awafi
-Mizra

Fujairah
-Al Aqah Beach, Fujairah

Oman
-Musandam, Khasab
-Tiwi
-Turtle Beach
- Sohar
- Sur

There are umpteen number of Wadis where people especially those with 4x4 do go.
- Wadi Bih
- Wadi Sana
- Wadi Madhbah
- Wadi Wurayah

Where to shop for a first time camper?
  • Carrefour camping section
It has almost everything you need, at amazing prices. within 300 AED you probably could haul everything necessary for a small family of 2 to 4.
Location : Deira City Centre, Dubai


CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/


  • Declathon
This place is an amazing one-stop-shop for anything related to sports. It has to-die-for camping section where you get the right stuff with the right info. This is the place for a novice who wishes to take up serious camping. And don't forget to pick their 'Outdoor Check list'. 
https://www.facebook.com/DecathlonDubai
Location: Mirdiff City Centre, Dubai


CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/


  • Adventure HQ 
If you are a pro,this is where you should go to get your gear from. 
www.adventurehq.ae
Location: Times Square Centre, Shk.Zayed Road
+971 4 346 6824 | +971 4 346 6909


  • Ace Hardware
We seen some cool camping stuff at Ace Hardware too.
www.aceuae.com
Location: Dubai Festival City


  • GulfCamping.com
If you are on the fast track and love shopping online, you must must check out this site. This is THE camping website for this part of the world. Just browsing through all that's available makes us want to plan our next trip :)
www.gulfcamping.com

CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

  • Bling My Truck.com
Another cool website for off-roaders, with a lot of serious camping stuff
www.blingmytruck.com


  • Dubizzle
Don't forget to check through Dubizzle, for much pre-loved items. You might just find a steal. 
dubai.dubizzle.com

If you still haven't sorted out your stuff even on a Thursday morning, We have still found barbeque stuff and coal in most of the petrol bunkers near the camping sites and in other Supermarkets like LuLu and Nesto


The camping list 


For beginners an easy pop-up tent would do if its for day-camping or just one night under the stars.
The pros can go in for the good gear with all inflatable mattress and other accessories.

Ropes and tent pegs (in case you don't find stones to weigh down your tent or if your tent is pitched on soft sand)

If on a smooth terrain like the beach , a mat, sleeping bags and pillows would do. But your sleep will be much better if you have an inflatable air bed and some comforters especially in the mountains and deserts. 

Camping lights, be it a flash light, or a camping lamps. The head lamps are an amazing accessory especially when you are cooking outdoors and in darkness. 

Lawn chairs. We find it a necessity more than a luxury. We scored an amazingly comfy camping chair at 19 AED in carrefour. Oh since then camping has been so much more delightful.

A Portable chemical toilet, if you are queasy about the shovel and sand method.

Cooking equipment:
- A barbeque kit.
- Charcoal
- Lighter fluid
- Matches and lighter
- Cooler box
- Simple kitchen utensils- like a tea pot, skewers, tongs, plates and cups etc.

Firewood, for the warmth and the campfire to set the mood through the night.

Lots and Lots of Water. This is the most essential item on the list.

Garbage bags and tissues or used newspapers.
Can't stress this enough please, please, keep the area clean and take your garbage with you.

Entertaining equipment:
- Music box. Please keep the volume low with respect to others nearby :/
- Board games
- A book to read 
- Literally anything that makes you happy.

Definitely a GPS for any kind of road trip in UAE.
Charged phones.
Extra batteries if needed
Or a power bank, in case of emergency

UAE Offroad Explorer
 for the best places and their locations.

On person, wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
Extra clothes, Beach wear, hats, sunscreen lotion, insect repellents.

A complete first-aid kit

Completely serviced up-to-date car or 4x4.

No off-road emergency services are available in UAE, so keep the UAE police number handy.


CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/
CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/


CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/


CAUTION AND RULES:

Do read this article and make wise choices about where and how you camp. 
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/society/camping-in-the-uae-what-you-need-to-know-1.1127208

Always better to venture out in groups at least with two vehicles if you are heading farther away from a city and accessible roads.

Always let your family and friends know where you are exactly going and when is it that you will return.

Look out for flash floods in wadis, scorpions and other poisonous beings in the desert dunes. Also, pitch your tent on the beach with an anticipation of a tide at night, lest you want a completely soaked up mess.


Great reading sites for information, sights, locations and prior experiences:

1- Outdooruae.com

2- UAE-Weekend-Lovers

3- UAE Offroaders

4- U.A.E Camping and other Misadventures

5- EveryTrail- UAE

6- Weekend UAE

Established camping organizers-- GLAMPING

If roughing it out in the outdoors is not your cup of tea, yet you love being in the lap of nature, then try out these well organised outdoor stays.

1- Banyan Tree Al Wadi for a luxurious and romantic getaway to a bedouin style desert resort. 

2-UAQ Marine club in Umm Al Quwain where the camps are set up already in a private beach area. 

3-FAKC.me This one is a pretty amazing group of Fathers and Kids Camping. But registration is based on referrals alone.

4- Relax RV Camping Resort Set in the dunes of Ras al Khaimah provides an RV style of luxurious camping.

5- Ecoventure provides adventure and outdoor education based camps for both families and school trips somewhere towards Al Jeer area near the border with Oman.

6- Noukhada.ae. This tour company provides kayaks and ferries your stuff to a desert island in abudhabi, then you are on your own till the next morning when they bring you back to mainland.

7- Dreamland Aquapark surprisingly has waterside chalets with barbecuing facility for an overnight stay in Umm Al Quwain.

TIPS for camping with Children:

- If you haven't camped before in UAE, start with day trips which are not too far off from civilization. Al Rafaah (UAQ) and Al Aqah (Fujairah) and Jabal Jais (RAK) beach are good spots.

- The age group of children with you can determine where camping would be the best enjoyable. For small kids it is the beaches are the best.

- Do carry enough food and water especially for the kids, and do not forget sunscreens, hats and other basic first aid that you may need.

- Make sure the children are watched over at all times. Especially when the bbq is on. There  are 4x4's and dune bikes riding around the beaches and deserts, so keep the kids safe.

- Take along simple games that the kids would love playing when outdoors. Of course its not a tablet :/

Fear not, camping is a very child friendly activity, especially in a safe country like UAE. Our daughter has always had fun and made some great memories and new friends, in our many camping trips. We find it to be a nice and amazing way to expose her to nature and free play. 

This link has great tips for family camping trips in UAE http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/family/uae-has-ideal-spots-for-camping-with-children

CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/
Souring corals and shells left back by the tides

CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/
Searching for animal (fox) footprints

CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/
Making twig houses

CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/
Watching ducks and birds

CAMPING WITH FAMILY IN UAE: A Beginner's guide @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/
Unlimited Beach time


So gather your tent, the winter is here, ride into the night, to unseen places, soak up the the sand and the sky, gaze at the stars, and leave the place with only memories.
Hope you make the most of the season!

See ya!!
Zain & Farz


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Wander Mum

Thursday 8 October 2015

Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN

Almost anyone who has been in UAE would  have visited the DUBAI MIRACLE GARDEN- mammoth man-made flower arrangements located in a truly miraculous garden bang in the desert of DUBAI.

The sad part is DUBAI MIRACLE GARDEN is shut during the scorching summer here. But there is a new and interesting place to visit just next door- DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN, that is open all through the summer too.


Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/



Open from 9 am to 6 pm all days of the week
And admission ticket is 50 AED per person.
Contact No: +9714 422 8902
(Keep an eye on the website before you go in case of change of timings or holidays)


This is the world's largest indoor butterfly garden with a huge collection of butterflies all housed at a comfortable temperature of 24 degree centigrade all year round.

Its a pretty huge place with a sizable collection of butterflies, for a city that was originally a desert. The air-conditioned domes house innumerable butterflies. The place brims with plants and flowers, the earthy smell, the chirping of birds and the colorful fluttering of butterfly wings. The butterflies fly about freely in the dome and feed on the fruit bits and nectar combs placed for them, apart from the huge array of flowers available.

Great for butterfly watching and an amazing stop for photography.

The best part about the DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN is that the butterflies come sit on you and we can feel them up close.


Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/


We had an amazing day-trip with our daughter to this place.

The walk ways were so pretty. and there is a gallery with amazing butterfly art and butterfly quotes as you enter.


Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

The interconnected domes are rich with foliage and the free flying dainty butterflies.


Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/


Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

The butterflies flap around, sipping on the nectar soaked sponges and fruits that were dotted all over the place.

Our daughter was a bit queasy around so many butterflies for some time, but later on she was a bit sad that the butterflies sat on mommy and daddy and not her! So we picked up this artificial garland from the souvenir shop inside and then she had two butterflies riding on her throughout the visit.


Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

We also spotted some chrysalis.


Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

Nice place to take the kids to. Nice to add bits of learning.

On our way out we spotted these two life sized animal replicas near the Dubailand office. They looked pretty amazing.


Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/

Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/


We saw Butterfly videos at home. Read Eric Carl's THE HUNGRY CATERPILLAR. 

And picked all the snaps of the different types of butterfly we clicked and made our own butterfly identification guide.

Here is the link for your free download.


Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/


Do visit the Butterfly park if there is one in your city. Seeing so many butterflies fluttering about is really amazing. Throw in a lots of butterfly activities for the kids along and after the trip for more fun.

We would have loved to grow a caterpillar to a butterfly at home. Sadly not much outdoors for Dubai.

Leaving you with a snap of DUBAI MIRACLE GARDEN too:)

Learning About Butterflies: DUBAI BUTTERFLY GARDEN @http://colorsofourrainbow.blogspot.ae/




ZAIN & FARZ

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