leisure: The great outdoors
The great outdoors
The landscape of Saudi Arabia is vast and varied, from the immense and uninhabitable desert to its verdant forests and mountain ranges, to the wondrous coral reefs along the coastline. This diversity provides numerous opportunities for outdoor activities from scuba diving to rock climbing and everything in between.
Nature or nurture
For the wildlife enthusiasts there is over 100,000 square kilometres of wildlife reserve under preservation by the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation & Development (NCWCD), and while written permission is necessary to visit the parks, many have camping facilities.
Most of the mountain landscapes around Asir are abundant with native wildlife, including the protected Arabian leopard.
Harrat al Harrah Protected Area
The Harrat al Harrah Protected Area covers 13,775 square kilometres of exposed sedimentary rock, where vegetation grows amid basaltic rock, the remains of old lava flows, which is barren.
After a heavy rain shower, this area and other desert areas in the province have a lush growth of wildflowers and plants. The area hosts a variety of wildlife including wolf, jackal, reem, hyena, rabbits, lizards, houbara bustard and other birds that a Bedouin could usefully hunt for dinner, like the stone curlew, desert hare and gazelle.
Al-Hasa
The Al-Hasa Lagoons, the only large body of fresh water in the Eastern Province, were created by an overflow from the Al-Hasa oasis. There is also a long, narrow river which flows into the lagoons with many interconnected pools. The surrounding countryside is a mixture of sand dunes, salt pans and beautiful, wind formed sand fields.
The larger pools, or lagoons, have been identified as an 'important bird area' by Bird- Life International.
The area is also a lively ecosystem supporting a wide range of oasis fish, frogs and pond turtles. However, the site is regularly disturbed by shooting and hunting, particularly at weekends.
Tarut Bay
Tarut Bay is the Gulf coast's most important bay for wintering and passage shorebirds. It is also the largest shrimp nursery in the country.
This large and shallow bay has one of the richest and most diverse 'inter-tidal' habitats in the Arabian Gulf. Tarut Bay has also been identified as an 'important bird area' by Bird- Life International and, as such, is protected by local coast guards. The area is famous for sea snakes, green turtles (Chelonia Mydas) and dugong.
The Raidah Protected Zone
Although this is one of the smallest wildlife areas in the Kingdom, its steep walls and food abundance make it a wildlife oasis for many of Saudi Arabia's endangered species.
Located on the steep slope below Jebel Sawdah, the highest point in Saudi Arabia and covering only 14 square kilometres, Raidah Park is managed by NCWCD but there is some public access possible for education groups.
Hamadryas baboons are widespread along the escarpment and are considered a problem by local farmers, as they raid crops, but they have considerable appeal to tourists.
Harrat Landscapes
Saudi Arabia also has volcanic (harrat) landscapes with Wabha Crater and Wadi Al Lith in Makkah Province particularly fascinating.
Some liken the Wabha Crater, in Madina al-Munawwara, to a cross between the Grand Canyon and Death Valley, albeit smaller, with only an 11 kilometre circumference. The crater stands out against the black lava flows and at the bottom, some 400 metres below, is a white salt bed made up of sodium phosphate crystals.
There are two theories as to how the crater was formed. Some believe it came about from volcanic activity in the form of an underground explosion, while others believe that a meteorite struck the region.
Wadi Al Lith, in Taif, Jeddah, is another volcanic landscape. The wadi is abundant in fish, birds, sheep, goats, cows and even donkeys.
Jabal Qaraqir Plateau
Jabal Qaraqir Plateau is a spectacular sandstone site cut by deeply incised canyons, rising abruptly from the sandy coastal plain, overlaid by lava flows.
Approximately 80 km south of Tabuk, this is a protected area with some of the most spectacular scenery in Saudi Arabia.
There are majestic red and yellow sandstone canyons under the lava escarpment of Harrat ar-Raha. Permanent water means it is brimming with life and the main canyons contain perennial streams and permanent pools.
Archaeological sites include the Roman ruined temple of Ar-Rawafah, with inscriptions and petroglyphs.
There are many opportunities for wildlife viewing, botanic and photographic tours, as well as hiking, trail riding and rock climbing.
Sand dunes
There are five main categories of sand dunes, being crescentic, linear, star, dome, and parabolic. Crescent-shaped dunes look like rolling waves of sand and they are the ones most associated with desert landscapes, and the ones best suited to sand-boarding and dune bashing.
Linear dunes are typically much longer than they are wide and at their most extreme can be more than 100 km long.
Star dunes look like a pyramid from the ground, and a star fish from above and they are fairly rare. They tend to form in areas where the wind blows from different sides.
Dome dunes are oval or circular mounds that generally lack a slipface and parabolic dunes are sometimes called U-shaped, blowout, or hairpin dunes and they are well known in coastal areas like beaches.
The protected area of Nafud al Urayq in the south west of the province and the Alsa'afeeq Al Ghada Nature Park located south of Unayzah are popular dune spots for general recreation such as picnicking, camping, riding and hiking.
The wind swept sand dunes of Nafud al Kabir, in the eastern part of the province, and western Al Asyah, located northwest of Buraydah, offer an iconic experience of Saudi Arabia.
There is also unserviced camping, picnicking and hiking to be found in Qatan in the western part of the province.
Asir National Park
The Asir National Park, which opened in 1981, was the first of its kind in the Kingdom. It covers an extensive tract of land from west of Abha in the mountains, through the Tihamah Plain, and ends at the Red Sea Coast. It is of great ecological importance and archaeological interest.
The park incorporates six recreational areas totalling 2,000 hectares. The main access points are at: Al Hadba, Al Qara, and Al Sudah, Dalgan, The National Park Visitor Centre, Abha, Prince Sultan Park and Toor Al-Masquareah Park.
The park includes Jebel Sawdah, which at 2,910 metres is the highest point in Saudi Arabia.
On the edge of the escarpment there is a museum and exhibition centre. It has seven exhibit rooms illustrating a visual presentation of the park's habitats. From the centre, visitors get a panoramic view of the surrounding peaks, Wadi Dila, some 3,000 feet below and, on a clear day, the sparkling waters of the Red Sea.
Forests
There are around 50 forest enclaves in Saudi Arabia. Two prime examples are Raghdan Forest and Shahba Forest, both of which are situated five km north of Al-Baha city.
Raghdan Forest overlooks a valley and covers 2.5 sq km, whereas Shahba Forest is set in groves of pine trees and juniper bushes. On the peak of this forest stands Al-Baha Science University.
Al-Geme Forest is a wild park overgrown with olive, acacia and juniper trees, and serviced by a cable car. Other amenities are available in Beljerchi which is 20 km away.
There is also Nawan al-Ala, a six-km valley lying between two mountains near Asham village and Al-Shaira Recreational Park, and Wadi Melil, a valley that is located at the foot of Shada Al-Ala.
Mountain range
The Asir Mountains are part of the same geological fault as the Great Rift Valley in Africa.
This mountain range offers many sporting activities, including professionally supervised paragliding, hang-gliding, rock climbing, mountaineering, hiking and mountain bike riding.
Packages can be tailored to your interests and expertise, and tours cover activities in the Asir landscapes of the coast, the mountains and the desert.
Caving
The Jebel Garah mountain, 13 kilometres east of Al-Hofuf, hides a series of large, high caves which, despite the external climate, maintain a constant temperature. These above-ground limestone cave systems rise above the date palm orchards.
One series of caves, named Ghar Al Hashshab, or cave of the arrow maker, is particularly impressive with towering canyons and labyrinthine interiors.
Horse racing
The horse racing season runs from late September until April at The King Abdulaziz Track located near the King Khalid International Airport at Janadriyah, 40 km north east of Riyadh.
The facilities are of international standards with a grandstand accommodating some 5,000 race-goers. The races take place every Friday afternoon, extending into the evening under floodlights.
Camel Market
On the outskirts of Buraydah in Al-Qassim there is a working camel market. Along with the camels, the market sells sheep and goats and there are also stalls selling local leather goods like bridles, halters and saddles or woven goods such as blankets. Be prepared for an early start; the auction starts at 6am and is all over by 10am.
Underwater world
Scuba diving instruction and facilities are available at all of the major dive sites in the country. It is necessary to make bookings in advance, but with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certification you can dive in some of the most beautiful waters in the world.
The Farasan Bank
The Farasan Bank is a coral shore 100 km wide that stretches 800 km down Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast. To get there requires a 90-minute ferry journey from Jizan.
The Farasan Kebir and Segid archipelago includes two large islands, Farasan and Qummah, which are connected by a bridge.
The Farasan Islands are largely low, flat-topped lumps of coral that are barely a few metres above the water. The beaches are made of dead coral, and can vary from smooth white beaches to quite rough sand.
Despite the flat and foreboding landscape the true beauty of the Farasan Islands is underwater where an abundance of colourful coral reefs, flying rays, dolphins, dugong, sea turtles and whale sharks can be found.
Bird life is also plentiful and seasonally it includes spoonbill; western reef egret; striated heron; osprey sooty falcons; pink-backed pelican; red-billed tropicbird; white-eyed gull; saunders little tern; crab plover and flamingos.
Farasan Hotel is the only hotel on the island and accommodation is limited, so it is necessary to book in advance. The hotel can arrange land tours, overnight guided sea trips, fishing, snorkelling and deep sea diving for the accredited diver.
Eastern Province
Although the Eastern Province is heavily industrialised, the aquatic life thrives.
Only 32 km from the city of Jubail lies a chain of five coral atolls: Harqus, Karan, Kurayn, Jana and Jurayd. These tiny islands, which are an hour's boat ride from Jubail, were formed when sand built up on a submerged coral reef until it broke the surface of the sea.
Because the Persian Gulf is in one of the hottest regions in the world, its waters evaporate faster than the few entering rivers can replenish it. This gives it a high salt concentration, and technically the life it supports should not be possible.
But the coral is extensive and colourful, and the fish life is varied with shoals of sweetlips and angelfish swimming together. Parrotfish, stingrays, lobsters and octopus have all been seen here.
The islands are also a protected breeding ground for turtles and for that reason it is necessary to have permission to visit the islands during the breeding season.
Yanbu
Another industrial area, with hidden depths, is the town of Yanbu, which boasts more than 1,930 km of the world's best coral reef. The reef stretches from Yemen to Jordan and carries more than 450 species of fish.
Yanbu is on the coast of The Red Sea and it is a booming industrial town with petrochemical plants, refineries and a lively port.
Despite the industrial surroundings the marine life in Yanbu is vast and varied, with turtles, whales, dolphins and even the dugong, which is otherwise known as the manatee or sea cow. This large sea mammal is believed to be the animal on which the myth of the mermaid is based.
Several important dive sites are located in the stretch of sea between Al Hasani Island, north of Yanbu, and Sha'ah al Abjad in the south, and diving treks leave from the port of El Sharm. There are many more amazing atolls in the region, each with its own secret shoals, and from the north side of Gotha el Sharm Reef divers can even reach the wreck of the Shouna, an old Turkish steam ship that sank a few miles out from the port of Yanbu.
Snorkelling
There are two popular resorts for snorkelling in Saudi Arabia, Obhur Creek in the Makkah Province, and Al Khobar in the Eastern Province. Both of these have easily accessible snorkelling, which is often as close as the end of the nearest pier.
The Red Sea provides warm, safe and fishabundant waters, ideal for snorkelling. Some of the best snorkelling sites are: North Obhur; Al Bilad Beach; Al Nakheel; Blue Beach; The Pinnacles; Obhur Creek; Andulus Marina; Broken Dock; and the Rabigh District.
Rabigh is 150 km to the north of Jeddah and is easily reached by the expressway linking Jeddah with Yanbu. There are numerous locations along this length of the peninsula that allow access to the sea to the west or to the inland bay that is created by the peninsula to the east.
