Top 5 Places Where You Could Enjoy Dubai’s Wild

Wildlife attractions? Pffft, it’s surely not the first thought that comes into your mind when you think about Dubai. As famous and well known Dubai is for its oil production, the majestic Burj Khalifa it is also home to the most important natural reserves of the world with a wide variety of flora and fauna living in their natural habitats. Right from the camel trekking, regal falcons in the desert to the beautiful flamingos in wetlands, Dubai is capable of keeping any type of crowd enchanted and awe-struck with its unique wildlife encounters.

Here are 5 of the best places in Dubai to catch the wildlife at its best

1. Admire the flamingos at Ras Al Khor

Lovely looking birds with bright pink features, stilt legs and an S-shaped neck are a sight to behold here at the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary which is famous for more than a few species of birds due to its landscape and greenery.

During the cooler months you can watch hundreds of them in their natural habitat at this sanctuary for free. Also known as the ‘Cape of the Creek,’ this sanctuary covers an area of 6.2 square km and features a variety of salt flats, intertidal mudflats, mangroves, and lagoons that are utilized by birds here for their nests and habitats.

It is a wetland of global importance covered under the Ramsar Convention which also serves as home to many mammals of other aquatic animals as their breeding grounds and is also recognised as an Important Bird Area by Bird Life International which makes it a  perfect birders spot. Protected by a fence, it is very closely monitored by the Dubai Municipality.

Location and Timings

Just a few metres away from the bustling city of Dubai, you would find this sanctuary open from 9 am to 4 pm every day except for Fridays.

Also Read: National Parks in Dubai

Ever thought you’d be able to spot a tropical rainforest in the bustling city centre? Dubai breaks this imagination. Located in the city walk, a full fledged indoor vertical rainforest where you can witness over 3,000 colourful animals and plants. Being one of its kind in the Middle East nations, with a wide range of Flora and fauna is home to the world’s longest man-made tree which is 35 meters in height.

Get up close and personal with sloths or the nocturnal sugar gliders, you could even pet a python or even watch fruit bats in their natural habitat with the unique ‘bat cave’ experience. Become a part of this forest and enjoy the dark and humid environment that will take you through a forest experience that might not be as close to the amazon but still worth it! Do note that they have an entrance fee of ₹1000 for adults and ₹500 for children.

Their open hours are 10 am to 7 pm from Sunday to Wednesday whereas  from Thursday to Saturday it’s 10 am to 8 pm.

3. Meet the Arabian oryx

Being brought back from the brink of extinction by a government-funded breeding program in 2011, the oryx’s status came down to the less drastic ‘vulnerable’ status. Even though the area is fully fenced for its own good, Platinum Heritage’s wildlife tour takes you on a wild drive across the Reserve in an open-roof Land Rover, to track down and observe wild oryx and gazelle herds here.

Home to around fifty plant species and about a hundred birds this place is a must visit for safari lovers. Few of the activities that tourists engage here are Horse riding, Trekking, sand boarding and camel riding apart from taking pleasure in falconry. This reserve stays open from 7 am to 5 pm on all days and there are no entrance fees required.

Also Read: Dubai Desert Safari Guide for First Timers

4. Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Centre

Located in the eastern side of the city of Sharjah, Spread over 12 sq km and is home to 30 native mountain and desert species. You could catch indoor nocturnal habitats like snakes, lizards, hedgehogs and scorpions. similar experience to that of the Dubai wildlife desert safari with certain species kept in the centre and the rest roaming around the vast landscape like the Arabian leopard, wolf, tahr and caracal.

Timings

The open hours of this center are 9 am to 5:30 pm from Monday to Friday, whereas on Saturdays only until 4 pm. There is also an entrance fee of ₹1000 for adults and children above the age of 12 yrs are free to enter.

5. Wasit Wetland Centre

The Wasit Wetland Centre is home to around 350 species of birds, which makes it a perfect place for bird lovers to come and spectate here  on the outskirts of Sharjah in Dubai. Earlier a very swampy wetland, 4.5 square kilometers of land was declared as a protected sanctuary for very rare species of migratory birds in 2007.

Ecosystem here is fully made up of salt flats, lakes, many ponds and sand dunes making it a natural habitat. The birds don’t want to leave the site, the major two reasons being its rich in food and makes it a place to breed and be safe from predators. Kids can grow fond of this place very quickly, as they can serve food to the ducks and flamingos in an open environment.

Also Read: Explore the world of Ecotourism in Dubai

A safari option is also available here, but don’t forget to carry your binoculars. This centre is open from 9 am to 6:30 pm, with INR 300 as entrance fee for people above 12 yrs of age.

While you’re here, do make sure you also sight the very popular Falcons which are the national bird of the United Arab Emirates. What better than spotting the many rare species here at Dubai in their natural habitats than by booking yourself a great Dubai adventure tour package? Start planning your safari trips and make a lifetime of experiences.

Also Read: Dubai Safari Park