Desert Safari with Dune Bashing
Experience the quintessential Arabian experience with an unforgettable desert safari with dune bashing. This age old experience is the gold standard of tourism in the UAE attracting adventure seekers. Picture endless golden oceans of sand as far as the eye can see with the only sound being the rumble of a 4×4 car and the triumphant shouts of its passengers. A desert trip is not so much a tour as an expertly guided expedition to the very center of the splendid desert with just the right amount of adrenaline cultural experience and scenery.
The thrill of dune bashing a heart stopping ride across the dunes in a beast of a 4WD vehicle is the big draw for most. But the contemporary desert safari tour is an experience with many aspects that go far beyond the ride. It captures the essence of the place asking you to watch the magical sunset relish a mouth watering BBQ dinner and indulge in classical entertainment under starry skies. This step by step guide will take you through all you need to know to plan an experience and make the best out of your magnificent desert safari trip so that it becomes a jewel in your travel experiences.
What Exactly is Dune Bashing on a Desert Safari?
Dune bashing is the thrilling essence of any desert trip adventure. It includes experienced drivers driving specially adapted 4×4 cars such as Land Cruisers or Range Rovers up and down the shifting and somewhat treacherous terrain of dunes. The ride is a sand rollercoaster as the car drives up the steep face of a dune momentarily stops at the top to enjoy a breathtaking view and then rides back down at an angle that Is each exhilarating and unreal.
The word bashing is derived from the controlled uneven and sliding movement as the tires of the car engage the soft sand. It’s an extreme test of driving skill where the skilled trip guides employ momentum and skill to avoid getting stuck. Safety much to the contrary is a top priority. Cars have roll cages and all passengers must always be strapped into seatbelts. The drivers are highly experienced staff who are very familiar with the desert making the ride an exhilarating adventure and not a risky task. It’s an experience not to be missed by anyone looking to inject some thrill into their desert adventure.
Selecting Your Ideal Desert Safari Package
The market is replete with choices and the right desert safari package is an imperative for aligning your expectations. The most popular ones are Morning, Evening and Overnight trip excursions. The Morning safari is shorter consisting mainly of dune bashing and sandboarding, and is ideal for those with a tight schedule. The Evening trip is the most sought after one.
This features the traditional dune bashing experience and then visits a Bedouin type camp where you have camel rides henna tattoos shisha pipes a mouth watering BBQ lunch and watch Tanoura and belly dance displays under the night sky. For the ultimate immersive experience an Overnight trip allows you to extend the evening’s activities into a night spent in the desert either in a tent or under the open sky followed by a stunning sunrise. When booking your trip consider factors like group size private vs shared inclusions food activities and operator reviews to ensure a high quality and memorable adventure.
More than the Thrill: Activities in Camp during Your Safari
While dune bashing offers the first thrill activities in camp determine the essence of the desert safari adventure. When the adrenaline leaves you feeling drained you are taken to a stunningly set up campsite usually adorned with carpets low seating and dim lighting setting the right Arabian Nights mood. This is where the pace eases giving you time for cultural enhancement and relaxation. You can ride a short camel popularly referred to as the ship of the desert for a more authentic mode of transport.
Have intricate temporary designs of henna imprinted on your hands or feet. Wear a traditional Kandura or Abaya for a great photoshoot against the desert background. As dusk falls indulge in a cup of Arabic coffee Gahwa and fresh dates. In the evening enjoy a huge buffet dinner with international and local grilled meats salads and desserts. This part of the trip nicely balances the excitement of the drive with serene cultural experiences.
Capturing the Magic Photography Tips for Your Safari
A desert safari is a photographer’s utopia with its grand landscapes and golden lighting. Timing is key to capturing the magic. The golden hour near dawn and dusk offers the best soft most flattering light turning the dunes even more dramatic and chiseled. In the dune bashing session camera protection is extremely important. Carry a padded bag to cushion it against bumps and sand. On site concentrate on recording the details of the designs in the sand, the details in the henna patterns the wisps of smoke from the shisha and the colorful tones of the traditional attire.
A wide angle lens is ideal for sweeping dune landscapes but a prime or telephoto lens can be used to catch candid portraits of dancers or traveling companions. Most significantly do not forget to lay down the camera now and then and just marvel at the stunning glory of the desert trip with your naked eyes.
Crucial Tips to Get Ready for Your Adventure
Accurate preparation will add greatly to your desert safari adventure. First dress comfortably in light loose-fitting cotton clothes in the summer months, and layer up in winter nights since the temperature in the desert can dip quite low. Sunglasses a hat and sunscreen are essentials to shield yourself from the sun. Though shoes are taken off for certain camp activities, closed-toe shoes are preferable for the dunes.
It is strongly recommended not to eat a heavy meal before the dune bashing to avoid motion sickness Taking motion sickness medication an hour prior is a good measure for those who experience it. Drink plenty of water beforehand and afterwards as a means of staying hydrated. Finally plan and book your trip early through a recommended service provider to lock in your booking and get a high quality assured service for your adventure.
Conclusion
To sum it all up, a desert safari involving dune bashing is much more than just another item on a traveler’s list it is an intense multi sensory experience that embodies the very spirit of the Arabian desert. It perfectly blends the pulse-pounding, adrenaline charged thrill of driving over orange dunes with the peaceful culturally diverse ambiance of a vintage Bedouin campsite.
This duality of thrill and serenity is something found nowhere else and this makes the desert safari experience one to be remembered. From the time your 4×4 starts climbing up the first giant dune to the last taste of sweet tea beneath a star filled sky you are in an atmosphere that is both exhilarating and deeply calm. The experiences that linger the amazed gasp as your vehicle careens down a dune, the smell of smoky grilled food, the motion of a dancer twirling in the light, and the sensation of the cool desert sand blend to create an unbridged story of your journey.
Regardless of whether you are an individual traveler, a couple traveling in search of romance or a family building enduring memories this safari has something incredible to offer for all. It is a poignant reminder of the majesty of nature and the rich cultural heritage of the area. Finally no desert visit is complete without taking this legendary safari an experience that will certainly leave you with recollections to tell for the rest of your life.
