There were a few things that had to be on our Dubai itinerary when we chose to start our Big Trip across the globe in Dubai. Aside from the obvious must-sees (Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Palm Jumeirah, and the Burj al Arab), I was particularly looking forward to going on a desert safari since I had never been to the desert before.
Wide lonely vistas are my thing, so in addition to experiencing the glitter and glitz of Dubai, I was eager to get out of the city and into the desert. That is exactly what we did!
Our First Activity
Dune bashing was the first activity on the desert safari schedule in the Morning Desert Safari. I didn’t realise it until I tried it, but I like dune bashing? Driving across the desert, sliding over the towering sand dunes and feeling your stomach lurch after a sharp drop over the top of a dune, was such a rush.
Our driver was quite knowledgeable about what he was doing, and rightly so; this is not something you can do without sufficient training! It would, nevertheless, be quite interesting to discover…
After the adrenaline rush of dune bashing, we travelled to the desert camp for the next activity: quad riding!
Racing Games
You may not think it (being the beautiful innocent girl that I am;-), but I can be rather competitive in racing games. I once went go-karting with my family and almost drove my sister off the track in a frenzied effort to win first place. However, in order to avoid wrecking the quad on my first attempt, I kept my racing alter ego in control. I totally see why quad biking over the desert is a popular hobby among Dubai residents!
There was more riding to be done after the quad, so we shifted from the mechanical race-monster to a leisurely swinging camel and got a taste of desert life.
Desert Camp
We visited the remainder of the reconstructed desert camp after thanking the camel (well, primarily his handler). I don’t want a permanent tattoo, but my henna one was lovely! The tattoo appears orange at first, then darkens to a darker brown after about two weeks. Behind the camp, there were a few taller dunes, and we climbed to the top of one to watch the sunset across the vast desert. I was sitting on a dune with Frank when I realised how fortunate I am to be able to travel the globe with my spouse. It is, without a doubt, a privilege.
After the sunset, darkness descended quickly, and the temperature dropped dramatically. It wasn’t chilly, but I was glad I had a sweater (and, as always, a scarf, my number one travel essential!).
We returned to the camp and sat on a somewhat raised platform with a table and seats draped in lovely tablecloths. We got a great view of the stage from our position.
Dinner
Delicious meal was supplied as these cultural acts were being seen during overnight desert safari Dubai. Dinner included samosas, BBQ chicken, salad, hummus, fresh fruits, and other delectable goodies. It was time to go after the performances were through and our stomachs were stuffed. But not before gazing up into the night sky and admiring the stars. I can only image what the sky must be like farther into the desert, when it is completely dark but for the gleaming stars.
Overall, it was a fantastic day: it was my first time in the desert, my first time dune bashing, my first time driving a quad, and my first time riding a camel. A fantastic start to our epic journey across the globe!
