There are a lot of things to do in Dubai. The list goes endless when visiting the tallest skyscrapers, witnessing modern cityscape, and enjoying dinner on an Arabic boat. The desert trip is inevitable to understand that it is the heart of Dubai because that’s where it all began.
The loose-flowing sand, Bedouin traditions, Arabic cuisine, and camels are a recipe for exploring time immemorial.
A safari trip adds a flavor of adventure to the whole mix, making it even more exciting. Consider certain things before planning your Best Desert Safri Dubai Tour experience.
This definitive guide to choosing the best safari in Dubai provides everything you need to make an informed decision.
About the safari Trip?
Desert safari is an adventurous yet nostalgic trip to the deserts of Dubai. The journey begins as the driver arrives at your location, preferably at your stay, be it your home or hotel, and picks you up.
Deserts are not like roads. They offer a different driving experience and require 4×4 vehicles to maneuver.
There is a brief stopover on the way to the desert for refreshments. To prepare the cars for a desert drive, drivers deflate the tires to nearly empty. It would help if you had flat tires to move over the desert sand.
After entering the desert, all the safari cars form a convoy at the first sunset photo point. Many photo stops will be made on a safari to capture the mysterious desert dunes against the orange dusk sky.
The towering dunes make for nerve-racking fun when combined with speed and audacity. After the thrilling ride over the sands, the convoy heads to the camp.
The safari camp is modeled like a traditional Bedouin camp that comes complete with traditional refreshments like Arabic coffee, an opportunity to UAE Traditional Dress and get a henna tattoo from an artist, and a handful of entertainment.
This detailed guide will help you discover the safari experience.
What are the activities of a safari tour?
There is no shortage of adrenaline-pumping activities in a desert. After the cars form a convoy at the photo stop, it is time for the most adventurous part of the trip. The ‘all-wheel-drive’ moves through the enormous dunes at baffling speeds, climbing up and down like a roller coaster in the desert. This is not for the faint-hearted. Enthusiasts have nicknamed this action-packed thrill, and that’s what it has been called ever since — dune bashing.
After half an hour of desert dune bashing, there will be enough halts for the guests to take pictures and try their hands at sandboarding. Sandboarding is the desert version of snowboarding. The boards and techniques employed are a bit different, though.
Because sand is coarser and abrasive than snow, sandboards are made of more rigid materials. So don’t take your snowboard out on the sand, even if you’re willing to pay for a new one.
Usually, the safari operator will provide the sandboard. Get on the tallest dune, strap your feet onto the board, and zoom down to the bottom. Don’t be afraid to try it out. Sand is very forgiving to falls. You can also glide by the camel farms in some safari options.
Then comes the camp. A visit to the desert camp helps us understand the life of local Arabs in the past centuries. It is good to know that not every olden-day Arab lived in the desert. Most Arabs were town dwellers. They lived among the more civilized portion of Dubai. Those who live in the desert are called Bedouins.
Those with an adventurous flair haven’t run out of things yet. They should hop on a quad bike and go for a spin. Quad Bikes, or All-Terrain Vehicles, effortlessly work through the grueling sand.
Before its modern glory, those who have firsthand experience of life in Dubai would have countless stories to tell about their camels. They are called the ship of the desert. Safari trips allow you to ride these magnificent beasts to your heart’s content. They are no friendly creatures to strangers, so their mouths are muzzled.
Don’t miss the chance to hold the falcon, the national bird of the United Arab Emirates, and snap a picture with the beautiful avian. They are one of the fastest living things on earth.
The hubbly bubbly is available at the Shisha Corner. Shisha was the traditional recreational habit of Arabs.
As it gets darker, the mood inside the camp brightens. Dance shows and a sumptuous barbecue buffet will culminate in a joyous evening.
Desert Safari is undoubtedly one of the region’s most iconic and sought-after pastime activities.
What to wear for a safari Trip?
Remember that summers in Dubai are hot, so dress for the weather. Pick your safari outfit wisely. For your trip, wear loose, comfortable clothes, preferably light-colored cotton or linen.
Don’t wear your best clothes because you are going to the sand. After all the adventures, expect your clothes to be dusted by the end of the day.
It is more comfortable to walk in the desert wearing shoes. But it is not advisable to wear low-top sneakers or tennis shoes. If you do, you will have to remove them occasionally to get rid of the irritating sand that gets inside. Wear high-top shoes with socks or even open-toed ones.
Hats and sunglasses will be handy in the desert. Also, bring sunscreen and wear as little jewelry as possible.
If you are visiting in the winter, keep a jacket with you, as the temperature will drop drastically in the desert after the sunset.
Which Safari Package to Choose From?
Review the details of the various safari options when choosing the ideal package.
Evening Safari
This is the complete safari you can get. The trip begins around 3:30 in the evening, depending on your location, as the driver picks you up. You reach the desert around 5. Half an hour of desert dune bashing and a few photo-stops later, you travel to the Bedouin camp.
You can enjoy all the camp activities, including dinner and entertainment, with an evening safari. Some of the things in the camp are optional and will require you to pay, like the quad bike and picture with the falcon.
After the sunset, the camps live up with energy. The venue lights up, and live performances of Arabic folk dances bring joy in the air. That’s made even better with a toothsome Barbecue dinner buffet with enough dishes to satiate the taste buds of vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
You will be dropped back at your location when you finish the dinner and laze in the desert’s nighttime vibe. The entire trip lasts for 6-7 hours.
Morning Safari
If you are short on time or uninterested in the desert camp or dinner, you should opt for the morning safari. But unlike the evening safari, this begins around 8 a.m. The morning safari packs all the fun of evening safari dune bashing, sandboarding, quad biking, and camel riding, minus the camp and dinner.
Overnight Safari
An overnight safari offers some unique opportunities. You can stay in a desert camp through the night. The overnight package has everything an Evening Safari has with the night’s stay in the desert.
Being far away from the city all through the night in itself is something you should experience. Everything here differs from a city: the sounds, the light, the wind, and the smell. The night sky can be seen in its full glory without external light. Pick out all the constellations and look at the heavenly Milky Way.
Private Safari
If you and your friends like the comfort of a car, go on a private safari. The price of the private safari is for the whole vehicle, not per head.
Private safari, but it is not a separate safari. A luxury safari is available for evening, morning, and overnight safaris. If you want, you can also buy the VIP seating in the desert camp, a luxurious seating where food and shisha will be served at your table.
Budget Safari
Yes. Sometimes, you will have to cut the costs a bit, or you will have too many people along for the trip to afford a premium safari. If so, this is your ideal go-to option. In a budget safari, the journey to the desert is on a bus compared to the abovementioned car. Other safari-goers will share the bus ride as well.
But the bus cannot drive in the desert, though. From a pick-up point near the desert camp, all of you will transfer into a four-wheel drive to the center. En route, there will be a short yet thrilling desert dune bashing. The drop-off to your location will be on a bus, too. Other than that, you get everything else.
Self-drive Safari
As the name implies, you drive yourself to the desert; however, not in the desert. The licensed safari driver will pick you up in a safari car near the camp from the point of pick-up mentioned above. After that, it’s pretty much the same as a budget safari.
But this option gives you the freedom to come at your will. The only condition is that you reach the pick-up at the scheduled time.
Hatta Mountain Safari
Hatta is an exclave of Dubai surrounded by the Sultanate of Oman. The terrain here includes tall and formidable mountains, which create picturesque valleys that are mostly dried up.
A Safari trip through these valleys uncovers secrets hidden within the rocks. The natural pools in the mountain depressions are too scenic to describe in words.
The mountain safari includes a dune-bashing ride in the red dunes on your way to Hatta.
Choosing the Best Safari Operator in Dubai
Almost as important as picking the right kind of safari package is selecting the best safari company to make your trip a long-lasting memory. All sorts of people will offer to take you to the desert: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Make sure to go through these points before booking your tour.
Better avoid freelancers
While not all freelancers are terrible, most of them are. So often, they do not deliver on their promises and will charge you more for the things you will never see.
Don’t go for the wholesalers.
Some agencies claim to provide safari tours, slice up their total booking, and source it out to freelancers and other safari providers. The downside of this is that you never know what you will get. It turns out to be a game of luck.
It will be astronomically better to go squarely to safari providers who operate their safari camps, vehicles, and drivers.
Choose a reputable company.
Operators must procure proper licenses from the government authority to conduct safaris legally. Make sure that the company you are opting for plays by the book. Check about the services and packages they provide.
Finally, safety is of the utmost importance. Safari vehicles should have safety features like roll bars, seat belts, and first aid.
How to book a safari?
Booking a safari trip is quite simple. Calling or chatting with the service provider will usually do the work. You will have to pay an initial amount to make the reservation. If the company offers secure card payments, that’ll be even better. You will receive your booking confirmation as soon as you make the payment.
The only thing remaining on your part is to show up at the scheduled time and location of the trip.
How much does a safari cost?
The cost of the safari depends on the package you choose. A typical safari price ranges anywhere from 100 AED to 300 AED. But some websites provide deal prices. With a bit of research, you can find the cheapest safari package.
Tips to make your safari exciting
- Don’t eat a heavy meal before the trip because the bumpy ride over the dunes can cause discomfort.
- The space inside the safari vehicle will be limited. Therefore, carry as little with you as you can.
- Try not to carry valuables and jewelry with you.
- If you have a weak stomach, are prone to motion sickness, or have back problems, opt for safari packages without desert dune-bashing.
- Always follow safety instructions from the guide.