Firstly, a caveat – my family and I are not campers. Hiking? Yes, we enjoy that. But anything overnight? No. We don’t own a tent, gas stove, fold-out table, collapsible washing-up bowl, blow-up mattress, sleeping bag or those torches strapped to your head.
We do, however, own reusable water bottles, closed-toed shoes and a sense of adventure, which made us ripe for a visit to the Sand Sherpa camp in Dubai, which is designed as much for the inexperienced as it is for the seasoned professional.
Taking advantage of the cool December weather, my husband, our three sons aged 13, 10 and seven, and I headed out to the camp to brush up on our skills and learn more about the desert that surrounds us.
Having made its home in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Sherpa camp is dedicated to offering an immersive desert experience through which guests can connect with nature, spend time together free of technology distractions (the internet is patchy at best, non-existent at worst), spot desert wildlife and experience aspects of Bedouin culture.
Experience the desert as it used to be
Guests can opt to drive their own 4x4 to the camp, with guides on hand to deflate tyres for desert driving (and reinflate them when you leave). Or they can swap into one of the ex-British military vehicles designed to traverse the landscape. We chose to travel in the open-sided jeeps, enjoying a guided tour and wildlife on the way.
Open-sided jeeps are used for
Continue Reading on The National UAE
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.