Jordan's Eastern Badia Trail Explore Desert Life Archaeology Biodiversity Ecology Geology
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Jordan's Eastern Badia Trail Explore Desert Life Archaeology Biodiversity Ecology Geology wildjordan.com Table of Contents About Jordan’s Eastern Badia Trail (JEBT) Between Established and Proposed Reserves The Badia and the Desert Wildlife Birds JEBT Attractions Where to Stay Trails The Royal Society for the Black and White Trail Conservation of Nature Bedouins Trail Burqu Trail Created in 1966 under the patronage of His Badia Stories Trail Majesty the late King Hussein, The Royal Society Birds Trail for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) is a non-governmental organization devoted to the Trails Routes conservation of Jordan’s natural environment. Activities Schedule JEBT Trails Map Wild Jordan Bedouin Life Wild Jordan is a registered trademark of The Royal What to Bring Society for the Conservation of Nature. Safety Wild Jordan’s revenue contributes to the sustainability Things to Take into Consideration of RSCN’s protected areas and supports the socio Weather economic development of local communities. How to Get There Rules and Regulations Trail Highlights Where in Jordan? • 4x4 off-roading • 10 attractions • 2 nature reserves and 1 proposed reserve • 100% local community employment • Best time to visit: Birds migration in autumn (September & October). Birds breeding season in spring (March & April) • Different desert ecosystems • Seasonal and customized desert activities and trails • Camping and lodging • People, landscape, history, wildlife, stories • Day and overnight trips • 7 Important Bird Areas • Bedouin experience • Proximity to Amman Trail Area About Jordan’s Eastern Badia Trail (JEBT) Jordan’s Eastern Badia Trail (JEBT) follows Between Established and the footsteps of nomadic Arab Bedouins across a seasonal, ever-changing, natural Proposed Reserves desert landscape that connects areas rich with ancient history, tradition, culture, archaeology, geology, flora and fauna. The trail starts in Azraq, home to different desert ecosystems like the Black Lava Desert (known locally as Harrat Al-Sham), sand dunes and Hammad, and links Azraq Wetland Reserve and Shaumari Wildlife Reserve with the proposed Burqu reserve, leading you from the gateway to the heart of the Jordanian Eastern Badia. Azraq Wetland Reserve The Eastern Badia’s first trail is the ultimate Azraq, meaning blue in Arabic, is one of Jordan’s off-road adventure, allowing exploration most significant ancient desert locations. The area by 4x4 vehicles, hiking, birdwatching and is a melting pot of different cultures, home to the camel riding. The trail passes through Bedouin, Arab Druze and Chechens, it is also a nature reserves, to remind us of the major station for migratory birds on the African- importance of conserving our heritage Eurasian flyway, distinguished by lush marshland and how everything is connected in the and natural water collections. circle of life. In keeping with the nomadic Bedouin way of life, the trail changes with In recent decades, the wetlands have suffered the seasons, ensuring minimal impact from over pumping of water from the Azraq Basin. to nature, and giving the desert time to Water levels dropped and invaluable wetlands were replenish and flourish. depleted. In 1978, RSCN established Azraq Wetland Reserve to conserve this unique oasis; rescue efforts Only an hour and half drive from the have restored a significant portion of the wetland. capital Amman, JEBT tells the tale of Boardwalks and bird hides enable you to safely Jordan’s desert legacy, as seen in the observe them. In 2016, RSCN rehabilitated 10% of names of its places, its fossils and even the former oasis, and has doubled the water surface in the inscriptions carved by ancient area of the wetland that is 12km². people into its rocks. The trail showcases the Badia’s contradictions: its wadis and mountains; deserts that are both black and white, sandy and stony and the harsh dry summers and lively, colorful springs. Burqu Proposed Nature Reserve Shaumari Wildlife Reserve Some stories say that Burqu was named after its local castle, Qasr Burqu. Others say that it was named after the hood used to cover birds of prey’s The reserve was established in 1975 as a breeding faces (mainly falcons). The site is located in the far center for endangered or locally extinct wildlife. northeastern desert and is considered an Important Today, this small 22 km² reserve - comprising two Bird Area. main topographic features - desert wadis and hammada areas - is a thriving protected environment RSCN proposes to establish the area as a natural for some of the region’s rarest species. Oryx, onagers reserve to conserve the Eastern Badia’s unique land and gazelles are rebuilding their populations, types: Hammad and the Black Lava Desert, and protected from the hunting and habitat destruction its wild flora and fauna including several species of that nearly wiped them out. The reserve has a national and global importance. Attractions include visitor’s center, picnic area, Oryx Safari and family birdwatching, stargazing, hiking and fascinating friendly viewing areas to observe the animals. geology and archaeology locations. Levant Fan-footed Gecko Ptyodactylus puiseuxi Wildlife The area is rich in the biodiversity of its flora and fauna, with considerable vegetation cover supporting the preservation of several threatened species. The Badia owes its diversity to the great variety of habitats ranging from sand dunes and Harra, to Hammad and wetlands. Desert wildlife such as rodents, snakes and reptiles owe their dark camouflage to the surrounding environment. Over 200 plant species - both rare and endemic-were recorded in Burqu including 35 medicinal species. Due to the lack of water, much of the vegetation The Badia and the Desert grows salty and small in size. White Saksoul, for example, ranges in size from a large shrub to a small In the same way that there are different kinds of tree and is used as a source of wood by the Bedouins, forests, there are also different kinds of deserts. in addition to acting as a natural soil anchor. To many, the word desert conjures up an image of undulating sand dunes. The Badia’s fauna is quite rich and includes 42% of Jordan’s known mammals. Local mammals include Badia is derived from Al Bidaya, the Arabic word the Sand Cat (globally near-threatened), as well as for ‘the start’. It represents a feminine word the Caracal, Sand Fox and Arabian Wolf, which are meaning the beginning, reproduction, birth and nationally threatened. rebirth. Thus, the Badia is the beginning of things. In Arabic, the Badia relates to both the desert and A total of 49 species of amphibians and reptiles have its people. It is a combination of desert and village also been reported, representing half of the country’s life, where Bedouins live a partially nomadic and known species. These include the Schmidt’s Whip partially pastoral existence. Snake and the Black Lava Desert Agama. Black Desert Lark Birds Jordan’s Eastern Badia hosts one of the world’s most important migration flyways. Over 307 bird species have been reported in the area, 73% of those recorded in Jordan. Around 87% of recorded species are migrants, many holding considerable conservation status. Local bird species have adapted to their natural surroundings, thus they are usually dark in color for camouflage and small in size due to the lack of water and food resources. They are also fast, as the open spaces of the desert mean there are few places to hide, and they are always under threat from predators or hunters. In Azraq Wetland Reserve, passage migration and desert species can be spotted including the Honey Buzzard, Rufous-tailed scrub robin, Crane and the introduced White-cheeked Bulbul. In Shaumari, look out for the Eastern Imperial Eagle, Temminck’s Horned Lark and Eagle owl. In Burqu, 120 bird species were recorded, three of which are globally threatened. The Basalt Wheatear, Desert Lark (dark morph) and Sandgrouse can be spotted among many others. Unsustainable hunting practices and habitat degradation in the Eastern Badia are the biggest threats to bird species, with the Saker and Peregrine Falcons and Houbara Bustard under significant threat. * Check the Birds Trail to explore bird life of the Eastern Badia, and observe local, migratory and occasional rare bird species close at hand. Azraq Castle E: 36.82754699 N: 31.88026428 Qasr Azraq, which was originally three storeys high, was built by the Romans around 300 CE as an eastern military outpost of the Province of Arabia, using local black basalt rock. It was used by Byzantines and Umayyads for hunting and as a military base before being redesigned by Mamluks in 1237 CE. Its strategic value lies in its location in the middle of the Azraq oasis, the only permanent source of fresh water in 12,000 km² of desert. JEBT Wadi Al Dahik Attractions E: 37.11855752 N: 31.57674583 Al Dahik is an ideal viewpoint, within a The Eastern Badia is marked by different landscapes safe viewing experience that minimizes and significant geological formations such as environmental impact, to see significant the Basalt Plateau, sand dunes, mudflats, white geological formations of white chalk chalk cliffs and valleys, wadis and natural ponds cliffs and stunning landscapes. (ghadeers) as well as its unique desert flora. The area’s attractions include fascinating historical, Wadi Al Dahik is named after the Arabic word al dahik geological and archaeological sites. Discover that means a person who smiles, for its resemblance to a ancient stories of human interaction with nature wide smile of white chalky teeth against the backdrop of and learn how we are all connected in the circle of the Black Desert. Al Dahik shows evidence of an ancient life. Enjoy fantastic birdwatching, hiking, camping, sea; 55 million years ago this area was covered by Tethys camel riding, sheep herding and stargazing. Ocean.