Early in 2002, a small herd of captive bred Arabian Oryx are transported to a special enclosure in Wadi Rum, as part of a long term plan to release them into the protected area. Oryx are known from living memory to have roamed throughout the area and they are depicted in ancient rock drawings. This […]
Wadi Rum is a protected area covering 720 square kilometers of dramatic desert wilderness in the south of Jordan. Huge mountains of sandstone and granite emerge, sheer-sided, from wide sandy valleys to reach heights of 1700 meters and more. Narrow canyons and fissures cut deep into the mountains and many conceal ancient rock drawings etched […]
About Wadi Rum A Brief History How to get there Other protected areas in Jordan Local people Local tourism services Protecting Wadi Rum Conservation projects Management authority Protecting nature protects us all Rules and regulations Zoning scheme Things to see and do Adventure seekers Fees and charges Places to stay Safety in the desert Sites […]
More information on Wadi Rum and the activities and facilities available to visitors can be obtained through the contacts listed below. Bookings should be made through travel agents or tour operators in your own country or in Jordan. The library also contains references giving detailed information about the physical, ecological and archaeological interests of Wadi […]
The Wadi Rum Protected Area was set-up, not just to conserve landscapes and wildlife, but also to give local communities new opportunities to benefit from the protection of nature. This is being done in three main ways: Entrance fees are shared with local communities. A proportion of each visitor’s entrance charge is given directly to […]
Wadi Rum Protected Area is managed by a local area management, under the umbrella of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA). There is an on-site management team of 52 people (June 2005), operating out of the visitor centre, most of whom have been recruited from local communities. This team includes a Site Manager and […]
There are many conservation projects underway in the protected area to try and safeguard its unique landscape and ecology and to raise awareness among local people and visitors alike Ecological surveys have been carried out and are being used to monitor the populations of endangered animals like the Gray Wolf and Nubian Ibex. Ranger patrols […]
There are special by-laws and codes of behavior to support the conservation efforts in Wadi Rum. The most important of these for visitors are summarized below: Drive your vehicle only on the designated tracks (or encourage your driver to do so). Protect all nature: no hunting or collecting of plants, animals, rocks, artifacts or firewood. […]
Visitors to Wadi Rum usually see very few animals because most desert creatures are nocturnal, to avoid the daytime sun, and many of the larger ones are now reduced to very low numbers. However, if you take the time to look carefully, you are likely to encounter a number of interesting birds, insects and reptiles […]
The Bedouins of Wadi Rum are at the heart of local tourism services. They provide tours, guides and facilities, including campsites. They also run restaurants and small shops in the villages that provide meals and basic supplies for visitors. Their guide services include highly experienced mountain and trekking guides who have an unmatched knowledge of […]
