Finding joy in the wilderness

Dubai-based group of adventurers explore UAE's picturesque terrain over the weekends, and everybody is welcome to join them. Jay B. Hilotin has the details

Try to gather several dozen 4x4s on a Thursday night or Friday morning and head off towards the faraway corners of the UAE. That may not sound like a fun way for most people to spend their weekends.

But members of Dubai Offroaders do get a thrill out of exploring the desert wilderness. Formed four winters ago by a group of outdoor enthusiasts, Dubai Offroaders today has grown to have 160 members. Though most of the members are Filipinos (80 per cent), the group also has other nationalities.

"We're a non-exclusive group that transcends colour or creed. We want to build bridges of understanding between different expatriate communities here," said Chris Fuentes, the group's founder.

Dubai Offroaders counts UAE nationals, Indians, Britons, Americans, Chinese, Egyptians and South Africans - their families included - as members. Membership is free, but requires some sense of humour and discipline - especially respect for the UAE laws and the environment.

"We are a civic action group," explains George Mandawe, a member of its core group, coming from the Illonggo region of the Philippines. Action happens in the desert dunes, the beach, mountains and wadis.

When they visit far-flung places armed with trashbags, the members carry out their self-proclaimed mission: help keep the desert and picnic spots clean.

They don't get paid to do volunteer work but their satisfaction comes from visiting the picturesque terrain.

"You can't see the natural beauty by hanging out in the malls each weekend," said Nelson Bauzon, an interior designer and intrepid off-roader.

Unbeknowst to many, UAE has many hidden natural wonders waiting to be discovered - waterfalls, streams, springs and deep natural pools.

"My favourite spot is the sand dunes... the thrill and excitement of driving through them enhances your driving skills," Bauzon added.

It does not matter which part of the UAE they end up in - along Dubai-Hatta Highway, the canyons of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah or Wadi Beh, near Dibba.

"Waraya (near Fujairah) has a very nice waterfall that beautifully descends from the mountainside. It has a natural pool beneath which is a magnet for swimmers," said Mandawe.

In Al Ain, the group has "discovered" a wonderful cave which has a three-level natural swimming pool. In Ras Al Khaimah, they delight going through a tight zig-zag road that goes up to the peak of Siji.

These are the kind of areas tromped by weekend holidaymakers, leaving behind plastic bags and other debris, said Fuentes.

Dubai Offroaders' members are not just fair-weather friends. They go out on clean-up trips even when the mercury hovers around 50? Celsius.

During cooler climes, more families join in. Up to 40 cars camp out in the desert on Thursday nights and drive off on a pre-set route at the crack of dawn the next day.

Before a trip starts, each member is assigned to bring necessities: food, camping sets, navigation equipment and - not to forget - karaoke gear for the night camping. For insect bites or accidents, the group makes sure they bring first-aid kits.

As the trip progresses following the lead car, the other, more experienced members run back and forth to give a helping hand in case someone gets into trouble.

Fortunately, no untoward incident has happened except for the usual scene - cars getting stuck in the sand dunes which have to be towed out. There was one incident when one car had a burnt clutch. Another car towed it all the way to the workshop.

Part of the activity after arriving at an agreed-upon destination, is for members to pick up plastics, cans, bottles and collect them for proper disposal later.

Experienced members also teach newcomers a few tricks on off-road and dune driving, said Bauzon, who has been in Dubai for 20 years. "We share practical tips with newcomers on the basic four-wheel-drive functions and to enhance their driving skills," he added.

But more than the combined muscle power of their vehicles, the weekend activities are very much a family affair. As most of the group's members are families, activities provide wholesome fun for kids.

"Our youngest off-roader is a three-month-old baby," said Fuentes.

"If you have a four-wheel-drive and don't take it offroad for fear that it may break down, you're not making good use of it," Fuentes argued.

It is not true, said Mandawe, a mechanic, that dune bashing can damage a 4x4 vehicle more than driving on the pavement. "That really depends on the driver. There are techniques involved and we teach dune driving neophytes who join us."

"If you think about it, tourists pay a lot of money to come to Dubai to see the desert for themselves. We might as well make the most out of our stay here and enjoy the desert terrain," said Mandawe.

Unlike other hobbyist groups, Dubai Offroaders has no strict organisation structure. There are just old and new members who fiddle with global position system (GPS), map-reading and two-way radio to make sure nobody's left out.

"Before I joined Dubai Offroaders, I thought the dune bashers are plain crazy, roughing up their expensive four wheelers in the desert. On my first day out with the group, I was excited but anxious that I may damage my Land Cruiser. But since my initial fears have been cleared up, my weekends have never been the same," said Bauzon.

At the end of their trips, they sometimes visit safari camps of tour operators for refreshments, meals and entertainment before driving back home and planning for the next trip.