Camel trek through UAE reaches half-way point

Dubai: It’s Tuesday afternoon in a camp in Al Fuq’, Al Ain, a sandy plain some 40 minutes from the Outlet Mall. More than a dozen camels are tethered a stone’s throw from the camp and their riders — their faces showing the effects of days of sun exposure — stretch out in the canopied majlis, sipping on qahwa and welcoming this moment of relaxation after traversing more than 40km of desert since dawn.

The group of 16, which includes two women, are of different nationalities. For most of them, the experience is the first of its kind. Five days and 250km into their trek, their endurance being sorely tested across dunes, flat terrains and roads, they are only halfway to their destination.

The camel trek, organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Heritage Centre (HHC), aims to introduce people to the charms of travelling long distances in the desert and the resourceful culture of bedouins. The 10-day trek, which covers a total of 500km, began on Friday, January 22, in Al Awir before venturing into desert areas in Sharjah, Al Ain and Dubai.

This is the second such expedition organised by the HHC. A training session is offered prior to undertaking the trek.

“The journey is as beautiful as it is tiring,” Mohammad Bin Taryam, leader of the convoy and a veteran explorer, told Gulf News. “The cooperation between the team is inspiring and everyone is doing their part. When you tire with a person for a unified goal, it creates a bond,” he said.

A typical day in this trek, Bin Taryam said, begins with the Fajr prayers, after which the participants gather around a fire to drink coffee and plan the day.

“Everyone plays an active role,” he added. “After the dawn prayers, you’ll see one person making the coffee, while another serves food. Everyone brings something to the table.”

Setting off after coffee and breakfast, the next break for the participants is at noon, when they halt for a light lunch, which mostly consists of fruit. “The trek is a great way to get healthy and fit,” said Bin Taryam.

He highlighted another important aspect of the trek — the awareness that you are not undertaking the adventure alone.

Bin Taryam, who identifies himself as a ‘man of the land’, said an experience such as this is sure to form a bond between a rider and his camel.

“It is important to know that you’re not doing the travel alone. It is important to be empathetic of your camel. We have about 19 camels travelling with us and when we notice they are getting tired, we disembark and walk for some five kilometres to relieve them of our weight.”

Bin Taryam said he is impressed with his team. “Though it is the first time they have tried something of this nature, they aren’t showing any signs of slowing down. Mashallah, their level of endurance and commitment is inspiring. I thank Shaikh Hamdan and the Centre for giving us this opportunity.”

Rasheenah Ahmad, Indian, a mother of two, said she was initially hesitant about taking part in the experience but finally decided to go for it.

“I learnt [of the camel trek] from a newspaper ad. My family was supportive, so was my office, giving me a 10-day break,” she said, “I’m glad I decided to do it. It’s increased my confidence and given me an insight into local heritage.”

The true challenge in the endeavour, she said, came from within.

“The experience has tested my patience and endurance,” Ahmad said. “To us, the terrain is unknown, so it calls for a certain kind of grit to persevere. We have the option of travelling in a vehicle if we are too tired to continue, but we have refused that option.”

Simple techniques like how to maintain the correct posture while riding and keeping the body relaxed to avoid aches and pains are being taught to them by Bin Taryam, she said.

Witnessing the changing colour of the sands besides the beauty of sunrises and sunsets has given her a profound appreciation of the desert, Ahmad said. Riding on a camel on the sands, she said, is very different from how you percieve the desert when you are driving through it.

Ahmad Al Qasmi, a Yemeni national who has traversed more than 40,000km across two continents on camelback believes such treks put him in touch with his inner self. “I’ve travelled through most of North Africa, from Ethiopia all the way down to South Africa, I’ve covered the Arabian Peninsula, South Asia and Southeast Asia, all on camelback,” he said.

It took a good portion of his life to travel these distances and satiate his wanderlust, “but I’ve learned about myself, seen the world in its magical glory and met some truly amazing people”, he says.

The 53-year-old, who works with the HHC believes, “We have one life, we decide how to live it. I started my journeys in the mid-90s. I wanted an experience that was truly mine, one that no one could take away from me.”

Mohammad Fansuri, a Malaysian IT professional, said the experience of riding a camel was quite different to riding a horse.

“I was under the impression it would be somewhat similar, I was wrong.”

Teamwork, Fansuri said, is key to ensuring the trek stays on course. “It isn’t like watching Lawrence of Arabia; you have to take an active part. You have to bond with the elements and the camel. I feed the camel, talk to it before we begin our day’s journey.”

Fansuri says participating in the trek has enhanced his confidence and self-esteem. “The most challenging part of the journey is when the sun is at its zenith. It beats down on you and shows you what you’re made of.”

French expat and restaurant manager, Charlotte Sarrazin, said the experience would be a couple’s ideal getaway.

“The setting is romantic,” she said. “It would be great to do this with a partner. It will make you learn more about each other.”

Charlotte, a former professional handball player who had to quit due to a knee injury, said she decided to take part in the trek to challenge herself.

She advised potential riders to be gentle and kind with their camels as they possess a good memory. “If you are mean to your camel, it will not cooperate. You need to trust your camel. They know what they are doing, so have them lead the path as they will always choose the easiest path.”

As the sun sets on the camp and the stars come out in a glory denied to them in city skies, the aroma of grilled lamb and kebabs tantalises the senses. Many of the newcomers have adopted the legendary hospitality of the bedouin and are ensuring that their guests’ plates are always full and that water is always within reach.

The cold creeps in and the bonfire valiantly pushes it back. Karak and qahwe do the rounds as some Emirati members of the group break into traditional songs. A few camels raise their heads in the direction of the song, before letting their long necks settle back on the cold sands. They need all the rest tonight because come sunrise, the journey begins again.

— The expedition is organised and supervised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre, with Emirati explorers Ahmad Al Qasimi and Mohammad Bin Taryam.