AZRAQ WETLAND RESERVE

What was once a gigantic oasis is no more. It became the main source of water supply for the country's capital and northern cities, and the level of its water tables and marshes has dropped considerably in recent years. The oasis was once home to a vast bird sanctuary with over 280 species of birds. An endemic species of fish populates the ponds: the cynobelia of Azraq. Due to this upheaval, migratory birds have changed their itinerary and many now take refuge in Lake Tiberias, further northwest, on the borders of Lebanon, Syria and Israel. In 1967, a count counted 347,000 birds. In 2000, there were only 1,200 at the same time of year. A 12 km2 reserve, managed by the RSCN, was created to protect what remains. In 1993, the oasis was replenished with water and species were reintroduced. The effects are still minimal and deep pumping continues, not to mention the wild and illegal wells dug by the inhabitants. Only 10% of the oasis has been saved. The Azraq Nature Reserve is nonetheless a pleasant and original stopover in the middle of these desert expanses. The RSCN has gone to great lengths to diversify the activities around the reserve and include the surrounding populations. In addition to hiking trails and bird watching, tours are organized in the surrounding area to meet with local people and visit some of the historical sites left out of the traditional itineraries.

The Visitor Center is open at the same hours as the Reserve. It is here that you can organize your excursions, reserve the services of a guide or pay your entrance fee to the Reserve.

Observable species. Birds from Anatolia, Siberia, Scandinavia or Africa continue to stop for a few months in the Azraq Reserve. We can observe desert sirlis, Cetti's warblers, desert bullfinches, marsh harriers, warblers, avocets, small gravelots or minute sandpipers.

Hiking. Two observation trails have been developed in the Azraq Nature Reserve allowing you to hike while admiring the local wildlife. The 30-minute Marsh Trail winds through the wet and dry areas and leads to an observation platform above the artesian wells that recharged the marshes. Continuing the loop, you pass a basalt wall from the Umayyad period and can stop at a lookout hut. The Water Buffalo Trail takes you in search of buffalo with a guide from the Reserve. It takes 3.5 kilometers and 2 hours of walking on easy terrain. Guide required.

Biking. The RSCN organizes two cycling tours from Azraq Lodge. The Mudflat Cycling Trail follows a 12 kilometer route with little difficulty and lasts 2 to 3 hours. The goal of this tour is to reach Qa'a, a dried mud lake at the gateway to the eastern desert. On the way, the guide will give you explanations about the typical environment of the oasis, its history and the local tribes. Guide required. TheAzraq Village Cycling Trail allows you to ride around the area for 22 kilometers and 4 to 5 hours. It is a continuation of the Muflat Trail and includes visits to an old Druze village, Qasr al-Shaer and Qasr al-Azraq. Guide required.

Bus. The RSCN organizes two minibus tours departing from Azraq Lodge. TheAzraq Bus Tour lasts 2 to 3 hours and is a 7 kilometer circuit. You will have to walk 2 kilometers on easy terrain. It includes a visit to Qasr al-Azraq, a Druze village and Ain es-Sil, a farm from the Umayyad period. TheUsaykhim Bus Tour covers a distance of 40 kilometers and takes 5 to 6 hours. You will have to walk 5 kilometers on easy to moderate terrain. The minibus will take you to Wadi Usaykhim, where you can admire some very old inscriptions. You will then climb to the top of the mountain to visit the fortress of Usaykhim, which marked the northernmost point of the Roman Arabian Province.

Cultural Activities. If you are staying at Azraq Lodge, the RSCN can arrange for a Druze folkloric show with traditional songs and dances. The Druze are a small community in Jordan, numbering only 1 million worldwide. They have played an important role in Levantine history and are known for their esoteric and impenetrable spirituality. Open-air cinema sessions are organized, showing films and documentaries with nature as the main theme. Other activities can be arranged with the Bedouin community in the area. You can learn the subtleties of Turkish coffee, try to bake your own "arbood" bread on the coals, try your hand at milking goats, have a traditional mansaf... The RSCN has also concocted a program allowing you to meet the Chechen community settled in the surroundings. You will be able to put on the heavy traditional costume, including the goat hair chapka, totally inappropriate in these latitudes. The meeting with the Bedouin and Chechen communities is done by bike. Guide required.