Sparkling natural streams, grass drenched in mist, wind blowing between the boulders, golden sun rays weaving through the hills and valleys – this all makes Masafi mountains one of the most unique and picturesque regions of the United Arab Emirates.
MOUNTAINS COVERED WITH GOLDEN GRASS
As I approach the valley between Masafi mountains, warm light begins to illuminate the fall colors of the grass moving with the wind — full range of yellow: from crimson to amber. Spectacular scenery of gorgeous sunset, with luxuriant vegetation, majestic mountains, stones of various shapes and sizes, singing birds and sun rays warming my face pleasantly.
There was quite a lot of rainfall this year. I would even say – more than usual. I guess, this is why the mountains got all dressed up with grass and lush greenery during winter. But is it quite surprising that the plants withstood the heat of summer, just changing color. Actually, I rarely came across the same landscape in previous years.
For comparison, you can see how the landscape of mountains drastically change during colder months of the year in the nearby Wadi Tayyibah.
UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY INSIDE MASAFI MOUNTAINS
The golden mountains of Masafi are a scenic area from Hajar Mountains range that I spotted once driving on the road from Dibba to Masafi. A week later I decided to explore that place a little bit more. After I made my research (as usual before every trip), studying Google Maps satellite, I did not find anything exceptional, other than just an amazing place for photography and an afternoon picnic. To my surprise, the reality was… somewhat different.
There are many little roads that will lead you inside the Masafi mountains. Some of them end in perfect hidden spots for camping (25.365665, 56.168222). If you plan to venture far from the main road inside the mountains, keep in mind that you will need 4×4 car. If you do not own one, you can park the car on the flat surface close to the road and walk a short distance to enjoy the mountain landscape.
I was already about to set up my picnic and relax until the sun goes down however I spotted a wide dirt road that seemed to be disappearing on the horizon. My explorer’s flair sparked and I decided to follow the trail and see where it goes. The road is still under construction, rough in many places and proper off-roading car would be needed. I kept driving for about 10 minutes until I reached a peaceful elevated area surrounded by silent Masafi mountains, far from the noise of the main road.
MASAFI VILLAGE AND FRIDAY MARKET
If you have heard about Masafi it is probably because of the mineral water that it is famous of. However there are many other things worth to mention, for example Masafi Fort or Friday Market (25.291754, 56.112985) – a great place to purchase local handicrafts, carpets, earthenware products, fruit and vegetable and many more. Despite the name, it is open every day of the week.
REMEMBER:
- Do not leave any garbage behind, including food. Even organic waste can take months to biodegrade and meanwhile it will attract animals. It may not only make them stop eating their natural food and rely on what humans leave behind but also it may make them sick. Additionally, have always a bag ready to collect trash left behind by other inconsiderate people – at the end you are saving the nature.
- Hike or camp over gravel and rocks. In some areas the vegetation can take years to grow back.
- Leave natural and historical items where you find them. Don’t move them or bring them home with you.
- Minimize cooking over campfire, use the stove instead – as less impact on the wilderness.
UAE OFF-ROADER GUIDE
If you are looking for more off-road trails to discover around United Arab Emirates, I can recommend this ultimate guide that is packed with many routes, giving very detailed information and answering all questions you could have about off-roading in the UAE.
You can get it from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UrKZdo
I hope you found this article about Masafi mountains helpful and it gave you an idea where to head to next weekend. Enjoy!
