- Address: 8th St - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
- Phone: +971 2 445 4777
- Website: ead.ae
- Opening hours: every day from 10:00 to 00:00
A unique nature reserve, consisting of mangroves, is located in the eastern lagoon. It is the first of 5 nature conservation parks, the creation of which is planned in Abu Dhabi by 2030. Being among the endless deserts, this green oasis has sheltered a lot of fish, animals and birds. It is very important for maintaining a balance in the environment and is carefully protected by the state.
Mangrove trees
Mangroves are evergreen trees, the main feature of which is the ability to grow in areas flooded with salt water by tides of the seas or oceans. They grow exclusively in a tropical climate on gentle coasts, in soils rich in sand, and salinity is preferred not strong, not more than 35 g / l.
Mangroves are able to absorb salt from water, after which it is isolated on the leaves as a white coating. Forests most of the time are covered by the sea, which leaves only at low tide. This creates a special ecosystem that is unique only to these territories.
Previously, trees were actively cut down for construction and tanning, but now the whole world is undergoing restoration of the thickets to preserve both the mangroves themselves and the animals living among them.
Excursions to the mangrove reserve in Abu Dhabi
Since mangroves grow right in the water, you can only navigate the reserve on boats, there is no hiking path there. In the park, separated from the mainland by a small strait, they start organized tours .
Any motor vehicles violate the silence and ecology in mangrove thickets, and they are completely banned here. Earlier tourists, in order to get acquainted with amazing animals and plants, had to row along the shore for a long time on kayaks. This walk was only available to trained and physically fit travelers. Now in the park there were rubber inflatable boats with an electric motor. They accommodate a group of 6 people, move quietly and do not pollute the environment. Thanks to them, all tourists, including travelers with children, can admire the local beauties.
Boats are rented, you can choose the time yourself: from half an hour and up to 3 hours. The cost of rent is quite affordable: half an hour - $ 55; 3 hours - $ 190.
Before the beginning of the excursion you will be given preliminary instruction on the management of the electric boat. It's so simple that you can sort it out in a few minutes. Boats are slow, and you can carefully consider all the animals and take pictures of them from the board without even stopping.
Flora and fauna of the mangrove reserve in Abu Dhabi
The reserve is interesting not only for its unique trees, but also for its inhabitants. Only here you can meet:
- a lot of species of fish living in salty shallow water;
- small multicolored crabs with shells of bright colors;
- large red crabs;
- a large number of turtles that will float right next to the boats;
- the most interesting inhabitants of the reserve are rare black herons;
- flocks of flamingos;
- Buried in the sand skates under the water;
- large octopus, shrimp and other representatives of marine animals.
How to get to the mangrove reserve in Abu Dhabi?
To get to the pier that goes to the boat park, you can take a taxi or a rented car 15 minutes from the Sheikh Zayed mosque and 10 minutes from the nearest airport Al Bateen Executive Airport.