Dune bashing in the desert

One of the many sand dunes on our desert safari

View more photos 

On my final full day in Dubai Ursh and I went on a desert safari. We got picked up in the afternoon in a 4 wheel drive by a company called Desert Rangers, and started the hour-or-so long drive into the desert. Its amazing how quickly the buildings disappear and you are surrounded by sand.

Eventually, we arrived at our destination, only 60km from Oman. After seeing the sand dunes and some quad bikes zipping around on them I started to get scared and got flashbacks to a jungle safari I did in Thailand, where I seriously thought I was going to die. We got into our 4 wheel drive again after a few photos, and along with 5 other cars made our way into the desert for some serious dune bashing. It seriously felt like I was on a roller coaster ride. We were speeding around on steep dunes and at crazy angles. Ursh will tell you I couldn't stop squealing.

Ursula and Elena taking a camel ride

View more photos 

We made our way to a massive sand dune and got out for some photos. It was here that this guy decided he would show off on his quad bike. He raced up to the dune at full speed, flew though the air, then hit the ground... but the bike flipped. He went flying through the air and rolled all the way down the hill, about 20m. He was lying still at the bottom of the hill and all our tour guides ran down after him. A car eventually came and picked him up, but he was definitely lucky to be alive. We got back into the 4WD but I have to say I really didn't want to after seeing this.

Next, we made our way to a camp where Ursh and I took a camel ride, got a henna tattoo, tried shisha (an apple flavoured water pipe), watched a belly dancer and had a really good Arabic meal with kebabs, dips, salads, bread and more.

Elena's henna tattoo

View more photos 

You definitely have to go on a desert safari if you go to Dubai!