Wadi Rum in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is like no other place on earth, more like a place one would expect on outer planets. Wadi Rum is an Arabic word meaning valley of sand. It is also called the Valley of the Moon. The landscape is brownish-red, with grotesque jutting rocks made up of sandstones and granites. The elements and the buffeting of harsh weather, for thousands of years, have carved out outlandish huge jutting hills and mountains all around, a kind of bizarre artwork. These are artworks that only the immortal could carve.
Arriving at Wadi Rum at night, like this writer, tourists could be excused for believing Wadi Rum was out of the earth. The night weather was very cold, the surroundings were dark, and outlandish huge images seemed to be present anywhere one turned. The only light came from the blurry tents. Above, the sky had never been clearer. There was no wisp of cloud. The stars were clear, and as close as if one could just stretch forth one’s hand and grasp them. They were that close and real! However, the huge rock formations all around cast a dark shadow all over the place.
Here in the wilderness of Wadi Rum, there are no conventional accommodation facilities. However, there are luxury tents built with thick clothes fabric, and glasses. It gives a feeling of being in the Land of the Lost. The reason for these makeshift tents that could easily be folded up must be to protect the environment, and not to distort the pristine nature of the wilderness.
We arrived at the Wadi Rum as part of a team from Nigeria invited by the Jordan Tourism Board to tour the country. The abode for the night was in the heart of the Wadi Rum desert, Zeina Luxury Lodge. One should not expect any luxury in the real sense of the word. It was the basic comfort and a nice bed to pass the night. Other accommodation facilities at Wadi Rum include Wadi Rum UFO Luxotel, Wadi Rum Desert Camp, Valley Resort Wadi Rum, and many others. The cheapest accommodation is about N65,000.
The night was uneventful except for the chilling cold. The duvet did little to help. For those visiting Wadi Rum, it is important not to be deceived by the daytime’s extremely hot weather. At night, the chilling cold can be unbearable. The cold made sleeping a little uncomfortable.
The morning sun came out quite early, lighting the wilderness in sparkling yellow. It was time to leave, but not without a tour of the Wadi Rum desert on an open four-by-four pickup van. It was a bumpy but exciting ride through the desert, soaking up the ethereal scenery and feeling very small in the face of the magnificence of nature. The tour was for nearly three hours with a stop at a camp deep inside the desert. Here tourists had opportunities to buy souvenirs and refresh themselves.
Tour of Wadi Rum usually starts early in the morning when the weather is mild, but as the day progresses, the heat in Wadi Rum becomes very unbearable and it is difficult to tour under such harsh weather.
Among the stops was Siq Um Tawaqi, said to be a place where Lawrence of Arabia (T.E. Lawrence) washed during the Arab Revolt. T.E. Lawrence was a British army officer and an archeologist who worked with the Arabs during the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century. He is a folk hero among the Arabs, most especially in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as he not only helped in the war to overthrow the Othman occupiers but also assimilated into the Arabian culture.
Aside from riding through the wild landscape of Wadi Rum, there is also the opportunity for rock climbing to bask in the beautiful landscape.
Wadi Rum is located far south of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It is a popular tourist destination that attracts thousands of traffic annually.
It lies in the far south Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, east of the Rift Valley. It is about 220 miles from the Dead Sea area.
It was officially protected, as far back as 1997, as Wadi Rum Protected Area, which is made up of 74,200 hectares (about 183,352 acres).
The blood-reddish brown sands and the surreal sandstone mountains made it look like the planet Mars-like landscape and environment, making you truly feel like you are stepping foot on another planet, though you are right here on earth.
For so many years, Wadi Rum, like the Petra (also in Jordan) has been a favorite for Hollywood to film movies that have to do with Mars. Hollywood films like The Martian (2015), The Last Days on Mars (2013), Red Planet (2000), Mission to Mars (2000), and others have been shot there.
Visiting Wadi Rum is a voyage through the geological history of the earth. According to experts, many of the topographical features of Wadi Rum are older than the Dead Sea Rift that forms the western border of Jordan.
The village of Rum is located one mile above sea level, and the surrounding area protected. It is regarded as Jordan Jordan’s highest point, Jabal Umm ad Dami (6,083 feet). Hikers engage in climbing the hills and other popular activities. Other high points in Wadi Rum include the monolithic ridge of Jabal Ramm (5,689 feet) and the pillared prominence of Jabal Qatar (5,271 feet).
Over 20, 000 images, designs or messages carved or drawn on rock by prehistoric people (petroglyphs) have been found and documented in Wadi Rum. These petroglyphic writings trace human existence to some 12,000 years ago.
Wadi Rum is so big that it covers an area of 74,200 hectares (about 183,352 acres). It takes so many days to fully explore. It is a wonderful place to explore for an adventure tour.
The tour ended when the sun’s heat started becoming intense. The tour headed back to our camp for the next destination in the itinerary.