The majority of Tourists who visit Wadi Rum very rarely get to see most of the desert creatures or see very few. Reason being these creatures are nocturnal and avoid the daytime sun and many of the larger creatures their numbers are very low and gradually declining. However, you are likely to encounter a variety of interesting birds, insects and reptiles if a little time is spent to look carefully.

Trees are rare in Rum and are restricted to only three types. They are Acacias, False Figs and Tamarisks. The Acacias are the most typically desert-looking tree they have flat tops, spiny and sparse branches. The plants you will see most often are short, woody shrubs scattered across the desert, which consist of four main species.

The “White Saxaul” has a stout rugged stem and grey bark growing up to (4.5-5) metres in height. It lacks large foliage type leaves in fact it‘s leaves have retrogressed as succulent branches. You will find this plant is often found in sand hills, deserts and sand ridges, where it often forms pure stands. It is a hardy tree that grows in nutritionally poor soil and tolerates drought.

This tree is in leaf all year and flowers in (May-June). The plant’s extensive root-system is useful for stabilising sandy soils. The wood is durable and heavy, it is used in general carpentry and also used as fuel it gives off good heat and burns well. These shrub types including “Jointed Anabasis” and “Hammada Salicornia provide and important food source for Bedouin goats and camels, especially in the summer months. At the best of times these animals usually enjoy the smaller succulent desert plants to feed on.

Surprisingly the sparse desert scrub harbours a variety of small birds. The most common of these is the buff coloured “Desert Lark”, but the more distinctive and most common are the black and white “Mourning Wheatear” and the “White Crowned Black Wheatear”, both of which have very striking colour patterns.

During the Summer months and wheeling across the desert scrubs and along the cliffs you are likely to see “African Rock Martins”. As well as these you may see passing flocks of “Tristrams’ Grackle”, which are members of the Starling family. The are native to the region and nest on rocky cliff faces, they measure about (25cm) long which includes a (9cm tail) with a wingspan of (45cm) and weight of (100-140g). The males have glossy iridescent black plumage with patches on the outer wing, that you can notice easily while in flight, the bill and legs are black. The females are similar but much duller, with greyish head and don’t share the glossy plumage. They are very noisy with calls that resemble a wolf-like whistle, and feed on fruit and invertebrates.

In early Spring and Autumn, Rum becomes an important flyway for birds migrating between Africa and Eastern Europe, especially for birds of prey, like “Steppe Buzzards“, “Honey Buzzards” and “Steppe Eagles“. During these months it is possible for you to see hundreds of these birds migrating in a single day.

There are Reptiles that are widespread in Rum, but do not exist in high numbers. This may be considered very fortunate by some visitors, since there are ten species of snake, two of which are very poisonous vipers. The classic sidewinder which movements leaves “S” shaped tracks indented in the sands and “Burton’s Carpet Viper”. It should be stressed, however, that bites from these snakes (or any snakes) are extremely rare; the vast majority of visitors never see them.

The reptiles most likely to be seen are Lizards, and especially Geckos and Agamas. The Blue Agama is comparatively large, growing up to (35cm) and can be seen basking on rocks or hiding in the crevices. The males in breeding condition develop an exotic blue head and upper body, which is very noticeable.

Down on the sand, one common small creature is a “Black Beetle” with very long legs and frequently seen crossing areas of open sand during the daytime, where it tiptoes to keep its body off the hot ground. Other kinds of invertebrates (insects, spiders and their allies) have different strategies for keeping cool, such as making burrows and hiding under stones.

One group of famous animals that can be found frequently under stones in Rum are Scorpions. A total of eight kinds have been recorded so far, from large brown ones to small yellow ones. It is the small, yellow ones that give the most painful sting, although like snakes, very few visitors see them and ever get stung.
Also common in Rum are small furry animals, especially the mouse-like gerbils, with their long back legs. They are active only at night and few visitors get a chance to see them, but their burrows are easy to spot and they make distinctive tracks across the sand.

Help Protect Wadi Rum Ecology

Wadi Rum is a very beautiful and special place, at the moment it is facing some challenging environmental problems. The growing pressure from visitors, and especially from off-road vehicles, is damaging the fragile desert ecology. There is also a problem of littering and the loss of wildlife through illegal hunting in this region.

A major conservation programme is underway to tackle these problems, including zoning schemes, organized vehicle routes, better tourist information and the creation of a team of conservation rangers to patrol the area. At the same time we need the help of all visitors to make our efforts to protect Wadi Rum successful.

If you are planning to visit this unique protected area, please follow the Rules and Regulations. Please do your utmost to respect the site in protecting nature and its people. The area was not declared a Protected Area just to conserve the landscapes and wildlife, but also to give local communities new opportunities too.

This is being done in three main ways:

The Entrance fees are shared with the local communities. A proportion of each visitor's entrance charge is given directly to local tourism cooperatives.

Appropriate tourism development is being supported throughout the protected area, tied to protection measures that try to minimize the harmful effects of visitor pressure.Small craft and souvenir businesses are being developed with Bedouin women to generate more economic benefits from the protected area.

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