Camping in Riyadh (?)
One of the more interesting activities for those who enjoythe outdoors (or can tolerate it) involves camping out in the desert. A while back I went with a group to a large farm owned by a prince, located only an hour’s drive from center of Riyadh. The land is mostly desert but there is a date farm, a restaurant, and an old-fashioned Saudi palace. For 300 riyals each, it was an experience I can recommend anybody to try.
We stayed in tents overnight, in a permanent campsite set up by the owners. That includes bathrooms and air conditioned tents for those wondering. Turned out to be one of the better nights of sleep I’ve had in a while.
The excursion included a meal at the ‘restaurant’ located on the farm (buffet catered in by a local Pakistani joint). However, the highlight was definitely the ATVs that were available for us all to use. They went fast and made for good racing, but were worse for the wear and much too small to safely carry an adult. Needless to say there was at least one injury.
Next desert safari I hope to take some sand-buggies out on the dunes or race some camels. Anything’s possible!
