As in many other arid areas, reptiles in the UAE are represented by numerous different species. They are well suited to the climatic conditions in that they need very little water, are cold-blooded and don’t require food as often as mammals.

Some groups such as the skinks have adjusted particularly well. The Arabian sand skink and Wiegmann’s skink, for instance, can ‘swim’ in moving sand. Another species, the ocellated skink, is also found.

You’ll find the Sharjah Desert Park 28km from the centre of Sharjah, en route to Al Dhaid. It has three components spread over one square kilometre: the Natural History Museum, Arabian Wildlife Centre and the Children’s Farm.

The museum provides people of all ages with an opportunity to learn about the flora and fauna of the Arabian Desert and has five main exhibition halls: A Journey through Sharjah, Man and the Environment, A Journey through Time, The Living Desert and The Living Sea.

Mountain dwellers usually have separate summer and winter living quarters, which vary in their layout and building materials. Summer quarters are located at a higher elevation to catch any prevailing winds. The dwellings are more spread out and the rooms are more open to allow air inside. In contrast, winter houses are placed closer to each other and are built with denser, more solid material.

The village of Mizra’a is home to Salim bin Ka’ab, his wife Miryam and their four sons. Their daughters-in-law and many grandchildren can also be seen carrying out their daily duties. The family is so large that, to the first—time visitor, it may seem to be more than just one family.

Now in their newly- built home, the bin Ka’ab clan enjoys modern facilities such as a generator for electricity. The framed photo of HM Sultan Qaboos on the wall is a reminder that you’re in Oman.

Campers should learn to read the landscape and terrain for warning signs. In the rainy season camp-sites must be chosen with care, away from wadi beds or narrow gorges with a history of flooding. Check the site to see what type of ground you’re on. A steep wadi with large boulders and rocks in the ground indicates a flood path.

Also, don’t be fooled by clear skies above you. There could always be a flood on its way, caused by heavy rainfall on the mountain tops just a few kilometres away. Sadly, in one recent incident in the Hatta area, a number of schoolchildren lost their lives when their vehicle was washed away in a flash flood.