First, we searched for mountain gazelles and were lucky to find two herds near the water area. There are water areas where water is refilled for wildlife. It was thrilling to see Gazelles jumping, running in the wild. I personally love these creatures, I find them so graceful! So I couldn’t help taking many photos of these desert beauties. Throughout the drive, we took many stops and our guide Oscar introduced us to many flora and fauna in the desert and fun facts about it.

Ushar (Top right), Fire Bush (Top Left), Sand Grass (Bottom 2)

Oscar showed us Sodoms Apple, called Ushar in Arabic. This is an evergreen shrub, it’s beautiful 5 petal flowers are white and dark purple. Milky sap is excreted when any part of the plant is broken. Gazelles eat them to regularize their digestion when they pass hard droppings!

The Firebush, Markh in Arabic Leptadenia pyrotechnica. It has small yellow flowers, these are used in Bedouin food. Its fibers are tough and do not rot in water, so are suitable to be spun into rope. It has been used in carpets since ancient times. Gazelles eat them to regularize their digestion when they pass hard droppings! The animals dig their resting place under the fire bush.

Ramram (Top right), Rimth, Ghaf Tree

Next, we stopped to see sand grass or dune grass called as Thenda in Arabic, Cyperus Conglomeratus. This grass the grown at the base of sand dunes. It may look dead or dried, but the roots go deep and the sand near the roots is wet. It comes under the sedge family. Sedges were once used to make sails, ropes, baskets, mats, and also fuel.

As we came near an area covered with numerous shrubs, we got down to check these interesting bushes. Rimth, Haloxylon Salicornicum is an aloe-like fleshy green shrub without leaves. It has many medicinal uses like curing ulcers, but the interesting fact is in the olden day’s ladies used these plants to make eyeliners.

Ramram, Heliotropium Kotschvi has rough branches covered with stiff white hair. Oscar told us traditionally this plant is boiled with meat to get rid of the strong odor.

Scorpion Burrow, Mushroom, Beetle shell

We learned many things about wildlife, their habits, and habitat; biodiversity in the desert. Some of the zones in DDCR are protected only for research, we came across one of them during our drive. I felt like transported to a remote location in this vast empty quarter where there is no trace of urban civilization! I am so glad, I finally decided to visit DDCR, after thinking about it for many years!
I am definitely going back there again, maybe to explore wildlife at night next time and to see all those animals, reptiles, camel spiders and snakes which I missed this time!