Distance by Road: 200 km south of Amman - 50 km north of Petra.
The Dana Reserve is a system of mountains and wadis, extending from the top of the eastern Rift Valley to desert lowlands of Wadi Araba, an elevation drop of over 1600 meters. Dana has one of the most beautiful and unspoiled mountain landscapes in Jordan, and a spectacular village perched on the edge of a deep and precipitous gorge, reminiscent of the Grand Canyon. It is rich in wildlife and one of the best places to watch birds, especially during Spring and Autumn migrations.

The total number of species recorded so far consists of 690 plants, of which 3 are new to science, and 449 animals. Many of these are now very rare and some threatened with extinction: animals like the sand cat, the Syrian wolf , the lesser kestrel and the spiny tailed lizard. So far , 25 endangered or vulnerable animals have been found in the reserve , making it truly a place of world importance.

Apart from its wildlife, Dana is also rich in archaeology and culture. About 100 archaeological sites have been identified, of which the ancient copper mines in Wadi Feinan are particularly special, being considered the most important archaeological complex in southern Jordan outside of Petra

The Tour: There is a wide variety of hiking trails, from short easy trails, one-hour circuits to day-hikes requiring an overnight stop. All trails offer spectacular views and rock formations and some pass important archaeological sites, including the ancient copper mining centre of Feinan (Check Dana Hiking Trails)

Accommodations
Dana Guest House This stone-built guest house lies hundreds of meters above the edge of Wadi Dana, offering breath-taking views of the reserve.
Campsites There are two campsites in the reserve, one in the high lands near the eastern edge called Rummana, and one in the lowlands near the western edge called Feinan. Rummana camp opens from March 1st to October 31st , Fienan camp opens all the year round.

Mujeb
Distance by Road: 100km from Amman. Half way down the Eastern shore of the Dead Sea.

Mujib is one of Jordan’s most dramatic but least known places, consisting of rugged sandstone mountains cut into deep ravines by clean, flowing rivers. Its beauty is further enhanced by its location alongside the Dead Sea, giving a deep blue/green backdrop to its colorful mountains.

The deeply cut sandstone mountains of the Mujib Reserve span an elevation drop of over 1,200 meters: from 900 m above sea level to 400m below sea level - the lowest ground level on Earth. Because of this dramatic change in altitude and the presence of several flowing rivers, it has many different habitats, supporting a wide variety of plants and animals .

One of the most important animals in Mujib is the Nubian ibex, a large mountain goat which became threatened as a result of over-hunting. RSCN established a captive-breeding centre in the Reserve in 1989 and the initial group of 20 ibex has multiplied to over 100 animals. Over 30 of these animals have been successfully returned to the wild.

Mujib is also well known for large carnivores like the regionally scarce striped hyena and Syrian wolf, and for many kinds of birds. Among the important birds are the lesser kestrel, imperial eagle, Bonelli`s eagle and griffon vulture, all of which are declining in numbers throughout the world. As well as resident birds, the reserve is strategically important as a safe stop-over for the huge number of birds which fly annually along the rift valley between Africa and northeast Europe.

The Tour: The most exciting attraction of Mujib is the adventure tour along the river, which takes hikers through deep canyons and pools where they can swim and enjoy the spectacular scenery and wildlife. This guided tour is available 4 times a week and is limited to groups of 20 and less. There are other shorter hikes in addition, such as descending water falls, wild life tours, ibex breeding enclosure, bird watching, wilderness camping, which can be provided. (Check Mujib Hiking Trails)

Accommodations
Situated on the shore of the Dead Sea, this campsite offers stunning scenery. There are 15 deluxe four- person tents, insulated from the extremes of heat, sitting among shrubs of tamarisk. They have simple beds over polished concrete floors and bed linen is provided, as well as lanterns and other essential equipment. Toilets and showers are in a separate complex and there are additional standing showers on the shore to wash off the salt after bathing. Along the Dead Sea shore are several luxury hotels in easy reach of the reserve.

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