Words + Photos By: Melissa Mac Bean (Nautibean)
I’m a proud female member of the Abu Dhabi based AD4X4 off-road club and in November 2012 my friend Sam invited me to attend what would turn out to be one of my most memorable and exhilarating outdoor adventures here in my four years living in the UAE.
The idea seemed “simple” – a ladies only, two-day off-roading, dune-bashing trip in Abu Dhabi’s majestic Liwa dunes. The off-road team was swiftly formed – Anne (aka Smiley), Lia (aka Tweety), Jayne , Agne, Luna, myself (aka Nautibean) and Sam (aka Tillybean). We are an extremely diverse group of women from a variety of different cultural and religious backgrounds, age groups, professions and driving experience. However, we all have one thing in common, and that’s our passion for the UAE’s outdoor environment and our pleasure of driving in the desert.
With some sceptism from our male counterparts, but mainly bemusement, concern and heaps of encouragement and support from our partners, we began thrashing out the finer details and logistics of our two-day overland trip. Roles and tasks were assigned by our trip leaders and on the cool morning of 7th December 2012, we gathered at the last petrol station in Mussafah to admire each other’s cars, refuel and prep ourselves with caffeine for the three-hour drive to Arada, Liwa.
Liwa is situated in Abu Dhabi’s Empty Quarter, approximately 250km from Abu Dhabi. These gargantuan mounds of shifting sand are subtly different from more frequented off-roading areas in the UAE. Some are tall and gracious, others elegant and mysterious, but all are tempting and provide a variety of challenges for differing levels of driver experience.
Upon reaching our entry point, we quickly deflated, posed for some pictures and set off into the “baby powder,” which is so recognisable of the sands of Liwa. After a few “stucks” and recoveries, we crossed some sabkhas and began to gain momentum, while we climbed the steps and plateaus to play in the higher, more challenging dunes of Liwa.
After being followed by a local driver, who seemed utterly flabbergasted by a convoy of seven women, and completely incapable of keeping up with us, we crested our vehicles for a sunset group photo and decided to locate a suitable point for our campsite.
We agreed on a campsite in some of the highest of Liwa’s dunes, a site that allowed breathtaking views of the gently rolling sands of Liwa stretched lazily below us. Having efficiently pre-planned who would be responsible for bringing which items, we quickly had our camp set up in style with tents, comfortable beds, tables (with table clothes) and a roaring fire. We soon settled down to an evening of refined company, gourmet food, shisha, giggles and laughter. Having not driven with most of these women before, it was a fantastic way of getting to know them all better, understand their stories and what drew them to the UAE. I really have a lot of admiration for each one of these women after having spent time with them. After hours of swapping stories and getting taught how to dance “Dabkha” we slowly began to settle for the night with exquisite silence engulfing us and just the stars above for company.
Due to the lack of usual male sleeping noises, we had a relaxed and comfortable sleep and we awoke to three different types of coffee being prepared as well a sumptuous breakfast spread. We had a lazy start to the day, packed our gear and began moving for our second day in the sand.
As we danced across the dunes in our 4x4s we had the opportunity to take in some truly awe-inspiring views, with changing hues, the lighting creating natural works of art. The vastness of Liwa’s dunes can give a real sense of isolation and allows you to reflect on how privileged we are to be able to access these areas freely.
The biggest challenge I personally faced on the trip was the descent down a mammoth dune slip face which was above 200m high. This is a descent definitely not for the faint-hearted as the sand roars around you while your car makes a controlled slide down the dune. Sadly our trip began to draw to an end as we reached Tal Moreeb Dune. We relaxed in the shade of our cars while dining on a delicious picnic of leftovers and watermelon while having a chance to admire the vista we’d just crossed.
For us less experienced drivers, this trip was a fantastic opportunity to test and hone our skills under the watchful supervision and guidance of our more experienced female drivers. We had ample opportunity to practice cresting, side slopping, to play in bowls and practice recoveries. With the absence of the extreme adrenaline often present when driving with our male drivers, we were able to take this trip at a more leisurely pace with less pressure, which left me feeling far more confident in my own skills as a driver.
Although we perhaps did not possess the physical strength of our male comrades in AD4x4 Club, on this trip we proved that as women, we had the logistical coordination, capabilities, technical and driving skill set as a team to manage any situation that arose, without the help of men. It goes to show that brains are definitely more important than brawn in the desert.
AD4x4 is a family club with a priority on safe driving and this was evidenced in the exceptional organisation of our trip leaders and their constant focus on safety as the priority in our trip. From start to finish, we successfully and safely completed this trip with no major incident.
This Liwa desert challenge got me thoroughly hooked on driving in the desert and I have proven to myself that whatever the guys can do, I can do better and in more style. Two months later, I now own my own Jeep Wrangler TJ and I enjoy my weekends by driving with my husband and friends in Abu Dhabi’s deserts. I’m also now starting to find sand in my ears two days after the weekend, nuts and bolts in the washing machine and can identify car parts better than my husband.
I’m certainly looking forward to our next ladies-only trip in Liwa.
More information of AD4X4 can be found at:
Website: http://www.ad4x4.com/club/
Facebook: AD4X4
Email: Sam@ad4x4.com
