Today we drive Route 5 leading to Al Azraq and look for scorpions around Al Jafr. As always with Maps, we looked at the area and wanted to proceed as usual - stop, run into the terrain and find something. Let's see how it goes. Al Jafr drive takes 2.20 hours. It was scorching hot.
The Route for today...
We were the only ones on the street and...
Dromedary
Yes, we just drove past Al Jafr because there was a construction site all around and we couldn't find a suitable place to look in the distance. It all looked very desolate, dry and deserted. No trees and stones. Simply desolate. We were disappointed and continued up Route 5. The landscape became more and more lunar. Just bare, chalky and flat rocks. There could be no life here. We went a bit into the terrain but didn't even find ants, spiders or anything else. Just nothing. But at least a nice waterhole.
After a couple of hours we went back to our car on the street, had a drink and looked around again. And of course, like every day, the police stopped here and asked what we were doing and wanted to see our ID cards. Cornelius got a little nervous because he only had a copy of his ID with him, because when he was looking in his luggage he realized that he had left it in the hotel in Aqaba. The cops were very cool but said it would be better to have the original ID with you. They also said that the military here is very alert and might shoot...don't know if that was a joke or not. The police drove away, we finally stopped the search here because no fertile habitat could be found and drove almost 2.5 hours back to Aqaba just for Cornelius' ID and then directly to Dana. So this day until the evening was completely in vain.
So first we drive back to Aqaba...
Sundown
Finally in Dana Biosphere Reserve...
Dana Tower Hotel
The parking situation at the hotel wasn't the best, but we still found a narrow spot on the side. We checked in quickly, seemed like a father and son running it. The father was dressed like a soldier. Whatever the reason, it looked good. The rooms looked good.
After 20 minutes we drove to the area around Shobak Castle. 30 minutes later we walked up the path behind the Hotel Montreal and only found an i2 Scorpio sp.
So we went down to the front of the hotel, a porter was standing there wanting to know what we were doing. We explained to him that we are looking for scorpions here and that we will behave calmly and drive right back. He let us search and we started. We went up the hill and all around. It was very cold and windy here, we had our jackets on. It should have been 10°.
Leiurus hebraeus
We searched for about 2 hours and then drove 5 minutes to Shobak Castle.
We parked at the entrance and then walked up. There was not a soul there and we searched everywhere and found masses of Leiurus hebraeus. The entire mud and stone wall of the castle glowed under UV light. Everywhere scorpions in the crevices and cracks. We also searched all around but unfortunately didn't find any other species. It was exhausting, windy and it was now 4 o'clock in the morning.
Leiurus hebraeus / Lycosa sp.
Enough for today and quickly to the hotel. Of course...of course it had to be done now...we didn't get into the hotel because we forgot to say that we'd be back later. We didn't have a phone number and nobody was there. So we thought about what to do until Cornelius found a wall that we could use to get to the terrace and then to our room. And that's what we did, which also required some skill.
Puh. That went well again.
Later, after some sleep, we'll take a closer look at Dana. Look forward to beautiful pictures and lots of adventures!