Video: Sheikh Mohammed meets participants of 9th UAE Camel Trek

HHC chief executive Abdullah Hamdan Bin Dalmook told Gulf News that they registered the largest caravan this year, both in terms of number of participants and nationalities. “We initially had 39 camel riders, but due to some commitments, four had to be dropped; luckily, 35 completed the camel trek,” he added.

HHC also shared a four-minute video with Gulf News showing Sheikh Mohammed greeting camel trekkers on the road. Bin Dalmook said it was “an apt summation of desert voyages”.

“Sheikh Mohammed asked the participants how their life was in the desert, their safety and congratulated them,” Bin Dalmook noted, adding: “Camel trekkers have a unique experience in the desert and they Traveling in the UAE on camels only – it was like the old way of our ancestors. They crossed the dunes and ventured into game reserves. They got a taste of what it was like to be a Bedouin.”

Bindarmouk also thanked Sheikh Mohammed for seeing the trekkers on camels. “The purpose of the camel trek is to showcase the UAE as a land of tolerance to various participants from around the world and showcase our rich heritage,” he added.

One of the participants, Marie-Emmanuelle Checri, described the 11-day camel trek as “physically challenging, but truly amazing”.

Checri added that crossing the desert should be done in a caravan. “I personally experienced difficulties, but I overcame them because I was part of the caravan. My friends helped me during the journey,” added the 42-year-old French expat, who specializes in business coach.

“If someone is falling behind, others will help him/her keep up with the group. Every day in the desert is different. When the desert course is flat, we reach the camp early, and when we cross the towering desert In the dunes, we rode late. At night, we shared stories, had Emirati dinners and fell asleep under the stars,” she added.

Another first-time participant, Malika Kostenko, a 29-year-old financial executive from Russia, said the camel trek “made her appreciate nature more.”

“It (the camel trek) was the best thing I’ve ever done. Seeing the desert dunes, riding a camel, and sleeping under the stars brought me closer to nature,” shared Kostenko, adding: “I also tested My limits, discovering my inner strength. I also learned to be more patient.

“I would definitely recommend to my family and friends to experience the real desert adventure that HHC organizes every year,” she continued. American expatriate Taylor Dees also thanked HHC for providing a “once in a lifetime desert experience.”

The caravan travels along a pre-prepared route and participants camp at sites set up by the HHC in the middle of the desert. HHC also provided them with food, drink, personal tents and camels for the entire voyage. Before the camel trek, they all underwent a rigorous training program at a camel farm in Dubai. They not only learned to ride a camel, but also how to take care of it.

Among the desert voyagers are Emirati Afra Rashed Ahmed, Ali Mohammad Aljaeidi

Hamdah Mohd Abdullah, Mohammed Musabah Al Makhmari and Ahmed Juma Alkabi. They were joined by Aude Derflinger and Marie Checri from France; Salman Khan, Taylor Michelle Dees, Enoch Castleberry, Joshua Kolapo and Howard Leedham from the USA.

From Yemen are Iman Mohammed Abdullah, Reem Mohammed Abdullah and Bushra Ali Alameri. Also part of the caravan were William Henry Pardoe from Great Britain; Christian Fregoni from Italy; Malikat Kostenko from Russia; John Peter Bernardus (South Africa); Ronald Sachin and Joe George Joseph from India; Pakistan); Renata Padilla (Brazil); Striker Salah (Jordan); Lynn Mazen Rihawi (Syria); Cyndi Faber (Luxembourg); Nicole Busetto (Italy); Germany); Huo Xiaozhe (China); and Madawi Alahmad from Saudi Arabia.