Mushroom rock
After about 140 km we reach the striking and monumental Mushroom Rock, at the very back of a lonely valley. As the gravel road suddenly splits into many tracks in the sand, we have to puzzle over which track leads to the Felden, especially as we can’t see it on the approach. We park our truck, walk around a cliff and suddenly find ourselves in front of the mushroom made of rock.
Below us is a wide valley overgrown with camel thorn trees and therefore relatively “green”. At the back, the valley is closed off by polished reddish boulders. Some shepherds live in the area and lead their camels to the “pasture” early in the morning. However, “pasture” is a bit of an exaggeration, as we can’t see what the camels are eating here. Here too; we enjoy the peace and seclusion. Who would have thought that one day we would be traveling in the middle of Saudi Arabia and spending time in nature. And now it has come true and our hearts are always filled with gratitude.
Wadi Disah
Before we reach the Wadi Disah, we cross a mountain pass. A ban on trucks before the pass road! We ignore it because the road is in good condition and there is no sign of any danger on the way up. But on the other side of the pass, the descent is so steep that we see danger for Arab trucks. But not for us. In the 2. / 3rd gear and with the engine brake, we reach the bottom without overheating the drum brakes. After all, the downhill gradient is up to 30% in places! Although everything goes well, we are glad to have reached the bottom. However, the view on this side of the pass is fantastic. Like a lunar landscape. It’s just a shame that the haze is so strong, it also makes it difficult to edit the images.
As we drive through the “Al-Disah” oasis and to the rear of the Wadi Disah towards evening, the landscape becomes increasingly gigantic. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to fly a drone here. The wadi is well monitored by the police. It is also forbidden to drive through the wadi from the west with larger vehicles. We respect that. At least we are allowed to spend the night right at the entrance to the wadi, which makes tomorrow’s visit easier. We can hardly get enough of this landscape. This glowing reddish rock and the lush green in the most beautiful evening light – simply wonderful!
An Arab guide drives us through the wadi early in the morning for 20 USD. The journey is tranquil and we have enough time to enjoy it to the full. Glorious morning light, rippling water, singing birds – a wonderful atmosphere that opens our hearts and makes us feel HAPPY, JOYFUL and HAPPY.
Sorry for the many pictures. But in the enthusiasm it is difficult to choose the most beautiful pictures. The Wadi Disah lies in the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nature Reserve. You should be aware of this and not camp in the wadi and tourist vehicles cannot drive through it at all. I therefore don’t understand overlander colleagues who see the passage as an “adventure”, but at the same time impair the nature of the wadi. After the tour, we look for a spot in a side valley of Wadi Disah and find a place in Wadi Ghamra that is not monitored by the police and where we can stay for another two days. We also fly the drone here to get a small impression of this enormous mountain region.
