United Arab Emirates > Safari on Sir Bani Yas

This morning, there’s a knock on the door again for breakfast. There’s a fresh wind on the balcony, so I have my breakfast inside my cabin. Meanwhile, the MSC Euribia is docking at the pier of Sir Bani Yas Island. This island is part of the emirate of Abu Dhabi and is a nature reserve. The first sheikh of Abu Dhabi ordered the creation of this park in 1977. Since then, wild animals have been imported. Because there are hardly any natural predators on the island, the population has grown significantly. Currently, about 17,000 animals live in the vast park. I start the day with a safari excursion. As I walk off the pier, I see hundreds of beach loungers ready. I hesitate for a moment whether I should claim a lounger now, as they might all be taken when I return. I decide not to, and will see later. I get into a 4x4 jeep. I am welcomed with “Hello Ronald.” The three Canadian ladies from the cycling trip earlier in Doha are already on board. Nice! They are curious about what I’ve experienced in the past few days. They had invited me to dine with them, but I politely declined. I also enjoy meeting different people every day. They have a fixed time slot at eight o’clock, which I find a bit late.

United Arab Emirates - On safari on Sir Bani Yas Island

When nine people are on board, we depart. The driver explains during the ride that the island was created on the sheikh’s initiative. He also shows us the palace of the current sheikh, who only occasionally stays on the island. Most visitors arrive here by cruise ship. Even along the fence, we spot animals. The area where the wild animals live is 14 km². Despite the heat in summer, there is enough vegetation. The driver names the animals, but in the open vehicle with the wind, I don’t catch everything. I only understand that the colored antelopes originally come from India. I’ll look up the exact species at home. Right inside the park, we spot quite a few animals. This isn’t difficult, since they’re just being fed. Hundreds of deer run after the feeding truck. A group of giraffes stands near a higher feeding trough, giving us a good opportunity to closely observe the animals. Our driver says that if we’re lucky, we might see cheetahs. I don’t expect that when men are scattering food around. A little further on, he stops at the cheetah enclosure.

United Arab Emirates - The animals gather during feeding time

Two animals have just been fed inside their cage. The driver says they can also come out, but I doubt that. We also spot various antelope species, ostriches, and a kind of sheep with large antlers. After an hour and a half, we return. The safari was more enjoyable than I had initially thought. Back on the beach, I look for a lounger. As expected, all loungers are taken—or at least have towels on them. At the very end, I find one chair under a parasol. That’s all I need. I lie down and pick up my book. I keep my sweater on because a strong wind is blowing over the beach. Drinks on the island are included on the cruise card. I order a drink occasionally. There’s also a large buffet for lunch. Behind the buffet, the waiter waves to me already. He serves me in the restaurant in the evening. I wonder if he greets every guest in his section like that? After lunch, I dive back into my book. It’s getting more exciting.

United Arab Emirates - The mouflons near one of the safari jeeps

On the horizon, I see a second cruise ship approaching—a smaller vessel. Tugboats help the ship dock at the pier. When the new group of tourists comes ashore, I think it’s a good moment to return to the ship. In my cabin, I see the balcony is still being cleaned. Ali, who maintains my room, says he’ll come back later to finish. That seems a bit unnecessary to me. I go to deck five to get a glass of wine so he can finish his work. During dinner, I sit between a Russian couple and a Portuguese couple. The Portuguese conversation quickly stalls. The Russians speak a bit of English. I understand that they live on the Crimea and have considered Ukraine Russian since 1914. We decide not to delve into that topic any further. Instead, we talk about Sir Bani Yas Island, the beach, and the safari.

United Arab Emirates - The cruise ship is docked at the pier near the beach

When they finish their dinner, new guests appear at the table next to me—two men from Spain and Poland. With them, the conversation continues in reasonably good English. When I finish eating, I wish them a pleasant rest of the evening. I walk toward the theater. For the last time, I attend the show. It seems like everyone knows it’s the final night. Tonight, all the performers are together—the dance and show team, the acrobats, the illusionists, and the singers. It’s an impressive combination. No wonder they receive a standing ovation afterwards. This hasn’t happened before in this theater.

United Arab Emirates - The finale of a performance in the onboard theater