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Wild wild Abu Dhabi

Crockzilla is neither a myth nor a reality. It is a sea monster living in the water channels of Abu Dhabi and also in the vivid imagination of Aiden, a five-year-old, who often paddles with his father, Don Revis, through the city mangroves.

True enough, exploring the mangrove forests in a tiny kayak, through narrow water channels where the city sounds are muted and insects’ buzz do nothing more than to create a deeper feeling of being in the wild, eyes become sharp and alert, while hearts are ready to jump, in anticipation of something big and dangerous coming out of the water.

“We are often asked this question, but there is nothing dangerous here,” laughed Mark Freeman. “There are snakes, but they keep away. We’ve never seen one.”

As fate would have it, Mark and Don Ravis, an English and an American expats in Abu Dhabi, met because of their love and hunger for water sports. The result was Noukhada, an eco-friendly adventure company, offering primarily kayak tours through the mangroves of the city.

“I love sailing, but there are limited possibilities of sailing around Abu Dhabi, so one day I bought a kayak and decided to explore these mangrove waters,” explained Mark.

Friends also liked his idea and started to join Mark in his expeditions. Thus, a small curiosity grew into a big business. Noukhada Adventure Company was set up in 2008 with several kayaks imported from Australia. Now the company has about 27 strong, bright kayaks and in the past 12 months alone, took 5,000 people paddling through the mangroves.

The company, licensed by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), is also involved in some of the main annual sport events of the capital – the triathlon and the Adventure Challenge, both organised by ADTA. “And we will also start sailing trips around Abu Dhabi,” added Mark.

Several Hobie 16 and 18 catamarans are already available to take passengers on a two-hour trip and Noukhada-certified sailors may even rent the boats.

Weather (or rather heat) permitting, a special package is to sail with a guide from the mainland to the Belghailam Island, just off the shores of Abu Dhabi and a neighbour of Yas Island, populated by ostriches, flamingos, gazelles, herons and even donkeys.

Upon arrival, there will be kayaking around the island and through its mangroves. Overnight or half day camping on one of the nearby islands – private beach included – is also on the menu.

Back to kayak tours, the choices are either the basic mangroves tour of pure paddling for one-and-a-half hours for Dh150 or the eco-tour, which for two hours and Dh 200 you get to explore the mangroves deeper, see more wildlife and learn all about mangroves from one of the expert guides.

“They are a vital part of the eco-system. About 70 per cent of the fish is born here and lives in the mangroves until they are big enough to go out into the open sea,” said Mark. One of them, a thin, green and striped, arrow-like fish kept “shooting” between our kayaks. “It’s a pike. It is not eaten by people, but the barracuda will hunt it,” explained Mark.

Even as it wasn’t yet 8am, the water was too hot, so much of the fish were cooling in deeper channels, hidden from human eyes or from those of a grey heron, waiting on a bank for what was to be its breakfast.

Right across on the other bank, several large holes were dug in the sand. “There is a family of red foxes living here. Two adults and two cubs. I don’t know where they come from or where they get their fresh water. The cubs run away and hide when they see us, but sometimes the adults sit there, watching us,” said Mark.

Recently, dredging started in this area and the mangrove forest was cut through to make space for, rumour has it, the water taxi, so the foxes’ habitat has shrunken drastically.

“Passing speed boats also cause the sand bank to collapse and that is why during a tour with school children we put these sand sacks and barrier to prevent further erosion,” explained Mark.

Fish and foxes are not the only ones searching for cooler temperatures, so to make the kayak experience more pleasant, and quite magical too, Mark and his team are starting full moon tours through the mangroves.

To find them, call 050 7218928 or go to www.noukhada.ae

silvia@khaleejtimes.com