During the last Ice Age the water level of
the Dead Sea reached 180 m below sea level, about 230 m
higher than today. The lake flooded the lower reaches of
the canyons along its banks, which became bays and begun
to accumulate sediments. As the climatic conditions
changed, about 20,000 years ago, the water level of the
lake dropped, leaving the re-emergent canyons blocked with
lake marl. Most canyons managed to cut through their
plugged outlets and to resume their erstwhile lower
courses. However, Wadi Mujib abandoned its former outlet
by breaking through a cleft in the sandstone. This narrow
cleft became the bottleneck of an enormously large
drainage basin with a huge discharge. During the years the
cleft was scoured deeper and the gorge of Wadi Mujib was
formed.
Trails:
The Ibex
Trail (2-3 hours dry trail): begins at the
Mujib Bridge Reception by the Mujib Bridge on the Dead
Sea highway, from where a guide will escort you south
for a short distance along the highway before turning
onto a steeply ascending trail into the nature reserve.
After the first steep climb it diverges to the south,
following a wide track running parallel to the Dead Sea.
The Sea provides a startlingly blue backdrop throughout
the hike. About one third of the distance along the
trail, there is an optional detour up the mountainside
to Qasr Riyash, a ruined fortification of uncertain
date. Villagers say that it is one of four castles in
the area, occupied by a powerful Bedouin sheikh known as
Riyash. Each of his sons reputedly occupied a castle,
until a fight erupted over grazing rights and all of
them were killed. The climb to the castle is arduous but
offers breathtaking views over the Dead Sea.
Returning to main track, the hike continues towards the
Raddas Ranger Station, dipping up and down across a
number of dry wadis. There are an amazing variety of
rock colors and formations along the route and as you
near the ranger station, the famous rock “statue” of
Lots wife can be seen on the seaward edge of the
reserve. It is said that while fleeing the villages of
Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot’s wife ignored the warning not
to look back and was turned into a pillar of salt. It
takes 3 hours to get to the rangers station (4 km)At the
station, there is a large fenced enclosure in which you
can see a small breeding herd of magnificent Nubian
Ibex– a wild ‘mountain goat’ with long, impressively
curved horns. This animal was once common in the region
but has been decimated by hunting. Mujib is one of the
few safe havens for Ibex, in the reserve, there is a
captive breeding programme to boost the wild population.
In recent years, many Ibex from this enclosure have been
released into the reserve to replenish the wild
population that was devastated by hunting. After a rest
at the station, visitors hike from the station to the
entrance of the reserve through a road that takes 1.5
hours.
Malaqi Trail (9 hours water trail): This is an
exciting trail, offering a chance to swim in the cool,
clear waters of the Mujib and Hidan rivers. It starts at
the reserve reception like the “Ibex Trail” and follows
the same route into the nature reserve (see
description). This trail leads quickly to a striking
area of creamy-white hills made of soft lissan deposits,
reminiscent of the American Badlands. After passing
through these hills, you begin your descent to the river
Mujib, crystal clear, fast flowing and teeming with
life. Small fish are plentiful, as well as frogs. Bright
kingfishers are often seen speeding along the
river channel, as well as circling birds of prey. Dense
vegetation lines the rivers sides, making a stark
contrast to the arid, naked mountains that surround you.
The hike continues upstream along the river edge, to its
confluence with the Hidan River. There are deep pools
here, ready made for swimming, where you can linger, eat
a picnic and just enjoy this wild paradise. Then you can
either go back the same way to the reserve’s entrance or
you can go through the Mujib gorge to descend a
waterfall (20 m) and finish the trail at the Mujib
Bridge.
The hike takes 9 hours of hiking and swimming.
Mujib Canyon Trail (Water Fall): this trail is
like the Malaqi trail, offering the same route which
goes all the way to the Hidan river (please see the
description above), but as for this trail, its only 4
hours. (The beginning of the hike is under the sun (1
hour) but it becomes cool when you reach the water).
(Open from the 1st of April until the 31st
of October)
4. Mujib Trail (7-8 hours of dry trail): a
tough, exciting trail. The experience begins near the
village of Fag’ua, on the eastern edge of the nature
reserve. Fag’ua is reached from the famous King’s
Highway that leads out of Amman, through the town of
Madaba (famous for its mosaics). Your guide will meet
you at RSCN office in Fagua, from where you will be led
to the ranger station to start the hike. The trail
descends rapidly into the Reserve following a
precipitous Wadi with spectacular scenery. The hike
follows the Wadi to the Raddas Rangers Station at the
Ibex enclosures taking 5-6 hours to complete (15 km).
(Open all year through)
5. Siq Trail ( 2-3 hours water trail):
easy trail of swimming in Mujib Reserve to a waterfall
and back to Mujib Bridge. Please note that the water
level is relatively high this year 2005 (not less than 2
m) and the swimming distance is relatively long (15 m
sometimes) but we are having ropes fastened to the gorge
wall for people to hold when they get tired.
(Open from the 1st of April until the 31st
of October)
