Camping under stars in Nature Reserve

Dana Nature Reserve was established in 1989 by Jordan's Royal Society for The Conservation of Nature. The remit of the RSCN is to protect and manage the natural resources of Jordan, a role it has fulfilled with educational programmes, breeding programmes for endangered species, and the creation of seven protected areas covering over 1,200 square kilometres, of which Dana is just one.

Dana village is believed to have seen continuous occupancy since 4,000 BC. Natural springs, fertile soil and a strategic position overlooking Wadi Dana have drawn Palaeolithic, Egyptian, Nabatean, and Roman civilisations here. Within the last century or so the village began to fall into decline, but with the combined efforts of the RSCN and the remaining villagers, Dana is gradually recovering. Amongst the tumble down dwellings and neglected terraces are now carefully restored homes and gardens of fruit trees.

The Reserve itself consists of a mountainous area divided by a grid of wadis, which extends to the lowland desert of Wadi Araba, some 1,600 vertical metres below. The altitude range contributes to Dana's great diversity of flora and fauna. The wardens have recorded a total of 690 different plants and 449 animals: 25 of which are considered endangered species including the sand cat, the Syrian wolf and the lesser kestrel.