Ziwira Travel August

EASurEdTrEASurEdayaySIR BANI YAS ISLANDARABIAN BLISSFor those of you who want to visit Sir Bani Yas Island, you betterbe quick and make a booking, because it is super popular. There arethree Anantara Hotel Resort & Spa retreats on Sir Bani Yas Island.Anantara were the perfect candidate for setting up a resort on theisland, because sustainability is at the core of their foundations.The company is committed to ethical and environmentally friendlypractices which commence at the pre-opening stage of all theirresorts. The CEO understands the importance of sustainability, andproudly advocates it, “We are continuously introducing innovativetechnological measures that contribute to prevent environmentaldestruction and minimize the impact of our business activities onthe environment.”Guests can choose to stay by the beach or amidst verdant greenmangrove forests, consisting of beautiful saltwater lagoons inhabitedby flocks of wild flamingos. Each private villa features stunning,modern bedrooms, fully equipped with air conditioning, luxurybeds and linen, a rainforest shower with a large separate bathtub,a high-definition flat screen TV, and all of the luxury services onewould expect from a five star resort. Guests can experience theisland through a wide range of exhilarating activities, like wildlifeexploring by vehicle, or kayaking amongst the mangroves, horseriding across the island, or even scuba diving under the crystal clearwaters of the Arabian Gulf. It’s hard to believe that such a sereneoasis of wildlife exists just a couple of hours from Abu Dhabi. Yetthe resort is proving increasingly popular, particularly among UAEresidents. According to General Manager Steven Phillips, the bulkof guests are weekend vacationers from Abu Dhabi and Dubai.In terms of wildlife, much of the park is the domain of themagnificent Arabian Oryx. Everywhere you turn, the nimblecreatures mark their turf, cavorting with their youngsters orsquaring up to their rivals with a fierce locking of horns. The Oryxwere originally brought to the island to protect their species fromextinction which were earlier killed by poachers for the keratinfound in their impressive horns. Today the island is home to morethan 500 Oryx, making it one of the largest herds in the world. Theaim is to breed the animals in the safety of Sir Bani Yas, then returnthem to the mainland to repopulate the wild. Who could possiblyhunt an animal so stunning and majestic? The island is also hometo the UAE’s only discovered Christian monastery, which can bevisited during a Desert Islands Resort & Spa Culture Tour. Believedto have been built around 600 AD, and abandoned in 750 AD, themonastery was initially discovered during excavations in 1992. It isjust one of the many intrigues that can be found on one of the mostecologically diverse sanctuaries in the Middle East. Take sometime off, and experience Sir Bani Yas Island for yourself…August Issue 1 2015