Can't it be prevented? -Why we need a code of conduct-

In the last post "Can't it be prevented? -Introduction to canyoning and its hazards-", I talked about some of the accidents happened in the last 2 years in Jordan canyons as an example of these accidents happening all around!

Wadi AlWaleh- Hidan

Maybe most of these accidents I mentioned occurred with individual Travelers who are not supervised or not joining groups, but some happened with people who promote themselves as professional guides!

I agree with a comment I received on that post, accidents is the word used to excuse the lack of professionalism, a professional is one trained to leave no chance for accidents.

Even with the extreme nature of the canyon, a professional should be able to read the signs of the nature and be proactive to it, but in the same case he should be able to deal with any case to minimize its impact.

In our case in Jordan, the biggest problem occurs due to random access to hazards area by none trained and none professional people.

Many calls were made to have a control on accessing these places by sort of land owners or so. But without the existence of a set of standards there won't be a way to differentiate between the good and the bad.

Wadi Al-Waleh (Hidan) [10-5-2013]

Last Friday (May 10, 2013) I was invited to join Jo Hike team in their trip to Wadi Al-Waleh (or as some refer to it as Wadi Al-Hidan).

(The Long Siqe of the Canyon on June 2010)

The Canyon situated on Madaba Area. Runs from Dhiban area all the way down to connect  with the Mujeb Canyon and then down to the Dead sea in a deep gorge surrounded by a rigid black basalt rocks.

Personally it is one of the favorite places for me in Jordan, with many memories in every corner, I even lost count for the times I been there.

Can't it be prevented? -Introduction to canyoning and its hazards-

Photo by: Jennifer Eaton Gokmen 

Canyoning is the mother of all recreational sports, because in many cases you will end up using a variety of other recreational sports, hiking, trekking, scrambling, climbing, technical swimming and even diving, and the most important part is the technical rope use.

A lot of technicality needed to provide a special, but safe experience.

The rush of adrenaline, a mix of thrill and pushing ourselves to the limit, even reaching to new limits we never knew that we were able to reach is what makes the canyoning experience a great Adventure, and with the addiction to the adrenaline rush, the need will be always for a bigger dose, though every time a canyoneer will look for a bigger challenge in which -same as all other recreational sports- he will challenge himself before challenging anything else.

Oryx Relies in Shomari

Today and Yesterday we had the privilege of having a part in the relies process for Arabic Oryxs in Shomari Reserve, and prepare for the Oryx Safari to be set in the reserve, it is going to be a great chance to be able to view these animals in their natural habitat, not to forget that Oryxs have a great connection to the desert and the freedom as well as the beauty in the Arabic poetry.

The Art of Tracking - Make The Nature an Open Book-

fresh Spotted Hyena Spoor -South Africa, Wet Land

I always was interested in the art of tracking, lately I was reading an interesting book called " The Art of Tracking, The Origin of Science" by Louis Liebenberg, a free book that you can download from the library section in the Resources & Forum section in the website - www.explorejordan.c.la - . The book discus the evolution of the hunting methods and the use of Tracking and who it was the way we could develop our thinking toward the modern since.

But I want to share with you here some citation from the introduction of this interesting book.

What is next?

Well here is my schedule for the next couple of weeks, it is going to be buzy, wish us luck!

8th Feb: Leave Mvuu Camp, Liwonde National Park to Blantyer, from where we will fly to Johannesburg.

10th Feb: Fly from Malawi to Johannesburg.

13th Feb: Travel from Johannesburg to northern Kruger National Park!

19th Feb: Travel to Botswana, Machato Camp.

24th Feb: Graduation day in Botswana.

25th end of Eco-Training Course.

After that still an open time to travel, I am planing to visit Cape Town for Few days! Any one in? ;)

Last Day in Mvuu Camp- Liwonde National Park

It is a mixed feelings indeed, a part of me is happy because the time to go back home is getting closer and closer.

But with all the memories through the five months I stayed here in the camp I feel sad, the camp become my African house, my small cottage have the coziness of a home! The family I have in here, the smiley faces in the morning, my little army and dedicated soldiers - who think I am Osama Bin Laden :D-, the naughty Elephants, the laughing of the hippos, the monkeys who alway set there waiting to steal your food, the ghosts of the Rhinos, the lion, and the night drive searching for it in every time we hear it close by, the lovely and the crazy nights of Dancing, listening to music, or just talking pulshit :), my cool neighbors and the story telling in the afternoon, my baboon tree where I used to sneak out from the camp into the bush to watch the baboon and chill out when ever I need time out!, and more and more, each of which a separate story.

The only hope is that I will be back one day!

Will miss all of my big family here, all the friends, all the times we had!
Thank you all for every thing!