Waking up the thrills
We went wakeboarding at Al Zorah, and left with new skills, an appreciation of nature — and a gallon of saltwater in our lungs
Plunging into the icy cold waters of Al Zorah’s lagoon was not exactly how I had planned on spending a calm and peaceful excursion into Ajman’s lush nature mangrove reserve. Neither was coughing up nearly a gallon of salt water.
Yet there I was, standing on the pier of Al Zorah’s Wake Park, trying to lift my dropped jaw off the sun-kissed tarmac as I attempted to understand the basic intricacies of wakeboarding.
How I got there is anybody’s guess, but as Quest for Adventure’s Brian Parry explained: “Wakeboarding is actually quite a simple sport and we guarantee by the end of a session you will be flying.”
Twenty minutes later and resembling a drowned rat, I wasn’t so sure. Wakeboarding as a sport has a pretty basic premise: strap your feet into a board’s harness, lay back in the water with a rope in hand and let the (in this case) cable pull you into a standing position as you gradually start skiing over the water. Practically flying if you may.
The trick here is to carefully follow instructions and time your crouching tiger, launching cheetah moves down to the precise second. Unfortunately for me, timing — as I discovered — was not my strongest point. Nor was balance.
Shy off 30 minutes and half of Ajman Creek cradled in my lungs, I finally had lift off… for all of five seconds. Yet, that feeling of elation was enough for me to call this mission a resounding success and signal for my extraction.
With the sun overhead, we scrambled into the canoes that would ferry us into the mangroves where our kayaks awaited for the journey ahead.
The species of mangrove found in Al Zorah is called the Avicennia marina, commonly known as the grey or white mangrove, we are told. The trees grow to a height of three to 10 metres and eventually becomes a home for a large variety of rare or migratory birds — close to 58 different species inhabit this ecosystem.
Even as the herons and egrets were animatedly pointed out, the eyes craned for the evasive flock of flamingoes we’d spotted from the plane ride over. But due to the nature reserve’s strict diktat towards sustaining the ecosystem, tours aboard the kayak are limited from venturing into waters that are considered a safe zone by the majestic birds.
The straight course across the waters soon took a turn, as we guided our kayaks deeper into the mangroves, with the low tide allowing us to look down to the very floor of the lagoon and discover the thriving marine life.
While you can have a pick between embarking on this tour during low or high tide, we would recommend the hour close to sunset that gives the landscape an almost surreal appeal.
There, in those quiet moments out over the calm waters of the lagoon, it was hard to fathom that the bustle of Dubai was just a short drive away.
For those who want to have a go at the kayak tour of the mangroves, busy season lasts until May. Although, the rising mercury these days could make that April this year.
No previous experience is required to head for a kayaking adventure, but be advised that some upper body strength does come in handy when embarking on a 90-minute adventure with just an oar to guide you along.
Mangrove tours are priced at Dh150 for adults and Dh130 for children under 12 years. Each trip, including safety instructions, lasts two hours. Wakeboarding lessons start at Dh100.