The Nissan Patrol forms the backbone of the true 4x4s that tamed the region’s wilds. In its latest evolution, a fantastic balance is reached between on-road smoothness and comfort, and off-road performance – you can’t go wrong with a Patrol!

See that track cutting up the mountain in Wadi Al Helo? The Nissan Patrol crawled up with the sure-footdeness of a mountain goat, after plonking the central differential in low range, with traction control eliminating wheel slippage on the loose shale.

If you are unsure that your vehicle can make the climb (perhaps it has no low range gearing; or if the driver is nervous about a tight and very steep track, where there is no chance to turn around except at the top), there is nothing wrong with parking down below in the archaeological site, and walking up! Me, I like the challenge of driving up and I felt confident in the Patrol’s capabilities!!

The falcon’s eye view from the top of the stark hill where Wadi Al Helo forks will remain burnt in your memory forever. It’s not just a wilderness camping area with great vistas and walking trails; a steep, slippery slope will bring you to a historic fort and far up above the dramatic remains of an ancient village, now an archaeological site managed by the Directorate of Antiquities of the government of Sharjah.

Download the KML file for your GPS by clicking here. Once downloaded, you can import the file into your GPS device and take it on the road, or double-click that file and it will open automatically in Google Earth if you have that installed (all adventurers should! Google Earth).

And here is an interactive map of the route.
View Wadi Al Helo in a larger map

At the top, an old fort serves still as a look-out, giving a 360-degree unobstructed view over the stark mountains.

Beware of Jinns! If you camp up there, enjoying the fresh breeze and basking in the moonlight (choose a full moon night and you’ll be amazed at how bright that can be!) do keep an eye out for any marauding Jinn – wikipedia explains:

The jinn (Arabic: جن‎ ǧinn, singular جني ǧinnī; also spelled djinn), or genies, are spirits mentioned in the Qurʾān and Islamic theology who inhabit an unseen world in dimensions beyond the visible universe of humans. Together, the jinn, humans and angels make up the three sentient creations of God. The Qurʾan mentions that the jinn are made of a smokeless and “scorching fire”,[1] and they have the physical property of weight.[clarification needed][2] Like human beings, the jinn can also be good, evil, or neutrally benevolent and hence have freewill like humans and unlike angels.[3] The jinn are mentioned frequently in the Qurʾan, and the 72nd surah is titled Sūrat al-Jinn.

You have been warned!

By the way, the above is copied from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinn – I know nothing about theological issues.

All I know is that I was in heaven in the Nissan Patrol – wow!

In the vicinity there are several walking paths which are excellent for a bit of exploration on foot.

There’s always shade if you know where to look for it, but please make sure you carry plenty of water with you to remain adequately hydrated as the hot and dry wind can quickly take its toll.

And this is what happens when the tap runs dry…

View a pdf file of the original article, as published in June 2011, or read the archived newspaper article on The National website here.

My disclaimer is here.