Two Emirati Nationals and British Explorer Adrian Hayes, reach half way point of epic adventure.

Team to reach Liwa by UAE National Day

Abu Dhabi, 28th November 2011: The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) today announced that the ‘Footsteps of Thesiger’ expedition team has now entered the UAE having reached the half way point of their 1,500km trek from Salalah in Oman to Abu Dhabi. Adrian Hayes, the British explorer, along with two Emiratis, Saeed Rashed Al Mesafry and Ghafan Mohammed Al Jabry, have successfully trekked more than 750km of their expedition which follows a similar route taken by the great explorer, Wilfred Thesiger, Since the expedition began in late October the team has overcome a number of challenges including commencing the trek in tropical cyclone Keila, crossing flooded wadis and coping with limited food supplies. Having experienced a range of terrains including crossing the Dhofar Mountains, Wadi Marhit and to Mugshin, the team is now deep in the giant sand dunes of the Rub’ al Khali. Often trekking in excess of 11 hours per day, covering distances of 40 to 45km, the team is on schedule to arrive in Liwa on December 2nd for UAE National Day.

Emirati team members, Saeed Rashed Al Mesafry and Ghafan Mohammed Al Jabry, have provided Adrian with invaluable camel handling and desert survival training which is needed to complete the journey. Both Emiratis have been humbled by the Arabic hospitality received along the route, with the team frequently welcomed by local villagers who invite them to share a traditional feast of goat or camel. Adrian has become immersed in the traditional Bedu culture that still prevails in modern day Arabia.

Adrian Hayes commented:

“I am overwhelmed by the number of visitors to our
camp who are anxious to learn more about our journey and share with us their
personal stories of Thesiger and his expedition from the 1940s. Just like
‘Mubarak Bin London’, I feel privileged to be seated at a campfire feasting on
traditional food and listening to Arabic poetry and songs with the great people
I have encountered along the way.”

“With each day closer to arriving in Liwa for UAE
National Day, we are ever more proud and humbled to be part of this expedition
which truly embodies the spirit of the Bedu values of generosity, goodwill and
perseverance which are still prevalent in the UAE today.”

The Footsteps of Thesiger expedition team is travelling
by camels and on foot a distance of more than 1,500km, relying on basic
provisions, nature and Bedouin hospitality to survive the estimated 45 day
trek. They left Salalah in late October 2011 and will reach Liwa by National
Day, before completing their journey to Al Ain on 9^th December and
finally, Abu Dhabi, on 13^th December 2011.

The Footsteps of Thesiger team  is  more than half way through their epic adventure from Salalah, Oman to the UAE Capital, Abu Dhabi.

Spending their last few days in Oman, Adrian, Saeed and Ghafan will soon cross on to UAE soil. A particularly solitary section of the expedition, the team has been trekking through the dunes of the Empty Quarter, often covering daily distances of up to 45km.

Saeed and Ghafan are particularly looking forward to entering the UAE, especially as National Day draws near – there is a real sense of pride that they are undertaking this trip as Emirati Nationals.

Copyright Wouter Kingma

Tim and Alexis, the TwoFour Arabia film crew following our intrepid team have sent us the following update on the teams progress.

The Footsteps of Thesiger team really feel that they following Thesiger’s tracks as they continue to follow the route that  Thesiger took in his 1940′s expeditions.  As they approach the margins of the Rub Al Khali, the Empty Quarter spreads out before them.

The caravan currently has guests riding with them and they are covering 40-45 kms a day – all is going well.  The party rise at around 5am each day, make a simple breakfast around the fire and start riding around 6am.  A break is taken in the middle of the day to avoid the heat and then the trek continues later in the afternoon.  Supper is cooked together around the campfire and often we can hear them singing arabic songs and discussing the day.  Everyone is asleep under the stars by 9pm.

The 13 stitches in Adrian’s head have been removed by Ghafan and the wound is healing well.

Wildlife: so far the team have seen some very large lizards some 0.5 m long and a few wild camel carcasses as well as antelopes (species to be identified).

The team are heading to Mugshin – another 2 days walk were they expect to rest for a day, before the big push across the empty quarter.

The expedition is well and truly underway . With the logistical and weather challenges behind them, Adrian and the team have finally started to experience true Arabia, or one at least which mirrors Thesiger’s travels many years ago.

Much has happened since the end of last week. The team trekked in excess of 100km; two wadis were successfully navigated; a reunion had with the expedition camels and, possibly the highlight of the trip to date, a meeting at Sheikh Khalid’s farm.

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After getting off to a rather challenging start, the team finally resumed their trek. Earlier in the week, the team decided to send the camels ahead and commence a section of the journey by foot. At 07:30 yesterday Adrian, Ghafan and Saeed left in high spirits and ready to cross the difficult and waterlogged terrain of the Dhofar mountains.

The team are travelling to Oman and hope to reach Salalah shortly, where they will make their final preparations before their epic journey starts tomorrow morning.

The TwoFour Arabia film crew spent yesterday trying to fit all of their equipment into the back of a Nissan Patrol and successfully installed their solar panel to the roof to help charge their equipment on route.

Adrian, Gafan and Saed have completed their training and looking forward to the 45 day trek.  Inshallah, all being well the team will reach Liwa by 2nd December to celebrate UAE National Day.  On the way they will encounter a range of enviroments, temperatures, wildlife and people.  We wish them a safe and rewarding journey and will keep you regularly updated with their news.  Thanks to satellite communications (Thesiger may not have approved of our instant updates) we will bring you progress updates every few days and pictures every week.