Dana Nature Reserve was begun in 1989 and protects a large area of mountains, wadis and desert. It is centred around Wadi Dana, a spectacular ravine which starts at the top of The Great Rift Valley escarpment and stretches right down to the desert on the valley floor of Wadi Araba. Dana supports a variety of vegetation around the streams that run through it. It is a haven for birdlife with 214 bird species having been recorded and there are 7 different points for monitoring raptors. Also recorded here are 44 species of reptiles, 41 mammals, 707 plant species and various other fauna and flora.
Dana Village overlooking Wadi Dana, and inhabited mainly by the Al Ata'ata tribes, has been occupied since about 4000BC. In the recent past many families moved away from the village and it became almost derelict. Today the village is being restored and is once again becoming a thriving community. This wadi is a spectacular area for hiking and once you get to the bottom of the valley you enter a whole new area of desert scenery ideal for continuing a longer trek.
