Giraffes, zebras and ostriches roam the golden plains as open-topped vehicles filled with travellers trundle over the sand. The tourists are on the lookout for wildlife, hoping to spot pygmy hippos, white oryx, wildebeest, impala and cheetahs.
This might sound like a scene straight from Africa, but it’s actually a little closer to home. This is what awaits anyone checking in at the Nofa Resort Riyadh, a Radisson Collection Hotel.
It is less than 100 kilometres from the Saudi capital, just off the Riyadh-Makkah Highway. The Radisson resort opened in 2018 but was previously only open to members of the hotel's loyalty programme. Now, the family-friendly hotel that overlooks Nofa Wildlife Park is open to the general public and overnight stays start from 1,710 Saudi riyals (Dh1,675).
The resort aims to give travellers the feeling of a holiday in Africa. As well as being home to several species, the wildlife park has a conservation arm – eight giraffes have been born through its breeding programme and several endangered species call the Saudi reserve home.
“We have received numerous requests from individual guests wanting to experience the beauty of this safari jewel in the Saudi desert, and we are excited that the hotel is now publicly bookable and accessible to everyone,” said Tim Cordon of Radisson Hotels.
Accommodation options at the resort include private villas or bungalows, all of which come with African-style thatched roofs and a private swimming pool and garden. There are also two resort pools, including a separate one for women. A Kids Club is on site, while adults can visit the health spa. When it comes to eating, Tswalu serves up all-day dining with an African twist and there's also an African tea room, shisha lounge and two other restaurants for guests to try.
With international travel restricted because of the coronavirus pandemic, the resort is welcoming domestic travellers from across Saudi Arabia. The kingdom announced a partial lifting of its suspension on international flights and the resort is ready to welcome guests from overseas when tourism to the country resumes.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
McIlroy's recent struggles
Last six stroke-play events (First round score in brackets)
Arnold Palmer Invitational Tied for 4th (74)
The US Masters Tied for 7th (72)
The Players Championship Tied for 35th (73)
US Open Missed the cut (78)
Travellers Championship Tied for 17th (67)
Irish Open Missed the cut (72)
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
FIGHT%20CARD
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
