Visitors gather around a campfire during a desert camping trip in the Samawah desert in Muthanna governorate, taking part in evening activities organized by local tour groups promoting desert tourism. Photo by 964media.
Organized desert camps draw new visitors to Samawah dunes
MUTHANNA — Desert tourism is gradually expanding in the Samawah desert, where organized camping trips are drawing visitors from central and western Iraq to spend the night among the dunes.
Many Iraqis have never visited Samawah, let alone camped in the desert in the style popular in Gulf countries. That gap inspired local resident Haider al-Ajaibi to launch a desert camping project called “Jaw,” offering guided trips deep into the desert with full programs tailored to the landscape. One recent trip documented by 964media in late December featured quiet evening gatherings around the fire and daytime scenes filled with the sound of four-wheel-drive engines climbing sand dunes.
Al-Ajaibi said the project has grown from a single campsite to seven, hosting participants from Baghdad, Diyala and Anbar. While visitors from Anbar are already familiar with desert camping, some guests told 964media the Samawah trips stand out for their organization and planning, including group activities and shared meals. Mohammed Salim from Diyala described spending a night in the desert for the first time at one of the camps, while Baghdad visitor Ibrahim al-Rawi said he was impressed by the sense of cultural exchange the trips create among people from different regions.
Al-Ajaibi said the camps provide meals and a range of activities, including volleyball, archery, daytime and nighttime photography and guided desert excursions. “For many visitors, the most enjoyable part of the trip is watching dune-bashing tours,” he said, referring to four-wheel-drive vehicles climbing sand dunes. “We know the locations well and make sure our camps are close to them.”
He added that the team currently focuses on programs centered around the sand dunes, but is preparing to launch another itinerary in areas known locally as “al-Afayadh,” low-lying zones where rainwater collects and vegetation grows after storms. Al-Ajaibi said those sites are especially scenic in the rainy season and could become another draw for visitors as Samawah’s desert tourism sector continues to develop.