Azraq, Jordan
The Azraq Wetland Reserve is an oasis in the heart of Jordan's eastern desert, about 100 km east of Amman, managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) since it was created in 1978. Historically the oasis was the only permanent water in some 12,000 square kilometres of desert and a major staging post for millions of birds migrating between Africa and Eurasia; in February 1967 about 347,000 migratory birds were counted here. Then came the ecological disaster: from the 1960s Azraq's groundwater was pumped to supply Amman, the springs dried up completely in 1992 and the marshes collapsed. Today about a tenth of the original wetland is kept alive with water returned to it each year, while hundreds of illegal wells go on draining the aquifer. What remains is worth the trip: a raised boardwalk of 1.5 km winds through the reeds and pools, with water buffalo and the remains of ancient dams in view, and some 280 migratory species have been recorded in the reserve, from avocets and harriers to plovers, together with the Azraq killifish (Aphanius sirhani), found nowhere else on earth. The visitor centre tells the story of the oasis, its drying and its revival, and the RSCN's Azraq Lodge, a 1940s British military hospital converted into a guesthouse, offers rooms, a restaurant and a shop selling products made by the Druze and Chechen communities of Azraq town.
Spring and autumn migration are the best seasons for birds, and winter for the buffalo and fuller pools; summer is extremely hot. Bring binoculars, a hat and water, as the boardwalk is exposed; it is level and suits families and strollers. The reserve is usually visited on the Desert Castles loop from Amman (about two hours by car) together with Qasr al-Azraq, Lawrence's base, Qasr Amra and Qasr Kharana. Entry is 7 JOD according to Wikivoyage 2026, a night at Azraq Lodge starts at about 70 JOD, and bookings go through the RSCN.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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