A verdant sanctuary for the quintessential nature lover - the Al Wathba Reserve is Abu Dhabi’s first protected wetland area.  Visit this man-made reserve and experience a unique amalgamation of wetlands, sabkhas (salt flats), fossilized sands and dunes that host more than 250 species of birds, 37 varieties of plants and an abundance of aquatic life. If you’re lucky, you can even spot some striking congregations of plovers, stilts, a crested lark or the white-eared bulbul. 
We recommend you take the 1.5 kilometer or 3 kilometer walking trails that meander around the reserve.  Take your time and experience the pleasure of sighting flamingos- as many as 4,000 live here. Should you opt for the 3 kilometer path, look for the halfway mark on the trail and stop by the bird watching spot to observe a graceful ensemble of the Greater Flamingo, astonishingly pretty in pink. 
The Al Wathba Reserve is just beyond Mussafah on the Al Ain truck road. Follow the track and you’ll arrive at the visitor center with friendly staff to greet and welcome you. The reserve is worth the 30-minute drive from the capital and is a recommended escape from the usual chaos of city life.