The Dana Biosphere Reserve is Jordan’s largest nature reserve and an exceptional natural wonder. Located in south-central Jordan, it is a place of dramatic beauty and immense biodiversity, protecting a unique landscape that transitions from high mountains to desert lowlands.
Listen to an introduction about Dana Biosphere Reserve
Name and Address
- Name: Dana Biosphere Reserve (Arabic: محمية ضانا للمحيط الحيوي, Maḥmīyat Ḍānā lil-Muḥīṭ al-Ḥayawī)
- Address: The reserve is located in south-central Jordan, near the town of Tafilah. Its vast protected area stretches from a high plateau to the low-lying Wadi Araba desert.
How to Get There
Dana is a key stop for travelers heading to or from Petra, making it a convenient destination.
- From Amman: The drive from Amman to the reserve’s entrance at the village of Dana takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. The most direct route is via the Desert Highway, followed by a scenic turn onto the King’s Highway.
- By Car: Renting a car is the most flexible option for exploring the area. There are also local taxis and tour companies that offer transportation.
- By Public Transport: You can take a bus from Amman’s South Bus Station to the nearby town of Tafilah and then hire a taxi for the final leg of the journey to the reserve’s visitor center or Dana Village.
Landscape and Features
The Dana Biosphere Reserve is a truly unique landscape that contains a remarkable variety of ecosystems within its boundaries.
- Four Bio-geographical Zones: Dana is the only reserve in Jordan that crosses four distinct bio-geographical zones: Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, Saharo-Arabian, and Sudanian. This creates an incredible diversity of flora and fauna.
- Diverse Terrain: The reserve is a dramatic land of contrasts, with elevations dropping from over 1,500 meters at the Qadisiyah plateau to the low-lying Wadi Araba desert. You can find everything from oak and juniper forests to rocky cliffs and sand dunes.
- Biodiversity Hotspot: It is home to hundreds of plant species and a variety of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Many of these species are rare and endangered, including the Nubian ibex, caracal, and Syrian serin.
- Cultural Heritage: The reserve is not just a natural wonder; it also has a deep human history. The area is home to the local Bedouin communities, and the ruins of the ancient copper mines at Feynan and the traditional Ottoman-era village of Dana showcase a long history of human interaction with the land.
What Makes It Famous
Dana’s fame is a combination of its spectacular natural beauty and its pioneering model of community-based conservation.
- Pioneering Ecotourism: The Dana Biosphere Reserve is a leading example of ecotourism, with the local community actively involved in managing the reserve and its tourism initiatives. Revenue from the visitor center, guesthouses, and ecolodges directly supports local Bedouin families and conservation efforts.
- Incredible Hiking and Trekking: The reserve is a premier destination for hikers, offering a wide range of trails that cater to all skill levels, from short walks around Dana Village to the famous multi-day trek from Dana to Petra.
- UNESCO Recognition: The reserve’s status as Jordan’s first and largest biosphere reserve, recognized by UNESCO, highlights its global importance for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
- Gateway to Jordan’s Ecosystems: Dana is celebrated for encompassing all four of Jordan’s ecosystems in a single area, making it a microcosm of the country’s diverse natural heritage.
Differences from Some Other Wonders (e.g., Wadi Rum Protected Area)
While both Dana and Wadi Rum are protected natural wonders in southern Jordan, they offer very different experiences.
- Ecosystem Diversity: Dana is a biosphere reserve that protects a wide range of ecosystems, from green mountains to rocky deserts. Wadi Rum is a desert protected area, famous for its specific, otherworldly landscape of red sand dunes and monumental rock formations.
- Focus: The fame of Dana is tied to its exceptional biodiversity and ecotourism model, where conservation and community development are deeply intertwined. Wadi Rum is famous for its dramatic desert scenery and historical association with T.E. Lawrence and blockbuster films.
- Experience: A visit to Dana is centered around hiking, wildlife spotting, and cultural immersion with the local Bedouin communities. A visit to Wadi Rum is more about desert adventure, such as jeep tours, camel rides, and camping under the stars in a vast, open desert.
Dana Biosphere Reserve Photos:
