Al Soudah Park Abha is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia. The park was established in 1980 and covers an area of 4.5 square kilometers. It is home to a variety of plant and animal species, including the Arabian leopard. In 2008, Al Soudah Park Abha was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The park is a great place to visit for those interested in nature and wildlife. There are plenty of things to do at the park, from hiking and picnicking to bird watching and leopard spotting. In this article, we’ll give you an overview of Al Soudah Park Abha, its importance, and how to get there.
Al Soudah Park Abha: An UNESCO World Heritage Site
Al Soudah Park Abha is located in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia and was established in 1980. The park covers an area of 4.5 square kilometers and is home to a variety of plant and animal species, including the Arabian leopard. In 2008, Al Soudah Park Abha was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The park is a popular tourist destination, with visitors coming from all over Saudi Arabia and the world to experience its natural beauty and unique wildlife. There are plenty of things to do at the park, from hiking and picnicking to bird watching and leopard spotting.
If you’re planning a visit to Al Soudah Park Abha, be sure to read up on the park’s history and guidelines before you go. And don’t forget to bring your camera – this is one UNESCO World Heritage Site that you’ll want to remember forever!
Location and description of Al Soudah Park Abha
Al Soudah Park Abha is located in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia. The park covers an area of 4.5 square kilometers and is home to a variety of plant and animal species, including the Arabian leopard. In 2008, Al Soudah Park Abha was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The park is located at an altitude of 2,100 meters, making it one of the highest parks in Saudi Arabia. The climate is cool and humid, with temperatures rarely reaching above 25 degrees Celsius. The park receives an average of 400 mm of rainfall per year.
The vegetation in the park is mostly made up of evergreen forest, with some areas of deciduous forest and grassland. There are more than 1,000 species of plants in the park, including many rare and endangered species. Some of the most notable plants include the Yemeni rose (Rosa yemenensis), which is the national flower of Yemen, and the frankincense tree (Boswellia sacra).
The fauna in Al Soudah Park Abha includes many unique and endangered species. The park is home to more than 100 bird species, including the critically endangered Arabian ostrich (Struthio camelus syriacus). Other notable animals include the Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr), which is the national animal of Saudi Arabia, and the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus).
The importance of Al Soudah Park Abha
Al Soudah Park Abha is important for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it is home to rare and endangered species of plants and animals. The park’s Arabian leopards are particularly noteworthy, as there are only an estimated 200-600 of them left in the wild. The park is also an important source of freshwater for the local community.
Secondly, the park is a popular tourist destination due to its natural beauty. Visitors come from all over Saudi Arabia and the world to experience its stunning scenery and unique wildlife. There are plenty of things to do at the park, from hiking and picnicking to bird watching and leopard spotting.
Thirdly, Al Soudah Park Abha plays an important role in conservation efforts. The park is managed by the Saudi Wildlife Authority, who work to protect its biodiversity and promote sustainable tourism. Conservation efforts at the park have helped to increase the population of Arabian leopards, as well as other threatened species such as the Asiatic cheetah and the Arabian wolf.
In conclusion, Al Soudah Park Abha is a vital conservation area and a popular tourist destination. It is important for the protection of rare and endangered species, as well as for the local community who rely on it for freshwater.
How to get to Al Soudah Park Abha
The best way to get to Al Soudah Park Abha is by car. The park is located in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia, about 3 hours drive from the city center. There are plenty of parking spaces available at the park.
Another option is to take a bus from the city center to Al Soudah Park Abha. The journey takes about 4 hours.
Soudah Park Entrance Prices
The entrance ticket to the events is 50 riyals for adults, while children under 12 years old are allowed 25 riyals, and additional amounts are paid to ride the cable car.
The park is open daily from 8am to 5pm. The entrance fee is 50 SAR for adults and 25 SAR for children.
What to do at Al Soudah Park Abha
Al Soudah Park Abha is a great place to explore and experience Saudi Arabia’s natural beauty and unique wildlife. Here are some of the things you can do at the park:
Visit the archaeological site of Jubbah: Jubbah is an ancient city that was once the capital of the Kindah Kingdom. The site includes a number of well-preserved ruins, including a palace, a mosque, and several tombs.
See the ancient petroglyphs: Petroglyphs are ancient rock carvings. There are over 15,000 petroglyphs in Al Soudah Park Abha, making it one of the largest collections in the world.
Hike to the top of Mount Sawda: Mount Sawda is the tallest mountain in Saudi Arabia. The hike to the top takes about 4 hours and offers stunning views of the surrounding area.
Enjoy the views from the many lookout points: There are several lookout points scattered throughout Al Soudah Park Abha. These offer breathtaking views of the mountains, valleys, and forests below.
Take a dip in the refreshing waters of Wadi Birkhat Khayran: Wadi Birkhat Khayran is a river that flows through Al Soudah Park Abha. It is a popular spot for swimming and picnicking.
Hiking and walking
The first thing you can enjoy once you arrive, is to enjoy walking around the park and satisfying the eye and soul with the beauty of the surrounding nature, where you can spend the most enjoyable times with family and friends, and take a walk in the place, either during the day to saturate the eye and soul with the beauty of nature, or at night to enjoy the lighting distributed by bridges and walkways.
Riding the Soudah cable car
Who doesn’t love adventure and flying between heaven and earth! And here it is achieved in Al-Soudah Park Abha with the presence of the cable car that takes you from one place to another in the park, where the ticket to board it is about 25 riyals for adults, and 10 riyals for children, in exchange for a trip through the air that takes 10 and a half minutes, and the same way, from the park to the village of Rijal Almaa in Tihama.
Camping in place
If you are a fan of camping for long hours, you can take your personal supplies, some canned food and drinks, set up your own tents, enjoy sitting as long as possible in the park, and use binoculars installed on the edges of the views to see the most wonderful scenery.
Skydiving experience
Do you still have the energy for more adventure? So, let’s go flying and descending from the highest point in Soudah Abha Park to its land again, where you can enjoy the parachute jumping experience, and experience it with all the fun and excitement.
Attend celebrations and events
Many celebrations and events are held in the park that you can attend, ranging from heritage parties, or children’s parties full of entertainment, where there is a children’s play area, in which various games are placed to achieve a special day in the park for children.
BBQ Sessions
The most beautiful feature of the park is the possibility of sitting anywhere and placing some trees to make a firewood torch, and start grilling delicious food, and making a family luncheon, in the open air amidst the beauty of nature.
Restaurants in Soudah Park Abha
There are many restaurants in Al Soudah Park Abha
Serafina Restaurant
Located within the park, the restaurant offers a menu of delicious snacks, including pizzas, pasta, salads and appetizers, as well as cold and hot drinks on request.
Meraki Restaurant
It is also located within the park, and features wonderful indoor or outdoor sessions overlooking the view, to enjoy watching the world of Abha from above during meals, and offers a variety of Middle Eastern dishes, such as grills of all kinds, in addition to various fish dishes, in addition to appetizers, desserts and drinks.
Bayat Restaurant
The third restaurant located within the park, which serves delicious dishes such as biryani rice, mandi, and other main dishes, and provides sessions with wonderful views of the park, and consists of a ground floor, and an upper floor, and also offers the possibility of booking distinctive tables for VIPs.
Conclusion
Al Soudah Park Abha is a great place to spend a day or two exploring. With plenty to do, including hiking, swimming, and picnicking, the park is also a great place to learn about the local culture and history. Al Soudah Park Abha is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.
