Kayaking in the Mangroves

Skirting the eastern side of Abu Dhabi is a large set of mangroves which have always intrigued me.  If you are looking for something different to do in Abu Dhabi then a paddle through the mangroves is definitely something you could consider. We booked a tour with Noukhada (noukhada.ae) and were treated to nice morning's adventure. We hit low tide which perhaps isn't the best but was interesting in its own right as it really exposed all the mangrove roots and crab caves. However it did make the channels a little shallower. We could stand on the mud flats and see some distant flamingos, get up close and personal with some crabs and were treated to herons catching fish right next to the boats. Lots of tiny fish in the channels to watch. But the invitation to have swim in the green water was politely declined, nicely nutrient filled for the fish but not very inviting for the the two-legged. The two guides provide a good commentary and set a comfortable pace.

There are single and double kayaks available, and a 2-for-1 deal with the Entertainer if you have the voucher.

The Club

There is only one The Club, and it has been here in Abu Dhabi for longer than the UAE! However, now that there are lots of 'clubs' in hotels and leisure facilities it has been necessary to sometimes refer to it as the British Club in Mina. But really it is just The Club, www.the-club.com will get you there. It is a membership based facility but there are events and restaurants that can be accessed by non members. Compared to most other membership organisations in town, the fees are reasonable and it is especially recommended as family friendly.

Along with a great variety of sports facilities, the pools,  restaurants and bars, for me the most used feature is the library which has DVDs and books for borrowing plus there is always a good selection of second hand ones on sale too. Check out their website  a full description of the facilities.