First look: you can now stay overnight at Ras Al Khaimah's Bear Grylls Explorers Camp


Sophie Prideaux
  • English
  • Arabic

The world’s first Bear Grylls Explorers Camp opened its doors in Ras Al Khaimah in October, equipping would-be adventurers with all the survival tips and skills they need to make it in the wilderness.

And the experience has now expanded to allow guests to take that one step further with an overnight stay. Granted, it is not quite a night spent completely under the stars surrounded by nothing but nature, but it certainly isn’t a five-star resort, either.

New to the base camp in Jebel Jais are nine recycled and redesigned cabins, which will become the world's first Bear Grylls-branded accommodation. The unique outdoor lodging will allow guests to experience more of the great outdoors and tailor their experience at the Bear Grylls Explorers Camp, with activity options including instructor-led survival courses, mountain biking and climbing, as well as self-guided and instructor-led hikes.

The Bear Grylls Explorers Camp survival course:

The accommodation is designed to host up to three adults, or two adults and one child, with basic self-catering facilities, including a private barbecue on a private outdoor terrace to prepare meals. Upon checking in, visitors will find their cabins made up and equipped with plates, bowls, cutlery, mugs, barbecue tools and toilet paper, while the on-site shop provides further amenities such as snacks and firewood that can be purchased if needed. The camp is also dog-friendly, welcoming up to two dogs per cabin with an extra charge of Dh50. Owners are however asked to keep their pets on a leash and accompanied at all times.

Camp guests will have the option to take part in a survival course run by UK experts trained at the Bear Grylls Survival Academy, with half-day (three to four hours), eight-hour and 24-hour options available. The courses are designed for adults and families, outdoor enthusiasts, or as team building activities for corporate companies.

Participants will be exposed to both practical and extreme survival techniques for some of the world’s toughest terrains, and can expect plenty of surprises along the way.

The camp will be taking bookings from Wednesday. Prices start from Dh450 per night per cabin on weekdays, and Dh650 on weekends. More information can be found here.

SPECS

Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR

Engine: 5.7-litre V8

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 362hp

Torque: 530Nm

Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)

Polarised public

31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views

19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views

19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all

Source: YouGov

Key developments

All times UTC 4

The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Power: 268bhp / 536bhp
Torque: 343Nm / 686Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
On sale: Later this year
Types of fraud

Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.

Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.

Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.

SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.

Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.

Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.

* Nada El Sawy

The Transfiguration

Director: Michael O’Shea

Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine

Three stars