Desert disaster
Just recovering from our trip down to thr desert yesterday. Six of us went and the camel ride was good, the dune bashing was great (but what if another 4x4 is coming up the other side of the dune and you can't see it?), the scenery was beaustiful and we saw flamingoes, and then there was the camp!!!!! About 20 of us and a camel called Lala congregated there beside the ocean, with waves pounding on the sand. We ate, which was nice, and then someone said that the incoming tide and strong winds had caused the sea to flood his tent! So we all went outside to meet a foamy tide swirling round our ankles and comig in at such a rate that the cook's tent was awash and we all tried to build sand banks to stem the flow! To no avail ... while one of the drivers sat at atable stuffing himself with salad and barbecue food the tide swept past and flooded the tents, washing over and soon covering the electricity cables! The cook I spoke to said that it would be okay as the water would recede when the tide turned between 10 and 11 pm - check out time --- 8pm!
So eventually the drama got to the organisers and we abandoned camp for the one next door. loading ourselves into the vehicles and rescing Lala the camel. To no avail as when we reached the other camp the same was happening there; tables and chairs floating on the incoming tide with nearly 3 hours still to go! At this point I told our driver I wanted to quit and go back to Doha as echoes of tsunami footage and school advice never to mis water and elecricity crept in ... he called his boss and a heated debate began between my husband and the boss. But our driver said that we were right and it was all too dangerous, so we climbed back into the car and hit the sand, in the dark, in a sandstorm and with thunder and lightning in the distance. What more could go wrong? Try my front-passenger son's realisation that our driver had been drinking! We stopped at the Sealine to pump up the tyres and we checked out the bottle he had in the front - definitely peach schnapps or something similar. Alongside came another 4x4 with one of the guys from the camp. I had thought he was with another group of guests but no, he was our driver's friend who had come along for the ride (and a free meal and alcohol, I guess). We left as the thunderstorm broke overhead, with such relief that we were not going to be at the camp, sodden and possibly without electricity and with an electric storm happening overhead as the tide surged in and the rains came down! What else could befall us, except for a biblical plague of locusts? Well, we were aware suddenly of a crazy car speeding up beside us, touching our rear bumper and flashing its lights, and then overtaking us, slowing down dramatically causing us to slow down to avoid a collision and then speeding off again. Our driver accelerated and overtook him, and it was his friend from the desert, the guy who had come along for the ride. We overtook him and a manic cat and mouse chase began (bear in mind the alcohol) with us in the vehicle absolutely terrified. But the guy zoomed off as at least our driver had the sense to stop the nonsense. We arrived back in Doha to torrential rain and such relief at being back. Do these organisers never check out the weather forecasts or have contingency plans? Have they never undergone any sort of training as regards health and safety, and surely they must know more than most that you can never mess with the elements, especially when these all decide to go awry at the same time? Is it acceptable for our driver to bring a stash of booze when he thought he was going to be spending the night in the desert sleeping it off? Answers please ...
Schnauzeroo, thanks for alerting and confirming what I always had in the back of my mind and what just confirms... do not even expect anything here to work as "promised" or "agreed"... do not assume people will be prepared adn responsible when it comes to offer a service.
Not the first disaster I hear about this desert trip.
I am just happy soon I will be going back to normality!!!!
I recommend next time you choose a reputable company with good services and a good safety record, anyhow I had heard many awful stories about the mentioned company (..T) they have a really bad safety record also as constantly they have accidents. Better luck next time on choosing a good tours company. If you ask me I recommend al mazaya tours, we tried this company when we had some friends on a visit and they are great. Cheers
that you had a nice time.
Hello again, hopefully for the final time regarding this topic. A guy called my husband yesterday, regarding our trip last Sunday. He said he had taken time to contact the others on the trip and they had verified our "story". He told my husband that our driver no longer works for them (made me feel bad) and offered many apologies but no recompense or vouchers; we would not go back there with them anyway. He said he had emailed me with this information but to date I have received nothing. With some trepidation we drove down to Sealine on Tuesday and found it delightful ... a great time was had by all and we would certainly go back there; I thought it might be a bit grubby and run down like our desert camp but it was clean and smart and a welcome day's relaxation for my husband and I saw some interesting birds. A bientot, tout le monde. Bon weekend.
which company?
grrrr....
Schnauzeroo, Thanks for the sharing your ordeal with all of us , I feel that more feed back about other companies providing such services should also come forth , so that anyone who would like to go dune bashing or desert camping would know which company they could trust their lives with....OK for eg. "QIT" is a big no for me.
I am amazed by all the comments and reassured that we were not being wimpy in asking to be brought back to Doha. As a result I called the company (3 initials and the last one is T) and the guy there said they were not responsible for the weather; I said that I was not complaining about the weather but that there seemed to be no strategy for dealing with the adverse weather - I am Scottish and am accustomed to dramatic changes in the weather and attacks from hostile elements! He was concerned about the allegation of the driver having been drinking and asked that I email him with all the details; I did this yesterday and received an immediate confirmation email assuring me that he would investigate and inform his MD but have had no further communication. Thanks for all your support, and perhaps we will try again with another company. I would never recommend the company --T to anyone. Goodnight, all.
thats why i never go dune bashing here, even just watching from a far you get side swiped by the ATV's or Landcruisers. If you camped out, they pass-by and spray you with sand or keep you awake all night by the noise. I did tried it in DUBAI (twice) and i enjoyed it.
Never had that kind of problem with drivers when I was doing the dune bashing. But I agree the drivers do all know each other and tend to play cat-and-mouse at the passengers' expense. I think the water drowning the camp was probably difficult to predict. Kind of weird weather we've had lately. But I don't think weather would stop any of the tour providers from booking passengers for these trips, regardless of how bad it got. I'm surprised they agreed to cut your trip short.
Max
Although the weather is unpredictable, do use this website www.wunder.com. It will atleast tell you the probability of rain – prediction was almost perfect for Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday – it would not have been a great idea to camp on top of a dune with the thunderstorm predicted – that is asking for some automatic frying with a million volts of electricity.
As for the camp organisers, two weeks back the 4x4 in front of us in our group turned turtle – so much for the wife’s believe that these guys are professional and nothing can happen – and that I’m a horrible driver on the dunes unlike these guys. Luckily all was well with no injuries – just an driver with his ego bashed up and a wrecked Patrol.
The point is – take care while you out with these companies – they have no right to risk your life and if at all you feel they taking a risk – opt out. Driving with alcohol on the Maseeid Doha stretch in the night – with the damp roads is asking for trouble. I’m glad you all safe.
I hope the poster of this thread not referring his/her experience to Al Mazaya Tours. If it is I will pass this thread to the guy who run the company (he is a family friend of ours).
Al Ajhar Dhow
My friends and I have tried this company many times and we found it the best. They have the a beautiful camp site with great service. We never faced any problems with them. Their drivers are excellent and very cautious.
Mine experience goes like this:
I (and 3 of my friends)booked a whole day trip with them and the reservation was made 2 weeks before. I made sure the day before (Thursday) where was the MEETING PLACE and TIME OF DEPARTURE.
The day came9Friday)...we were on time. We waited for 3 hours and after 30 follow-up calls to their coordinator...we gave up and head home. I was given the assurance that I will get a FULL REFUND.
(Saturday)...I called the office and reminded them of my FULL REFUND. I paied in CASH, I wanted my refund in CASH...which they did do.
Thery were apologetic about it. Even offered me and my friends half day trip FREE OF CHARGE...but I declined. Coz I was thinking, if they were that lousy at the start, I'm not going to look forward to upsetting myself for one half day out there (in the desert).
is it possible for anyone to predict the waether in this part of the world ?
i think this incident happened between QIA or QIT.
AFAIK they are the only two camps to each other, if so please let me know, so i will never use these companies ever again! ever!
plz.send me the name so we dont get involve
Very descriptive.. The organiser/tour company should take some responsibilty for their staff..
Well the forecast.. they should check.. But the weather this year has been extra ordinary..
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HE WHO DARES WINS
for dune bashing and desert camping in Doha?
I'm interested to know so I could avoid this company :-P
Of course it's not acceptable. Report them and their company to the police.