Saudi Camel Village attracts huge crowds

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The village welcomes visitors from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m until March 20 in the southern Sayahdah district of Al-Dahnaa. (SPA)
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The village welcomes visitors from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m until March 20 in the southern Sayahdah district of Al-Dahnaa. (SPA)
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The village welcomes visitors from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m until March 20 in the southern Sayahdah district of Al-Dahnaa. (SPA)
Updated 11 March 2019
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Saudi Camel Village attracts huge crowds

  • The village is part of the King Abdul Aziz Camel Festival, taking place in the northeast of Riyadh
  • Visitors to the village are welcome from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the festival

RIYADH: The Saudi Camel Village is continuing its activities as part of the King Abdul Aziz Camel Festival, taking place in the northeast of Riyadh.

The giant festival site is split into sections, including a commercial area, a desert park, and a village center where activities, entertainment, cultural events, traditional food and handicrafts are available. The Saudi Camel Village is receiving large numbers of visitors. 

The Khan Al-Khalili pavilion presents popular Egyptian folklore, while the Desert Man pavilion documents life in the Arabian Peninsula. There are also the Classic Cars and Old Games pavilions.

Al-Ardah Academy pavilion is attracting the most visitors, who are interested in watching authentic Saudi shows. 

The village welcomes visitors from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the festival, which has revitalized tourism in the desert area that formed part of the traditional trade routes across the Arabian Peninsula. 

 

Entertainment program

Camel Club Chairman Fahd bin Falah bin Hithlin met children of Saudi martyrs of duty at the festival. This visit falls under the cultural entertainment program for children of martyrs, organized by the Ministry of Interior. 

The children toured festival pavilions accompanied by “Houwair,” the festival’s character, and visited the Khan Al-Khalili market, which displayed a wall painting titled “Message to the Country’s Heroes.”

Ibrahim Al-Zahrani delivered a speech in the name of the children, expressing his admiration of the visit and the various events and activities of the festival.

On the sidelines of the festival, the Camel Museum is exhibiting the animal’s history in Islamic and Arab countries.

The museum includes an overview of camel breeds, as well as paintings and drawings made of the animal’s hair.


Little Farm: A Countryside Escape in the Heart of Jeddah

Updated 13 sec ago
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Little Farm: A Countryside Escape in the Heart of Jeddah

  • The farm provides a pleasant setting for capturing memorable photos, especially when children encounter farm animals for the first time

During weekends, I always like to take my 18-month-old son somewhere that stimulates his senses and curiosity. While searching for family-friendly farms in Jeddah, I discovered Little Farm, located in the Al-Manarat district. With a 4.2 rating, it seemed like a convenient nearby option.

My first impression upon entering was very positive. The venue also hosts children’s themed parties, and the cashier explained the available activities, which cater to children as young as one year old. Visitors can access the animal farm area starting from SR39 for both adults and children.

Older children can participate in interactive experiences such as goat milking, which is offered for an additional fee. Visitors can also explore dedicated rabbit and cat halls, both available at an extra charge. These halls allow children to interact with animals from various breeds in a safe environment, under the supervision of trained animal specialists. Another section of the venue is the vertical farm zone, where families can explore hanging fruits and vegetables and learn about modern farming methods.

I purchased tickets for the animal farm and paid an additional SR25 for a basket of animal feed, which included cattle feed, bird food, clover, grains and lettuce. Visitors can keep the reusable straw basket for future visits. The dark brown basket with a blue base adds to the countryside aesthetic. The farm opens daily to visitors at 4:30 p.m.

A toddler gets a close encounter with a goat at the Little Farm. (AN photo by Nada Hameed)

The maze-like entrance creates the atmosphere of a secret garden. Visitors are first greeted by a group of large turkeys, loudly announcing their presence. I quickly moved toward the duck pond, as ducks are my son’s favorite birds. We enjoyed feeding them lettuce by the water. Both the ducks and the pond were clean, and the experience was enjoyable enough that my son wanted to stay there for the rest of the visit.

We then moved to the turtle enclosure, where the animals appeared active and eager to be fed. In the goat section, children were allowed to hold a baby goat, which quickly became a highlight for many families. We also fed goats and sheep, the farm indeed provided an engaging and educational experience for children. Ponies, cows, donkeys and geese were also there.

The farm provides a pleasant setting for capturing memorable photos, especially when children encounter farm animals for the first time. The reactions are truly priceless.

The animal shelters were clean and spacious, and the farm offers a good variety of animals. Staff members were helpful and welcoming, and overall prices were reasonable for the experience offered. For more information, check the farm’s Instagram account @littlefarmksa.