United Arab Emirates · Guided herping
Herping in the UAE
Geckos, vipers and scorpions of the dunes and the Hajar Mountains, found by headlamp and photographed with respect.
Where we search
Two habitats, two worlds
Soft dunes and gravel plains, or the rocky wadis of the Hajar range. Each has its own species and its own way of searching.
When to go
Summer nights, winter days
The heat decides the schedule. In summer the action starts after dark; in the cooler months you can search by daylight too.
Summer nights
9 PM – 1 AM · headlamps on
Once the sun goes down, the desert wakes up. Look for eyeshine on the sand, geckos out hunting and scorpions on the gravel, while vipers wait in ambush for their prey.
Winter days
8 – 11 AM and 4 – 6 PM
Cool mornings and late afternoons are good for daytime herping. After a rare winter rain, temporary pools bring out toads. Vipers may show at dusk.
- Desert Monitor
- Sand Skink
- Arabian Toad · after rain
- Hajar Saw-scaled Viper · dusk
- Arabian Horned Viper · dusk
What you might find
Species we photograph
Keyserling’s Wonder Gecko
Teratoscincus keyserlingii
Orlov’s Fan-footed Gecko
Ptyodactylus orlovi
Gardner’s Leaf-toed Gecko
Asaccus gardneri
Gallagher’s Leaf-toed Gecko
Asaccus gallagheri
Middle Eastern Short-fingered Gecko
Stenodactylus doriae
Red Sea House Gecko
Hemidactylus robustus
Hajar Banded Ground Gecko
Trachydactylus hajarensis Full guideAll geckos of the UAEView list →
How we herp
With respect, after dark
The goal is to see reptiles, not to disturb them. Every trip follows the same simple rules.
- 1Observe, don’t stress
Animals are photographed where we find them, and every stone goes back the way it was.
- 2Education over fear
Learn to tell the venomous species from the harmless ones, and why they all matter.
- 3Come prepared
Sturdy boots, plenty of water and a headlamp. We handle the route and the timing.
Field journal
Stories from the field
Guided trips
Spend a night in the field with us
Small groups, desert or mountains, with a guide who knows where to look and how to photograph what you find.
Check our herping trips →