Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, established in 1975 as Jordan's first reserve, was created to breed endangered species in their natural habitat. It is famous for reintroducing the Arabian oryx, once extinct in the wild, alongside ostriches, gazelles and Persian onagers.
Visitor safari drives by ranger lead past the large grazing herds on the open steppe near Azraq. Birders add desert species like the houbara bustard and thick-billed lark.