Day 11 (2016) Abu Dhabi: Eastern Mangroves NP & Yas Beach Club

3.4.2015

Day 11

Visited highlights: Eastern Mangroves NP & Yas Beach Club

This morning we drive to the Eastern Mangroves Promenade at the Eastern Mangroves National Park. Since I'm an absolute scaredy-cat and won't set foot in a canoe, we decide to cruise through the mangroves in a "donut" boat. The kids love it! We cruise our little donut down the canal and into the sea and then turn right back into the Eastern Mangroves National Park. We "anchor" at a pier and explore the beach, where we notice a fox. It walks along the water and then hides in the bushes again. There are canoes on the shore, so it seems like someone else is exploring the island. As it gets hotter, we ride the donut back and go to Al Bandar for pizza lunch.

After lunch, we test out the new Yas Beach Club. Entry fee is 60 AED (about 15 € per person), including loungers, umbrella, and towels. The water and the beach by the canal are artificially created, slightly muddy, not comparable to Saadiyat Island. But there's a great pool, music, food and drinks, playground, water park, and wakeboarding opportunities. We like it 😊 We stay until sunset and enjoy a calm day at the beach with a pleasant temperature of +26 degrees.

Back at the house, we have to pack. The vacation is coming to an end, and tomorrow our plane home departs (hopefully). This time we were lucky that our family member in Abu Dhabi (who works at Etihad) was able to book discounted flights for family members. The downside: it's high season and we have only been confirmed for the outbound flight. So we'll be surprised if the planned flight home works out tomorrow morning.