Just a short drive from the city and towards the desert, who would expect to find a tucked-away nature reserve with trees and lakes that are home to hundreds of migratory birds? That is exactly what this route to Al Marmoum Conservation Reserve offers. The lakes are not far from the road – in fact this route is accessible by 2WD or even two-wheels in places – but it's a delightful destination that feels a million miles from any metropolis.