The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) is Jordan’s primary conservation organisation — a non-governmental body established in 1966 by royal decree, responsible for managing the country’s protected areas network. In a region where development pressure and water scarcity have eroded natural habitats at an exceptional rate over the past 50 years, the RSCN has preserved what remains of Jordan’s ecological diversity through a combination of strict protection, community integration, and nature-based tourism.
The organisation manages seven reserves across the country, together covering roughly 1,200 square kilometres — a significant but still fragile portion of Jordan’s total land area. These reserves span every major Jordanian ecosystem: Mediterranean forest, subtropical canyon, arid steppe, desert wetland, sand and gravel desert. No other institution in Jordan bears greater responsibility for the country’s wild places.
The seven RSCN reserves
1. Dana Biosphere Reserve
Size: 320 km² — the largest RSCN reserve and the largest protected area in Jordan. Region: Southern highlands, King’s Highway corridor. Ecosystems: Four biozones in a single drainage: Mediterranean highland forest, Irano-Turanian steppe, Saharo-Arabian desert, and Sudanese penetration zone. Key wildlife: Nubian ibex, Egyptian wolf, striped hyena, sand cat, 215 bird species, 700+ plant species. Visitor infrastructure: Dana Guesthouse (RSCN, village rim), Feynan Ecolodge (solar, canyon floor), 4 developed trails including the classic Wadi Dana descent. Best season: March-May and October-November.
Dana is the jewel of the RSCN system — the most ecologically diverse, the most scenically dramatic, and the most infrastructure-developed for multi-day visits. For the full visitor guide: /guides/dana-biosphere-guide/.
RSCN tour option:
2-day Dana Reserve tour from Amman with meals2. Mujib Biosphere Reserve
Size: 220 km² (extending from -410m Dead Sea shore to +900m canyon rim). Region: Jordan Valley, Dead Sea adjacency. Ecosystems: World’s lowest nature reserve. Desert, canyon, freshwater, Dead Sea shore. Key wildlife: Nubian ibex (250 individuals), striped hyena, Egyptian vulture, freshwater endemics. Visitor infrastructure: Visitor centre at Dead Sea Highway; Siq Trail (water canyon, April-October); Ibex Trail (year-round); Malaqi Trail (canyoning, guided only). Best season: April-May and September-October (Siq Trail); November-March for Ibex Trail.
Mujib offers the most visceral physical experience in the RSCN system — wading up a water canyon through 100-metre walls is unlike any other hike in Jordan. The season restriction is real and firm: do not attempt the Siq outside open season. Full guide: /guides/mujib-reserve-guide/.
RSCN tour option:
From Amman: Wadi Mujib Siq Trail private hiking tour3. Ajloun Forest Reserve
Size: 13 km² — the smallest major visitor reserve but the most intact remaining forest in Jordan. Region: Northern highlands, near Ajloun town. Ecosystems: Mediterranean oak and pistachio forest, forest edge shrubland. Key wildlife: Persian squirrel, wild boar, roe deer, striped hyena, woodland birds including Syrian woodpecker. Visitor infrastructure: Forest cabins (RSCN, within the woodland), 4 trails (Roe Deer 8.5km, Soap House 3km with cooperative visit, Prophet’s Trail 2km, Eagle’s Trail 4km). Best season: March-May (wildflowers, spring migrants); year-round accessible.
Ajloun is the most accessible RSCN reserve for Amman-based visitors and the most family-friendly. The Persian squirrels are reliably seen, the trails are well-maintained, and the soap cooperative visit adds a genuine cultural dimension. Full guide: /guides/ajloun-forest-reserve/.
RSCN tour option:
Ajloun day trip from Amman with local family lunch4. Shaumari Wildlife Reserve
Size: 22 km². Region: Eastern Jordan (Badia steppe-desert), near Azraq. Ecosystems: Steppe desert, open gravel plains. Key wildlife: Arabian oryx (200+), Persian gazelle, African ostrich, onager (Persian wild ass). Visitor infrastructure: Open-air safari truck (no free walking in main enclosure), visitor centre with conservation exhibition. Best season: Spring and autumn; year-round viable.
Shaumari’s primary significance is the Arabian oryx reintroduction — started in 1979 from 4 individuals, the reserve is now home to 200+ oryx and has served as the founding population for reintroductions across the Arabian Peninsula. The safari experience itself is not luxury game-drive standard, but the oryx sightings are virtually guaranteed. Full guide: /guides/shaumari-wildlife-guide/.
5. Azraq Wetland Reserve
Size: 12 km² of protected wetland. Region: Eastern Jordan (Badia), Azraq oasis. Ecosystems: Freshwater wetland (oasis in desert), reed beds, open water. Key wildlife: 300+ recorded bird species, including major winter concentrations of waterfowl and waders; breeding black-winged stilt. Visitor infrastructure: 1.5km boardwalk, bird hide, visitor centre. Best season: January-March (winter waterfowl); March-May (spring migration).
Azraq’s story is as much about ecological recovery from near-total destruction as it is about the birds that live there now. The partial recovery of the wetland after the near-catastrophic groundwater extraction of the 1990s is a cautionary tale with a modestly hopeful ending. Full guide: /guides/azraq-wetland-guide/.
6. Yarmouk Nature Reserve
Size: Approximately 20 km². Region: Far northern Jordan, on the Syrian and Israeli borders. Ecosystems: Mediterranean scrubland, river valley, basalt plateau. Key wildlife: Migratory birds using the Jordan Valley flyway, wild boar, several raptor species. Visitor access: Limited. The reserve is in a sensitive border area and full public access has been restricted. Contact RSCN for current status before planning a visit. This reserve is not currently a practical day-trip destination for most tourists.
Yarmouk is the least visitor-developed of the accessible reserves. Its position at the junction of three countries’ borders makes management complicated, and the security situation in southern Syria has affected the area’s accessibility. The river valley itself is ecologically significant as one of the few remaining perennial streams in northern Jordan.
7. Burqu Reserve (Black Desert)
Size: Large but poorly defined protected area in the far northeastern Badia. Region: Far eastern Jordan (Basalt desert, near Iraqi and Syrian borders). Ecosystems: Basalt desert, seasonal wetland at Qasr Burqu (a Roman-period reservoir). Key wildlife: Migratory birds at the seasonal pool, wolves, caracal (rare), migratory raptors. Visitor access: Very limited. Remote location (200+ km from Amman), no regular tourist infrastructure, and proximity to the borders requires careful planning. Not a practical day-trip destination for most visitors.
Burqu is the wild card of the RSCN system — genuinely remote, barely visited, and protecting a landscape that few Jordanians have seen. The Roman-period reservoir at Qasr Burqu is an extraordinary piece of engineering (a massive basalt dam that still holds water seasonally), and the Black Desert’s volcanic landscape is unlike anything else in Jordan. For serious travellers interested in extreme off-the-beaten-track experiences, RSCN and specialised Jordanian operators can arrange visits with proper preparation.
The Wild Jordan programme
The RSCN operates a brand called Wild Jordan that encompasses:
Wild Jordan Centre (Amman): Located in the Abdali district of Amman, this facility serves as the public face of RSCN in the capital. The centre has a café-restaurant (good quality, panoramic views of Amman), a retail shop selling products made by communities associated with the RSCN reserves (soaps, herbal products, handicrafts), and an information hub for planning reserve visits.
The Wild Jordan Centre is worth visiting before heading to the reserves — the staff can advise on current trail conditions, book accommodation at RSCN lodges, and explain the conservation programmes. The shop’s products are genuinely made by reserve communities and the proceeds support conservation directly.
Wild Jordan Ecolodges: The RSCN operates ecolodges at three reserves: Dana Guest House (Dana village rim), Feynan Ecolodge (Dana canyon floor), and the Ajloun forest cabins. These are the primary RSCN overnight accommodation options. They are not luxury — they are purposefully simple, locally staffed, and designed to minimise environmental impact. The experiences they offer (a night in the oak forest, a solar-powered evening in the desert canyon) are genuinely memorable.
Community integration: All five main visitor reserves have been designed to provide economic benefit to surrounding communities. Local residents work as guides, cooks, cabin maintenance staff, and cooperative producers. Trail fees, accommodation revenue, and product sales are partially returned to community funds. This model — conservation that benefits rather than excludes local people — is one of the RSCN’s core operating principles.
Planning a multi-reserve itinerary
Northern circuit (1-2 days)
Ajloun Forest Reserve + Ajloun Castle. From Amman in 1 hour each way — a feasible day trip or overnight in the forest cabins.
Eastern Jordan circuit (1 day)
Desert castles (Qasr Amra, Qasr Kharana) + Shaumari Wildlife Reserve + Azraq Wetland Reserve. A long but achievable day from Amman — leave by 7:00 am, return by 6:00 pm.
Southern conservation circuit (3-5 days)
Dana Biosphere Reserve (2-3 days with Feynan overnight) + Mujib Biosphere Reserve (1 day, April-October for Siq Trail) + Dead Sea. This is the most ecologically rich multi-day option in Jordan outside Petra and Wadi Rum.
Complete RSCN circuit (7-10 days, including all accessible reserves)
Ajloun + Eastern Jordan circuit + Dana + Mujib — this would represent a comprehensive tour of Jordan’s conservation landscape. Few tourists do the complete circuit, but ecotourism visitors who prioritise wildlife and nature over archaeology should seriously consider it.
Booking and fees
Booking: All RSCN reserves can be booked through rscn.org.jo. Accommodation at Dana Guest House, Feynan Ecolodge, and the Ajloun cabins should be booked well in advance for peak season.
Entry fees: Typically 7-25 JOD per person per trail or activity, varying by reserve and activity. The Jordan Pass does not cover RSCN entry fees — these are paid separately at the reserve visitor centres.
Guides: Most reserves have guides available for hire (20-50 JOD per day, typically per group rather than per person). Guides are mandatory on the Mujib Siq Trail (included in entry fee) and recommended at Dana for the Wadi Dana trail.
Contact: RSCN head office in Amman, tel. +962 6 461 6523. Individual reserve contacts available on the rscn.org.jo website.
Conservation status and threats
Jordan’s reserves face the same pressures as protected areas globally, plus several region-specific challenges:
Water: Groundwater extraction for agricultural and urban use affects Azraq wetland directly, and threatens the spring systems that support Dana’s lower canyon. The RSCN consistently advocates for stronger water protection policies.
Overgrazing: The Badia reserves (Shaumari, Azraq, Burqu) border extensive Bedouin grazing lands. Overgrazing beyond reserve boundaries degrades the buffer zones and affects migration corridors for wildlife.
Hunting pressure: Despite legal protection, poaching of larger mammals and birds occurs — particularly affecting the wolf and hyena populations, and wild boar near agricultural areas.
Tourism impact: The RSCN manages visitor numbers carefully at the most sensitive sites (Feynan Ecolodge caps its capacity, the Siq Trail limits daily entrances). This sometimes frustrates visitors expecting open access, but it is the mechanism by which the reserves remain functionally wild rather than becoming tourist attractions that happen to have wildlife.
The overall trajectory — measured by wildlife population surveys and habitat quality assessments — is cautiously positive at Dana, Ajloun, and Shaumari. Mujib and Azraq remain in active recovery phases. Yarmouk and Burqu remain conservation priorities with limited visitor infrastructure.
RSCN and the Jordan Pass
One important practical note: the Jordan Pass (Jordan’s combined visa-and-entry-fee tourism card) does not cover RSCN reserve entry fees. The Jordan Pass covers national archaeological and historical sites managed by the Jordan Department of Antiquities — Petra, Jerash, Umm Qais, Karak Castle, and many others. The RSCN is a separate organisation managing separate sites, and entry fees paid to RSCN go to different budget lines.
This distinction surprises many visitors who assume their Jordan Pass covers everything. Budget separately for RSCN visits: typically 7-25 JOD per person per reserve activity, depending on the reserve and trail. See /guides/jordan-pass-guide/ for what the Jordan Pass does and does not include.
RSCN products and the Wild Jordan shop
One of the most direct ways to support RSCN conservation as a visitor is to buy from the Wild Jordan shop network. The Wild Jordan Centre in Amman stocks:
Handcrafted goods: Textiles, embroideries, and ceramics made by women’s cooperatives in communities adjacent to the reserves. Quality varies but the best pieces are genuinely beautiful and use traditional patterns.
Food products: Olive oil from reserve-adjacent farms, wild herb mixtures (za’atar, sumac blends), dried fruits and nuts, and herbal teas harvested sustainably within the reserves.
Natural beauty products: Dead Sea mineral soaps and lotions from the Ajloun soap cooperative and from affiliated producers at the Dana reserve community.
Books and publications: Natural history guides to Jordan’s birds, plants, and mammals. The RSCN-published guides are authoritative and not widely available elsewhere.
The Wild Jordan Centre café also serves excellent food using local ingredients — it is one of the better lunch spots in central Amman with panoramic views from its Abdali location.
Eco-certification and international recognition
The RSCN’s reserves have received recognition from several international bodies:
Dana and Mujib: Both designated as UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, a designation given to areas that demonstrate sustainable approaches to conservation and development. The biosphere reserve model — core protected zone surrounded by buffer and transition zones where sustainable human use continues — is what RSCN implements.
Feynan Ecolodge: Recognised by National Geographic Traveler as one of the world’s “unique lodges” and has appeared on multiple responsible tourism awards lists. The no-generator, community-staffed, solar-powered model is genuinely exemplary.
RSCN certification scheme: The RSCN has developed a certification framework for tour operators who work with the reserves, ensuring that organised visits meet minimum standards for guide quality, waste management, and community benefit sharing.
Wildlife watching calendar across all reserves
A month-by-month guide to what to prioritise:
| Month | Best reserve | What to see |
|---|---|---|
| January | Azraq | Peak waterfowl, winter raptors |
| February | Azraq + Ajloun | Waterfowl, early cyclamen at Ajloun |
| March | Ajloun + Dana | Wildflowers, spring migration begins |
| April | Mujib Siq + Dana | Siq Trail opens, wildflowers peak |
| May | All reserves | Spring migration peak, all trails active |
| June | Shaumari + Azraq | Oryx calves, early morning visits |
| July | Shaumari (early AM) | Extreme heat — early starts only |
| August | Shaumari (early AM) | As July |
| September | All reserves | Autumn migration begins, cooler |
| October | Dana + Mujib | Best conditions, autumn colours |
| November | Shaumari + Azraq | Mujib Siq closes, waterfowl return |
| December | Azraq + Shaumari | Winter birds, oryx in cool air |
The bigger picture
Jordan protects approximately 1% of its land area in the RSCN reserve network — low by international standards but meaningful given the country’s size, water constraints, and the economic pressures on rural communities adjacent to reserves. The RSCN’s achievement over 60 years has been to make conservation economically viable for the communities who live alongside the reserves, not just the foreign tourists and international NGOs who might otherwise be conservation’s only constituency.
For visitors, this means that choosing to visit RSCN reserves — paying entry fees, staying at the ecolodges, buying from the cooperative shops — is not just tourism. It is part of the financial model that keeps the wild places wild.
See individual reserve guides for detailed trail information, seasonal guidance, and practical logistics: /guides/dana-biosphere-guide/, /guides/mujib-reserve-guide/, /guides/ajloun-forest-reserve/, /guides/shaumari-wildlife-guide/, /guides/azraq-wetland-guide/.