The word 'biosphere reserve' means an area that is specially protected because it has a rich variety of wildlife and plants. Mujib is home to over 400 species of plants, 190 species of birds, and many mammals including ibex, hyenas, wolves, and sand cats — all living in a landscape that shifts from desert at the top to lush river valley at the bottom.
The Siq Trail through the canyon involves actually walking inside the river. Visitors put on a life jacket and wade through shallow water that gets deeper and faster as the canyon narrows. The cliffs on either side can be over 100 metres tall. Because the canyon is so narrow and the cliffs so high, it feels like walking through a giant natural corridor carved by water over millions of years.
The Mujib River flows all the way down from the highlands into the Dead Sea — making it one of the lowest-altitude river canyons on Earth. Because water flows down from the cooler mountains, the canyon is noticeably cooler than the hot desert above. Standing at the bottom in the shade of the cliffs with cold water flowing over your feet while the sun bakes the rock far above is an extraordinary feeling.