Yemen · YE

Utmah Nature Reserve

Utmah Nature Reserve (محمية عتمة) is Yemen's first officially declared protected area, a green highland sanctuary in Dhamar governorate roughly 58 km west of Dhamar city and about 155 km south of Sana'a. Declared in 1999 by prime ministerial decree, it was created to safeguard one of the country's most strikingly verdant mountain landscapes. What makes Utmah special is its contrast with much of arid Arabia: a chain of volcanic mountains and granite cliffs, dropping from about 2,800 m to 920 m toward the western plains, carved by deep valleys and threaded with springs that run year-round. Around four-fifths of the reserve stays under a living green cover, with terraced hillfields, thick shrub forest and high pasture. For visitors drawn to eco-tourism and history alike, Utmah pairs rewarding hill walking through orchards and pasture with a scatter of old forts and castle ruins, two natural hot springs, and wildlife that includes raptors, wolves and rare medicinal plants.