Just an hour’s drive from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, lies Nofa Riyadh, a Radisson Collection Resort – a nature-lover’s paradise, brimming with activities, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and an extraordinary sense of urban escapism. Wrapped in gardens and greenery, it feels a million miles from city life, with the resort’s 57 secluded safari-style villas enjoying private gardens, Jacuzzis and swimming pools for the ultimate in privacy and peace.
The resort is attached to its own safari park, promising Out of Africa moments in the Middle East, where guests can witness nature’s beauty as wildebeest, elands and sables stroll the desert sands, pygmy hippos wallow in water, and Grevy’s zebras, Arabian Oryx and giraffes rub shoulders with more than 700 different animals.
Leisure time is in abundance, so days can be as busy or as laid-back as you like. There’s a large beach pool for cooling dips, a ladies-only outdoor pool, and two freshwater lakes; an equestrian centre where you can saddle up for a horseback safari through the park; an 18-hole, par 73 golf course designed by Barrie Gregson and one of the best in Saudi; a bowling alley, cinema and kids adventure park for the ultimate child-friendly fun; and an 11-room Amani Spa & Wellness centre, which focuses on enhancing physical, mental and emotional well-being, along with a hammam, aroma steam room, gym, hair salon and nail spa.
Close-by you’ll find all the cultural excursions you could want, from an outing in Riyadh Downtown, visits to Kingdom Tower, Murabba Palace and Al Rahji Grand Mosque, or sightseeing of the city’s skyscrapers and luxury shopping malls.
All of this will no doubt have worked up quite the appetite, so you can make light work of the resort’s five restaurants and lounges. Italian flavours take to the plate at Al Fresco, with risottos, stone-fired pizzas and pool-side bites; find elegantly-presented sushi and Japanese cuisine at Aji Sushi Lounge; mezze, coffee, tea and smoothies are served up at African Tea Room; culinary theatrics and perfectly-cooked steaks come with lakeside views at The Butcher’s Den; and casual dining, shisha and after-dinner entertainment awaits at Hookah Lounge.
When it’s time to retire, the quietude and beauty of the landscape surrounding your thatched-roof villa invites nothing but restorative sleep, as nature’s playground slowly breathes life into a new day.