Tafileh — Between pink rock cliffs embracing the mountains, and from the depths of a valley where water cascades from one slope to another, Majhoud Waterfalls flow in a captivating natural scene, surrounded by oleander, sidr, and wild palm trees, with the water hiding among the rocks before continuing its journey toward Wadi Al-Hasa and the southern Jordan Valley.
اضافة اعلان
About 35 kilometers northwest of the city of Tafileh, near the village of West Arhab, lie the waterfalls that form an important stop along the water path of Wadi Al-Hasa, linked to the Burbita and Afra hot springs, in a watery, natural journey that extends for dozens of kilometers. Yet this site still falls short of its true potential on the local tourism map.
As soon as visitors reach the waterfalls, the scene of the road and the journey changes completely. The sound of rushing water dominates the place, natural pools form beneath the falls, and the pink and limestone colors of the rocks are reflected on the water's surface, giving the site a setting suited to adventure tourism, photography, hiking, swimming, and exploration.
Tour route expert Captain Aws Al-Marayat believes that Majhoud Waterfalls represent one of the most important natural links in the Wadi Al-Hasa trail, given the diversity of terrain, water, and rock formations there. He affirms that the site could become a fully integrated tourism product if the trail were organized and developed according to ecotourism and adventure tourism standards.
He points to the need to establish clear walking paths, classify swimming areas by safety level, install guidance and warning signs, provide rescue and monitoring points, and train tour guides from the nearby villages, allowing visitors to experience the site accompanied by people who know the area's nature, paths, and risks.
Al-Marayat says that involving the local community in managing the trail and providing guide, hospitality, transport, food, and agricultural product services would turn tourism into a tool for local development, rather than a mere passing activity for visitors.
Researcher and historian Ishaq Ayal Salman says the value of Majhoud Waterfalls is not limited to the natural scenery, but is also tied to the broader historical and geographical landscape of Wadi Al-Hasa, which has served as a corridor for human movement throughout the ages, with historical and archaeological sites and landmarks scattered around it.
He affirms that linking the waterfalls to the surrounding historical and natural sites, and presenting them as part of a single tourist route starting from Afra and Burbita and extending through Wadi Al-Hasa, would give visitors a richer experience combining nature, adventure, and history.
A number of visitors and regulars at the site say that the beauty of Majhoud Waterfalls far exceeds their fame, noting that many people from Tafileh and Jordanians in general are unaware of the site despite it now being easier to reach than in the past.
The flowing water, natural pools, rocky cliffs, and vegetation give the place a distinctive character, with some visitors coming to swim, relax, take photographs, and engage in adventure activities, especially during spring and summer and on weekends.
In this regard, visitors are calling for the site to be placed on Jordan's tourism promotion map, for basic services to be provided, and for the establishment of safe seating facilities, shade shelters, restrooms, and first aid and rescue points, while preserving the site's pristine natural character.
Investment opportunities at Majhoud Waterfalls are not limited to tourism. Heads of cooperative associations in Aima, Arhab, and Adaba'a, villages of Al-Thawaba near the site, believe that the abundant flowing water could serve as an additional resource for agricultural development, if its use is organized according to technical and environmental studies that preserve the valley's sustainability.
Visitors suggest establishing cooperative associations to use part of the available water for growing guava, vegetables, and citrus fruits, opening up job and income opportunities for families and young people, and linking agricultural products with tourism by marketing crops to visitors, campsites, and future tourist facilities.
Tourism specialists believe what's needed today is to treat Majhoud as a tourist destination with development potential, not just a natural site to visit, through establishing a small visitor center, rest stops, an eco camp or a limited number of chalets, health facilities, rescue points, developed swimming areas, and energy, water, and communications services suited to the site's unique character.
They stress the importance of completing maintenance on the road leading to the waterfalls, addressing any damage or erosion in some sections, strengthening traffic safety measures, and installing signs to guide visitors to the site and warn them of hazardous areas.
The Ministry of Public Works and Housing completed the road leading to Majhoud Waterfalls two years ago, which helped improve access to the site. However, ongoing maintenance and safety measures remain necessary given the rugged nature of the area and the impact of weather conditions and flash floods on some sections.
In this context, the Tafileh Tourism Directorate affirms that Majhoud Waterfalls have the elements needed for ecotourism, adventure tourism, and recreation, noting that including the site in future plans to develop the tourism product could boost its profile, especially given the possibility of linking it to other tourist trails in the region.
Amid the roar of the water and the silence of the mountains, residents affirm that Majhoud Waterfalls today seem like a postponed tourist destination. The water is there, nature is present, adventure is possible, and history surrounds the place, while the need for planning, promotion, services, and investment remains.
They say that putting Majhoud on Jordan's and the world's tourism map doesn't mean turning it into a crowded concrete site, but rather developing it in a way that preserves its natural spirit, gives visitors safety and service, and provides real job and investment opportunities for the local community, so the waterfalls become an attraction within a fully integrated tourist route stretching from Afra and Wadi Al-Hasa to the southern Jordan Valley.
