I moved to a cave in Jordan after falling in love with a tribe

An American woman moved into a cave in Jordan after falling in love with a local tribe who liked one of her photos on Instagram.

Natalie Snider, 42, was visiting Petra and took a picture of a Bedouin man on a horse which she posted on Instagram.

Feras Boudin, 32, commented below saying it was him – and inviting her to come visit – and after 18 months of chatting online, she went in September 2021.

The pair fell in love and now share a two-bed house in the network of caves in which some of the Bedouin community live.

Feras has lived in a Bedouin cave since he was born – like previous generations of his family.

But it was a big change for Natalie, who previously lived in Italy, New Zealand, Florida and Germany, traveling for her job doing admin work for a tour guide company.

The couple now live in the cave – which has two bedrooms, a storage room, a balcony and a fully functional bathroom powered by spring water they collect.

It also includes a balcony overlooking the desert and another room for storing saddles and other equipment for the couple’s camels, mules and chickens.

Natalie Snider, a tour guide from Orlando, Florida, said: “I was there photographing the Bedouin man riding a horse barefoot with a scarf, and it was a wonderful picture.

“I posted it on Instagram and he commented saying it’s me. Then he said to come visit, and so I did.

“I have always been passionate and interested in archeology in the Middle East, and I have already been in Jordan for several years.

“I’ve moved around the world my whole life and I’ve always been a free spirit.

“This is probably the most grounded I’ve ever been and the most committed I’ve ever been to one place.

“I just started a company to do tours in Jordan and authentic experiences.

“When I’m in Jordan, I help with the tour. When I’m out of Jordan, I do office work when I go to America or New Zealand.”

Natalie describes the Bedouin culture as “another level” from what she has done and she just “goes with the flow of life day by day”.

She said: “I had already started learning about the culture, but the Bedouin culture is on a whole other level.

“Tribal life is on a whole other level. They don’t live in the modern way like other people.

“There are about 42 communities in the caves. It’s an open-door community, so everyone meets together. It’s like Thanksgiving and Christmas all year round.

“The Fera tribe is the only people allowed to live in the cave because of how long they have lived there and keep the indigenous people in the caves.”

During the winter, they move into a guesthouse they rent on a 10-year lease in a village in Petra – and then move back into the cave for the warmer months.

They recently took a 10-year lease on a house in a village in Petra, where they will stay for the next few winters.

The cave is a 15-minute drive from town, so supplies such as food, wood and animal equipment are easily accessible.

They use solar panels and don’t have to pay rent.

They lead an off-the-grid lifestyle, collecting spring water for bathing, and Feras even built hand-made pipes for the cave.

Feras, a tour guide from Petra, said: “I have lived there all my life, as have my grandparents and many generations of my family. I love it and I never want to leave.

“I prefer the cave lifestyle. The government offered us free land, houses and things if we would leave, but we have always refused and will continue to do so.

“I call the cave ‘The Palace.’

The pair say one of the best things about living in the cave is the peace and quiet – it overlooks the Jordanian desert.

And they say the tight-knit community of indigenous people is a big reason why so many stay.

Jordan’s scenery drew Natalie to move there, and as for her love of travel and exploration, she noticed there was so much to take in.

Natalie said: “In Auckland, I lived in a marina apartment overlooking the Hauraki Gulf.

“There are more routines and I spent more time doing all my computer-based work and running business while enjoying walks or fish and chips on the beach at weekends.

“Life is calm, quiet and slow. Petra’s life is very fast, from sunrise to late at night, with always something happening and something to do.

“Touring, cooking dinner in the mountains with the family, or continuing to work in the cave, at home and with the animals.

“In the city, life feels defined by what I own – clothes, cars, gadgets – keeping up with society. But in the cave, it’s about what I experience.

“In the city, despite being surrounded by people, it’s very easy to feel isolated. Cave life and Petra taught me how to slow down and appreciate the essentials in life – things the city often makes me overlook.

“In caves, life is simple but deeply connected. Sharing meals, stories and even silence with the Bedouin feels like home. I have never experienced a community like this before.”