Of course you would not have had tall trees creating deep shadows out in that desert. (I'm assuming it's pretty open desert in Jordan) Nor logs, rocks and branches to negotiate. ;-)
That actually sounds like a fascinating experience in the desert. You must have been able to see distant hills and other features in what must have been a rather eerie light.
many excellent assumptions. I still remember the experience, vividly, you didn’t need any headlights, it is clear desert, and over a small ridge of mountains, with not a light from horizon to horizon, and you could indeed see the mountains on the horizon (note - this was at about midnight, not sunset or sunrise)