Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
by the sultan's forces, together with the British SAS, to infiltrate areas of communist in-
surgency in the mid-1970s. Now the most surreptitious activity you are likely to see is the
scuttling away of a small, fur-clad rock hyrax (an unlikely relative of the elephant) that
lives among the rocks. Chameleons share the same territory and are equally clandestine,
changing colour when abashed.
To get to Wadi Dharbat, follow the signs off the Mirbat road and climb 3km to the Wadi
Dharbat junction (a small coffeehouse marks the entrance). A sealed road leads to the top
of the waterfall and eventually to an unlikely lake (which shrinks to a pond after a poor
rainy season) with a tea shop open in the
khareef
. Don't be tempted to swim as bilharzia
is present here. A sealed road at the bottom of the cliff leads to the seasonal pool at the
base of the waterfall, a haven for butterflies.
Mirbat
23 / POP 13,900
The town of Mirbat, just over 70km east of Salalah, has seen better days, but it has con-
siderable historical significance. The town's main
fort
is now derelict despite being the site
of the well-documented Battle of Mirbat in which nine soldiers kept 300 insurgents from
taking Mirbat in July 1972 during the Dhofari insurrection. Two British Victoria Crosses
were earned by the SAS but not awarded, to help keep the war out of the public eye. A
much older fort, by the shore, has recently been restored.
Notice the old
merchant houses
with their wooden, latticed windows. The onion-domed
Bin
Ali Tomb
, 1km off the main road, marks the entrance to the town.
Glorious beaches stretch east and west of Mirbat, though a 4WD is necessary if you
want to get close enough to the sea for wild camping (there are no facilities). Snorkelling
(OR20 for a trip from 9am to 2.30pm) and diving trips (OR56 for dives including equip-
ment and permit) are easily organised through
Extra Divers
( 99 895457;
www.divesalalah.com
;
8-9am & 3-6pm)
, a competent dive centre at the Salalah Marriott Resort. Don't forget to
rest at sea level for a day if you intend to visit Jebel Samham after diving.
brought luxury and comfort to the coastal experience for those who'd rather not camp, but
the intended concrete city planned for the vicinity may not please everybody. Discount is
available for those resident in Oman. The resort is a 10-minute drive east of the town of
Mirbat; signposts from the main Salalah-Mirbat road indicate the direction. Transport is
free from the airport and there's a complimentary hotel shuttle to town at 3.30pm, return-
ing at 8.45pm, every day except Friday.
Microbuses to Mirbat charge OR2 for the trip from Salalah. Taxis cost around OR15.
