Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
people on the mountains live in caves with an improvised front door. The round houses
made from constructed, interlocking sticks that cling to the hills of Dhofar are interesting.
They were once thatched but these days are more likely to be covered in bright plastic.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Environment
Oman is blessed with a remarkable environment of spectacular landscapes and a wealth of
flora and fauna. However, it doesn't render up its treasures easily and a 4WD is required
to visit many of the places of natural beauty and interest. Accommodation near these
places is often restricted to ad-hoc camping, but many regard this as a joy in its own right.
Indeed, waking up to the sound of a turtle retreating down the beach, or falling asleep to
the croak of toads, is an unforgettable experience. To help explore these places,
Off-Road
in the Sultanate of Oman,
by Sam Owen and Lonely Planet author Jenny Walker, de-
scribes how to reach just about every corner of the country.
If hiring a vehicle is not an appealing option, there are plenty of tours available from
Muscat and Salalah that will reveal the country to the visitor.
The Land
Geographically, Oman is large and diverse, with an untrammelled coastline over 3000km
in length, rugged mountains, a share of the Empty Quarter and a unique monsoon catch-
ment. It extends from the fjords of the Musandam Peninsula to the intermittently green
Dhofar region.
Most of the country's population is concentrated on the Batinah coast, a semifertile
plain that runs from the border with the UAE to Muscat, and is separated from the rest of
Arabia by the Hajar Mountains. These mountains are internationally famed for their geo-
logical heritage and even the layperson will enjoy the candy-striped rocks. The highest
peak is Jebel Shams (Mountain of the Sun) at 3075m, alongside which runs Wadi Ghul,
dubbed the Grand Canyon of Arabia. On the slopes of nearby Jebel Akhdar (Green Moun-
tain), temperate fruits are grown.
Much of the country between the Hajar Mountains and Dhofar is flat and rocky desert,
but there are also areas of sand dunes. Most notable are the Sharqiya Sands, formerly
known as Wahiba Sands, and the less-accessible sands of the Rub al-Khali (Empty
Quarter). Oman is not as rich in oil as its neighbours, but it does have some extensive
fields in the gravel plains around Marmul in Al-Wusta Region and Fahood in Al-
Dakhiliyah Region.
