Oman offers a perfect wildlife tourism as it has lot of destinations where you get the chance to be amazed at the sight of wild animals. As part of Oman’s commitment to responsible, sustainable tourism, the country takes great care to conserve the superb habitats and geological features which make our landscapes unique. Pack your swimwear, boots and binoculars, and prepare to be amazed.
You have no doubt heard of our cities, mosques and souqs, but have you discovered our secret beaches and islands, explored our luxuriant oases or climbed our jagged mountains? Have you hiked along a shady wadi or camped out among our dunes?
Oman’s nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries protect important coastal and desert habitats totaling almost 30,000 square km. The sheer diversity of our landscapes will astonish and inspire you.
Oman’s location in the northern reaches of the Indian Ocean makes our coastal waters a haven for dolphins, whales and birds. Close to the coast, our coral gardens teem with colourful fish. Our protected coves are crucial breeding grounds for endangered marine turtles. And our mountains and deserts are home to rare land mammals including wild goats, sand cats, Nubian ibex and Arabian oryx, an icon of the Gulf.
Let us see some of Oman’s wildlife destinations
1. Al Jabal Al Akhdhar Sanctuary for Natural Sceneries
This rises to a height of 2,980 meters and is famous for its wide plateau close to the summit. The journey from Muscat to Al Jabal Al Akhdar takes about two hours and can only be undertaken by four-wheel drive.
2. As Saleel Nature Park
The Park is located in wilayat AL Kamil W’al Wafi in Al Sharqiyah South Governorate, and lies 57 kilometers from wilayat of Sur. It extends over an area of 220 square kilometers, and is predominantly covered by forests of acacia trees
3. Al-Dimaniyat Islands Nature Reserve.
The reserve features pristine beaches on which the white sands are caressed by the sea’s crystal blue waters. This reserve has a rich natural heritage and is replete with several kinds of coral reefs, including some examples that are quite rare. The island is home to a large number of sea turtles that lay their eggs and nest there, as well as a magnet for migratory and indigenous birds.
4. Dhofar Lagoons
Lagoons abound in Dhofar Governorate, and vary in size from a few hectares to more than one hundred hectares. Some of these lagoons have been established as nature reserves.
5. Turtle Reserve
The beaches extending from Ras Al Hadd to Masirah Island in the Al Sharqiyah South Governorate are considered a turtle reserve, including the green turtle, which is a rare turtle that returns every year to lay its eggs on the same beach where it was born decades ago. Ras Al Jins is a quiet sanctuary for turtles where they lay their eggs, securing the continued survival of the species and protecting them from extinction.