Discover Oman’s Spectacular Natural Reserves
Oman’s cities and towns offer plenty of cultural experiences and historical sights, but the country’s biggest draws – and the sites that knock most visitors’ socks off – lie outside the city limits.
The landscapes in Oman are nothing short of spectacular. Lush wadis (valleys) cut across jagged limestone mountains, and white-sand beaches hug turquoise waters. The wildlife is diverse: sprightly Arabian gazelles and horned Arabian oryx peer at you atop desert plateaus, rays and dolphins swim in cerulean seas, and rare Arabian leopards stay hidden on rugged mountain slopes.
During the last few decades, Oman has made significant strides in environmental conservation, declaring many of these sites protected nature reserves. Species that were once extinct in the wild have been brought back through breeding and conservation programs, and sustainable tourism efforts are ongoing.
Damaniyat Islands
Best for diving and snorkeling
The azure waters surrounding the Damaniyat Islands – a 100-hectare (247-acre) marine reserve and craggy nine-island archipelago off Oman’s northern coast – are wildly popular with divers in the know. It boasts more than 22 sites suitable for divers of various levels, and its nutrient-rich waters are thick with coral reefs and colorful tropical species, including Arabian butterfly fish, clown fish, puffer fish, rays, eels, and turtles. Divers and snorkelers can often spot whale sharks, humpback whales, and pods of dolphins too.
You’re not allowed to disembark on the uninhabited islands from May through October, when green and hawksbill turtles visit to nest and bury their eggs in holes on the sandy beaches. However, outside of nesting season, visiting by boat from Muscat or further down the coast at Barr Al Jissah is easy.
Top tip for visiting Damaniyat Islands: Local operators offer guided snorkeling and diving trips, and can also arrange the permit needed to visit the islands.
Al Saleel National Park
Best for seeing Arabian gazelles
Designated a nature reserve in 1997, Al Saleel National Park extends across 220 sq km (85 sq miles) in the Ash Sharqiyah South governorate. Forests of acacia and gum trees cover the alluvial plains, with Egyptian eagles and vultures soaring above barren wadis and rocky mountainous terrain.
The park is home to more than 30 species of birds, at least eight kinds of reptiles, and indigenous wildlife, including Arabian wildcats, red foxes, hares, and wolves. However, most visitors come to see the Arabian gazelle – nearly 7% of its total population lives here, making Al Saleel National Park an important habitat for the conservation of this species in the region.
Top tip for visiting Al Saleel National Park: Al Saleel is less than an hour’s drive from the coastal town of Sur, making it a great stop on trips from the coast to the desert.
Al Wusta Wildlife Reserve
Best for photographing Arabian oryx
Sometimes known by its former name, the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, Al Wusta Wildlife Reserve is an example of the country’s successful efforts towards environmental protection and wildlife conservation. What brings most visitors here is the desire to see the elegant Arabian oryx, a desert antelope with slender, ringed horns that’s thought to have inspired the myth of the unicorn.
Made extinct in the wild after Oman’s last one was killed by poachers in 1972, the species was reintroduced a decade later. This reserve encompasses plains, rugged slopes, and sand dunes, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, in 2007, when the government turned 90% of the reserve over to oil drilling, it became the first place ever to be delisted by UNESCO.
Eventually, the need to diversify beyond oil revenues shifted governmental focus back towards wildlife conservation. As a result, the reserve reopened to the public in 2017, and today, a herd of approximately 750 Arabian oryx can be found on the premises, a success story of conservation efforts.
Top tip for visiting Al Wusta Wildlife Reserve: A 4WD is required to visit the reserve, as well as a permit from the Office for Conservation of the Environment in Muscat. Entry is only allowed with a guide available at the reserve.
Jebel Samhan Nature Reserve
Best for dramatic views
At Jebel Samhan, the highest mountain in the Dhofar governorate, cotton-like clouds descend upon craggy mountains crisscrossed by deep canyons, interspersed by pockets of acacia, gum, and Boswellia trees. Limestone cliffs sculpted by erosion drop steeply towards coastal plains.
Spread over 4500 sq km (1737 sq miles), the Jebel Samhan Nature Reserve is home to some of the last Arabian leopards in the wild, with 20 to 30 known to live in the reserve. However, given their elusiveness, the likelihood of spotting other species, like the Nubian ibex, Arabian gazelle, and Arabian wolf, is much higher. The conservation program promotes the protection of these rare creatures.
Top tip for visiting Jebel Samhan Nature Reserve: The reserve is just an hour’s drive from Salalah, and it is essential to drive carefully during the khareef (monsoon) season from June to September due to foggy conditions.
Ras Al Hadd
Best for turtle watching
Five species of turtle – including green, loggerhead, and hawksbill – are found in the waters around Oman’s 3165km (1967-mile) coastline, with thousands migrating annually to the beaches here to lay their eggs.
Located in Ash Sharqiyah South governorate, the shores of Ras Al Hadd are popular with visitors eager to witness nesting turtles. The Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve conducts guided turtle-nesting tours at dusk and dawn, allowing participants to view turtles as they emerge from the sea to dig nests and later return to the ocean.
Top tip for visiting Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve: Reservations for guided tours are essential, and to protect the turtles, flash photography is not allowed.
Dhofar Lagoons (Khors of the Salalah Coast Reserve)
Best for birdwatching and history
With valleys and plains turned verdant by the annual khareef (monsoon), the Dhofar governorate draws visitors in search of a refreshing change from sandy deserts. A group of lagoons lies along the coastline, providing an ecosystem hospitable to hundreds of birds, fish, and plants.
Eight of these lagoons are protected nature reserves, providing prime nesting sites for indigenous and migrating birds, thanks to their rich biodiversity. Khor Rori, in particular, is renowned for the ruins of the fortified city of Sumhuram, an essential port on the region’s ancient frankincense trading route. Moreover, it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes the nearby archaeological park.
Top tip for visiting the Dhofar lagoons: To gain insights into Oman’s frankincense heritage, visit the nearby Museum of the Frankincense Land, where artifacts and historic documents reveal the area’s rich past.
