| Wahiba Sands | |
 | |
Location  | |
| State | Oman |
|---|---|
| Surface | 12,500 km² |
Wahiba Sands (former Sharqiya Sands or Ramlat al-Wahiba) is a desert region of the Central coast of Oman.
To know
This region, located in the southeastern portion of the Arabian peninsula, derives its name from the tribe of Bani Wahiba.
The mental association that leads to think of a desert as a lifeless area is profoundly wrong, so much so that in 1986 an expedition of the Royal Geographical Society documented the diversity of soils, flora and fauna, recording 16,000 invertebrates as well as 200 species of wild animals, including birdlife. 150 species of native flora were also documented.
Geographical notes
The desert covers an area that stretches 180km from north to south and 80km from east to west.
Based on the types of dunes, the desert is divided into Upper Wahiba is Lower Wahiba. The upper portion contains large expanses of dunes arranged from north to south, which are believed to have been formed by the monsoons. The northern dunes, which are thought to have formed after the last ice age, reach heights of up to 100 meters, with peaks that accumulate in areas where the strong speed of the winds decreases, thus allowing sand to be deposited.
The northern and western edges of the desert are bounded by the river systems of Wadi Batha and Wadi Andam.
Background
The desert was formed during the Quaternary under the action of the winds, the monsoons that blow from the southwest and the shamal, a trade wind that blows from the east.
Culture and traditions
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In the area live Bedouin tribes who gather between June and September at the oasis of Al Huyawah, to collect dates. At the time of the Royal Geographical Society's expedition, the predominant tribe was that of al-Wahiba, from which the name given to the desert region was derived. Other Bedouin tribes are those of al-Amr, al-Bu-Isa, Hikman, Hishm and Janaba.
Suggested readings
- Ronald U. Cooke, Andrew Warren and Andrew Goudie, Desert Geomorphology, Taylor & Francis, 1993, (ISBN 1-85728-017-2).
Territories and tourist destinations
Wahiba Sands: full screen map.Urban centers
How to get
By car
Highway 23 from the north.
How to get around
Depending on the type of camp in which you will surely spend a night, the movement could take place exclusively with an off-road vehicle from the camp itself, or if close to the road by your own vehicle.
What see
The desert itself is the main attraction with its different sands and environments.
What to do
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There are several camps in Wahiba Sands where you can camp and experience the desert, take a camel or 4x4 ride on the dunes, or just relax in peace. See the sun set in the Wahiba sands it's really wonderful!
An interesting aspect of desert areas is the ability to see the starry sky well.
At the table
Tourist infrastructure
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There are some tourist centers in Wahiba where it is worth spending 3 or 4 nights for a complete experience.
Given the absence of inhabited centers and the small number of these camps in the area, a selection of those that can be suggested is reported directly in this article.
- 1 1000 Nights Camp, Mandinat Al Sultan Qaboos (19 km on a sandy ridge from the Al-Raha camp), ☎ 968 99 448158, @[email protected].
- 2 [link previously not working]At Areesh Desert Camp, ☎ 968 99 450063.
- 3 Al-Raha Tourism Camp, ☎ 968 99 551155, 968 99 343851. Access is via Mintirib along 18 km of groomed track. Particularly suitable as a base for exploring the desert further inland.
- 4 Nomadic Desert Camp (20 km south of the village of Al Wasil), ☎ 968 99 336273. Accommodation is in barasti-style huts with shared bathroom. Included in the price is: a transport service to and from Al-Wasil on the Muscat-Sur Hwy, a camel ride and a visit to a Bedouin village. There is no generator and therefore no air conditioning, making the experience more authentic.
- Al-Qabil Rest House, Route 23 Sharqiya (Wahiba) Sands (on the road Ibra-Sur, 10 km northwest of Al-Mintirib). Simple rooms around a landscaped courtyard. Doors close at 10pm.
- 5 Desert Nights Camp, Al Wasil (From Muscat follow the Sultan Qaboos street. After the airport roundabout, take the motorway Nizwa (M23, the Muscat-Sur) for 150 km. You pass the village of Ibra and after 40 km the small village of al Wasil, 500 meters after the sign for al Wasil, turn right at the small sand-colored mosque and follow the dirt road for 11 km to the camp.), ☎ 968 92 818388, 968 99 744266, @[email protected]. 24 double suites in tents, 2 family suites in tents and 4 standard rooms. All enjoy spectacular views of the desert.
- 6 At Reem Desert Camp (مخيم الريم الصحرواي), South Sharqyia - Jalan bani bu Hasan 415, ☎ 968 9743 8420, @[email protected]. Camp with tents and shared bathrooms. Located a short distance from a village and the road. The area is semi-desert with the presence of camel and sheep farms, not really isolated if you want to look for an extreme situation, but easy to reach and clean.
Safety
The desert environment and the dunes are particularly dangerous, not only due to the high temperatures and temperature variations, but more simply due to the possibility of losing one's orientation with extreme ease. It is enough to move away from your field of half a kilometer to totally lose the reference. For this reason it is always advisable to have a mobile phone with GPS and offline map with you to orient yourself.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Wahiba Sands
Commons contains images or other files on Wahiba Sands
