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Wahiba sands - Oman
( Also called as Ramlat al-Wahiba
or Sharqiya Sands )
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The Wahiba Sands, about three hours from Muscat.
It is a vast mass of red and white sand, 140 km by 80km, with dunes rising up to
150 meters.
The Wahiba Sands are a region of desert in
Oman. The region is named for the Wahiba tribe.The area is defined by a boundary
of 180 kilometers (110 mi) north to south and 80 kilometers (50 mi) east to
west, with an area of 12,500 square kilometers (4,800 sq mi). The desert has
been of scientific interest since a 1986 expedition by the Royal Geographical
Society
These beautiful dunes stretch as far as the eye
can see and it is a spectacular sight especially in the evening and the morning,
when the warm colours of the desert become much richer and the long shadows
accentuate the splendour of these giant forms.
The sands are made of grains of rock, blown in
from nearby eroded rocks and marine sediments and they are moving inland at a
pace of about 30 feet per year.
Wahiba Sands is not just a desert landscape
though. It encompasses areas of woodland as well as the mudflats and lagoons
around Barr Al Hikman, where large migrant bird populations congregate in
winter.
It is also home to around 180 plant species and
200 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
There are over 3,000 Bedu of varying tribal
origins who live here among the woodland on the fringes of the sands.
There are also a number of small settlements
along the coast that are lived in by the local fishermen who take advantage of
the rich fishing grounds of the Arabian Sea.
Evidence of human occupation in the sands dates
back as far as 8,000 years.
It is possible, but highly challenging, to drive
right through the sands from north to south, camping under the seams of native
ghaf trees or tucking behind a sand dune. There are, however, no
provisions available, petrol stations or any other help at hand in the sands,
beyond the desert camps at the northern periphery. As such, it is imperative
that you go with a guide, or at least with another vehicle, driven by someone
who knows the route. Off-road guidebooks describe this route but all will advise
you not to venture through the sands alone. In the summer the sands don’t take
prisoners so avoid exploring too far off-the beaten track between April and
October.
For the casual visitor, the best way to explore
the sands is by staying at one of the desert camps. The owners of the camp will
meet you at the Muscat–Sur Highway, and guide you, usually in convoy across the
sands. Needless to say, it is essential to have 4WD and prior knowledge of
off-road driving is very helpful!
If you don’t fancy the prospect of getting your
vehicle stuck in the sand, there are plenty of tours available and some camps
will come and collect their non-driving guests for an extra fee
( Reference:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ ,
http://www.safaridrive.com/ )
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