Natural Crafts The Desert

A village suspended from the scorching slopes, drowned in green palms, forms one of Oman's most striking postcards. Easy access by tarmac road, well-equipped parking lot, tourist coffee shop, natural pools crossed by modern, secure footbridges - this is a major destination for Omani families and travellers alike. From here, following the long-distance footpath, walkers cross the range in 14 hours. It takes considerably less energy to laze on the large rocks and dive into the green water. On weekdays, when it's quieter, this water park, given by nature and redesigned by man, is a recommended excursion. To make the most of the place, take a towel and a bathing suit, which for the ladies must be covering, as the posters remind us. Between the parking lot and the pools, there's a goat path. Don't hesitate to get away from the crowds and head upstream along the wadi to enjoy the peace and quiet. The gorge narrows to form a vertiginous canyon. After the sometimes tricky passage of several large limestone boulders and the crossing of several basins whose water level varies according to the season, you reach a very narrow cave after 1 km - Muqal Cave. It stands halfway up the wall. Following a narrow corridor that requires crawling, it opens onto a vast, dark cavity, extended by vaults and galleries. Even though the area is marked out, it's best to come with locals or a guide.

Covering an area of 220 km², the Al Saleel Nature Park Reserve is largely covered by acacia forests. This habitat is ideal for several species of gazelle, including the Arabian gazelle (Gazella gazella cora) or the sand gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), a rare species in great danger of extinction. The park is also home to Omani wild cats or sand cats (Felis margarita), a species remarkably adapted to arid environments; and also to Arabian red foxes (Vulpes vulpes arabica), Egyptian eagles, vultures, etc.