Travel Guide Zafar

A trail, from Kitab, near Yarim, rises to the village of Dhafar. This site was the capital of the Himyarite confederation (Royaume Kingdom). From this mythical city, we can still see the whole irrigation system, the tanks, the caves used as tombs, as well as the stable and prison, which were dug in depth in the mountain. The scale of work hits the mind. The small museum (addressed to the guard) brings together interesting bas bas-reliefs featuring sculptures and inscriptions in monumental writing. In the small village of Beit Al Ashoual, carved stones of rows of knelt ibex, snakes and south Arabian writing were reused for the construction of houses. Young people in the village propose to guide visitors to the sites.Transport. No bus or taxi for Zafar. We must organise this excursion from Sana'a with a tourist agency. The main road then passes through the Col de Soumara, at 2 800 m, where you have to stop to contemplate the vast panorama of terraces on the terraces. The traveller can appreciate the Ingéniosité's ingenuity in the exploitation of these difficult lands.