19 March 2025

RFI: Oman trip in April

Hi, I’ll be in the Dhofar region in April for family holidays, but there will also be time for a bit of mammal watching and the most wanted targets for me this time are Honey Badger, caracal, striped hyena, arabian wolf, Blanford’s fox, arabian gazelle, porcupin and rock hyrax, most or almost exclusively nocturnal wildlife.

I’ve seen some very helpful trip reports to Dhofar on this site so far, but if you have any certain recommendations about special and promising locations in order to have a fair chance to spot some of the species mentions above , I would very much appreciate your advice!

 

Best, Joachim

Post Views: 279

Post author

Joachim Grammer
Hi,   I am Joachim. I am a molecular biologist/zoologist from Germany and an anthusiastic wildlife watcher and photographer. As far as countries are considered where I spent most of the time watching and photographing wildlife (not only mammals) I’d say this is India where I’ve been visiting 6 times for exploring and photographing wildlife. Besides that I spent time in the US, mostly the south from east to west, northern Africa, Ecuador, the near East (Jordan, Oman), many parts of Europe and not that much time in Australia and New Zealand. As far as the photographing style is considered I always try to get good pics for sure, but more to document the occurence or the behaviour of a certain species instead of considering photographing as art work. My next trip will go to the Dhofar region in southern Oman in April, where I was already 11 years ago. This time (its quite late in the year for Oman) besides insects, snakes, scorpions and birds I will also try to focus on mammals (e.g. Arabain wolf, caracal, striped hyena, honey badger, white-tailed mongoose, arabian gazelle, rock hyrax, porcupine and others). When I noticed the Mammal Watching site for the first time, I was immediately fascinated by all the information, trip reports, gear, tools, comments etc. that all provide very useful information. Will be happy to join as a registered user.    
Post Views: 279

4 Comments

  • 19 March 2025
    Michal

    I was in Oman this year in January and my trip covered, among others, Dhofar. My overall results fot two-week trip in the country are as follows: 24 arabian oryx, 30 sand gazelles, 27 arabian gazelles, 12 red fox, 10 wolves, 1 honey badger, 1 genet, 5 spinner dolphins and 5 bottlenose dolphins, 9 hyrax and a bunch of unidentified fruit bats. If you wish some details on locations write on my e-mail (michpol@wp.pl). You have slight chance to see blandford fox as they are very intolerant to disturbance and road kills. Wolf, hyena and honey badger are all (still) possible as well as caracal. Unfortunately the whole place is now very much in the proces of explosive “development” of human activity, including rapid urbanisation, driven by construction of summer villas, hotels, highway network as well as many “tourist attractions” made in concrete. I In my opinion most wolves close to Salalah are hybridised with dog to some extent. Cats present in the area are for sure more feral than wild, but they are also “good looking”. Take the scope to try nubian ibex (possible).

  • 20 March 2025
    Michal

    And one more important remark for fellow mammalwatchers- thermal scopes are not allowed in Oman. Mine was confiscated (and returned upon exit) at the airport.

  • 27 March 2025
    Paul Carter

    Hi Joachim. I am alone in northern Oman at the moment for the next week but was in the Salalah area in October with herper friends. Re your target species mentioned:
    We saw a family group of 6 honey badger on the Wadi Darbat road about 300m before the end of the road.
    At the end of the Wadi Darbat road past the restaurant there is a trail that goes to a cave. Before the cave the trail splits and goes back down to the river. A few hundred meters down there my friends saw a Porcupine.
    On this trail I also posted there is Egyptian Slit-faced bat; I would be interested to know if it still seen there; my report on it here: https://www.pacapix.com/oman-nycteris/
    We saw wolf on the Wadi Darbat road and also low down on the Wadi Shaabon road. We did not see caracal. My friends also saw a Striped Hyena on the Ain Tobruk road (when I was elsewhere).
    Email me if you need further details; good luck, Paul Carter.

  • 27 March 2025
    Joachim Grammer

    Hi Paul,
    thank you so much for your advice and experiences – I very much appreciate your helpful comments and reports.
    During the the very limited time I have I’ll try my very best and will let you know after my return.
    Thanks again and wish you good luck in the North as well! Joachim

Leave a Reply