All activities / Wildlife Safaris / Ras Al Jinz
Wildlife Safaris in Ras Al Jinz
Oman's easternmost headland, near Ras Al Hadd and the fishing town of Sur, where the Gulf of Oman meets the Arabian Sea. Its dark beaches are one of the most important green turtle nesting sites in the Indian Ocean, protected as a reserve and the only place in Oman where nesting can be watched with a guide.
Why here
Ras Al Jinz is where you watch green turtles come ashore to nest, and it is the only place in Oman you are legally allowed to do it. On the country's far eastern tip, this stretch of coast draws thousands of nesting green turtles every year, heaving up the sand after dark to dig, lay and cover their eggs before hauling back to the sea, while hatchlings from earlier clutches scramble down the beach at dawn. Turtles nest here in every month of the year, so a sighting is close to guaranteed, but numbers peak in the summer, from around June to September. Access is tightly controlled by the government-run reserve: you go in a small group with a ranger, on foot, at dusk or before dawn, with rules on lights and distance that keep the animals undisturbed. Alongside the beach walk there is a serious scientific visitor centre and museum explaining the turtles' biology and the archaeology of this ancient coast. Paired with the old dhow-building town of Sur nearby and the nearby Wadi Shab, it makes the eastern cape a two-day trip rather than a single night.
Best months
Green turtles nest year-round, so viewing runs every night of the year, but the peak is summer, roughly June to September, when the most females come ashore; the cooler October to April months are more comfortable for visitors even if turtle numbers are lower. Tours are strictly guided: evening and pre-dawn walks in small groups with a ranger, capped in size, with no flash photography or white torches allowed to avoid disorienting the turtles. The beach is a protected reserve, so independent night access is not permitted. Book ahead, as places are limited.
Getting there & around
Ras Al Jinz is about a two-and-a-half to three-hour drive from Muscat, or a short hop beyond Sur, which makes a convenient base with more choice of hotels. Many visitors stay at the reserve's own eco-lodge rooms or tents so they can join both the evening and dawn walks, which are included for in-house guests. Tours and accommodation must be booked in advance directly with the reserve or an authorised operator, as walk-up numbers are limited. Bring a red-filter torch and warm layer for the night beach.
Skill levels: beginner
Schools & guides (1)
Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve
OutfitterThe Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve, on Oman's easternmost headland near Ras Al Hadd, is the only place in the country where turtle nesting can be watched legally. Green turtles come ashore to nest here every night of the year, with numbers peaking in summer, and the government-run reserve leads small ranger-guided walks to the beach at dusk and before dawn. The site includes a scientific visitor centre, eco-lodge rooms and tented accommodation, and tours must be booked in advance.