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Oman Warnings or Dangers
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Oman Warnings or Dangers

Oman travel tips posted by real travelers and Oman locals.
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Taxi Insanity
  • Tip Rating:
    • JohnniOmani
  • By JohnniOmani on January 26, 2006
  • Oman Page by JohnniOmani
    • The biggest danger in Oman is by far the driving and if you dont have a car then you will probably need to get a taxi and taxi drivers are notorious for bad driving in the Arabian Gulf. They will speed up to 160km/HR and think nothing of it. Two tips to combat this problem are:
    1. Demand a seat belt and although they will claim to not have seatbelts they are not telling the truth. By law, every taxi must have them but for some reason Omani taxis fold them under the seats. Wait and demand for them and they will instantly uncover them.
    2. If the driver is going too fast then say "Batee" or Schway Schway" which means slow down and slowly slowly. Hopes these help!

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    The Dangers of Desert Travel
  • Tip Rating:
    • traveldave
  • Updated By traveldave on August 26, 2007
  • Oman Page by traveldave
    • Oman Warnings or Dangers
    by traveldave
    Off-road desert adventures (known as "wadi-bashing") are an activity that is popular among visitors to Oman. There are sand dunes, mountains, wadis, and pools and waterfalls to explore. Because of the dangers of desert travel, anyone wishing to participate in an off-road trip should go with an experienced guide. Otherwise, getting stranded in the desert can be fatal. It is easy to lose a sense of direction, especially because in the deep desert, all sand dunes look alike. It is very easy to become hopelessly bogged down in the sand and very difficult to get out. And the intense heat, especially in the summer, can impair the judgment of almost anyone.

    For those who choose to go into the desert alone, there are certain precautions that should be taken to ensure a safe trip. First of all, a plentiful supply of water must be taken. In hot weather, a person needs about four pints (two liters) of water per day. Also, a medical kit is a must.

    For driving in the sand dunes, it is necessary to slightly deflate tires so they will have adequate traction in the sand. An air pump will be needed to re-inflate the tires after leaving the sands. And drivers should proceed at a slow, steady speed. Accelerating and then quickly braking can cause a vehicle to become stuck in sand. A shovel for digging out, and planks of wood or mats to be placed under the tires can be helpful in getting out of the sand.

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    Taking photographs
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    • victorwkf
  • By victorwkf on March 5, 2005
  • Oman Page by victorwkf
    • It is OK to take photo outside Alam Palace,Muscat - Oman
    It is OK to take photo outside
    Alam Palace,Muscat
    by victorwkf
    In Oman and other muslim countries, it is courteous to ask permission before taking photographs of the locals, especially the women who can be very sensitive. Generally, local men enjoy taking photographs and so are children. Also, you are not allowed to take photographs of embassies (in Muscat), military installations and other senstive locations. If caught, you camera and films could be confiscated so you have to be very careful.

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    Driving in Oman
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    • victorwkf
  • By victorwkf on March 5, 2005
  • Oman Page by victorwkf
    • The rugged countryside of Oman - Oman
    The rugged countryside of Oman
    by victorwkf
    It is not that easy to drive in Oman because there may not be an signboards at some junctions and you may get lost. One french couple whom I met in Oman were lost for a while when they took a wrong turn and went up the mountains. According to my Omani guide, always drive along roads when you can see the power lines running near the road (indicating people, towns and villages are nearby). If the power lines cannot be seen, it is time to check the map again.

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    Wadis
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    • JohnniOmani
  • By JohnniOmani on June 20, 2006
  • Oman Page by JohnniOmani
    • Wadi with red markers in the distance - Oman
    Wadi with red markers in the
    distance
    by JohnniOmani
    One of the most dangerous things about cruising around Oman is when the Wadis (riverbeds) fill up with excess rain from a downpour. These flash floods can cause havoc for drivers so if you see dark clouds (especially in the Dhofar and Sharqiya region) slow down near every bend because loads of cars hit these wadis full of water at full tilt. Be careful.

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    Driving in the desert (Part 2)
  • Tip Rating:
    • victorwkf
  • By victorwkf on March 5, 2005
  • Oman Page by victorwkf
    • Deflating the tyres before entering desert, Oman - Oman
    Deflating the tyres before
    entering desert, Oman
    by victorwkf
    Before you enter the desert, the tyres of your 4 wheel drive must be deflated to a certain extent to ensure better grip on the sand. This can be done at the numerous auto-repair shops at the few towns at the fringe of the desert area. After leaving the desert and back to normal roads, you can inflat the tyres at the auto-repair shops again. Also, do not drive a normal car into the desert.

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    Driving in the desert (Part 1)
  • Tip Rating:
    • victorwkf
  • By victorwkf on March 5, 2005
  • Oman Page by victorwkf
    • Driving in the desert, Oman - Oman
    Driving in the desert, Oman
    by victorwkf
    If you are not experienced in desert driving, do not attempt to drive in the desert. This is because the sand in some areas can be soft and your 4 wheel drive (do not drive normal cars into the desert !) will be trapped if not careful. Also, driving up the sand dunes is not easy and require lots of experience. If you really need to drive in the desert, the best way is to follow the tracks made by other 4 wheel drives to ensure that the path is safe. Most tourists will get an experience guide cum driver to bring them into the deserts of Oman such as the Wahiba Sands.

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    Animals
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    • JohnniOmani
  • By JohnniOmani on June 8, 2006
  • Oman Page by JohnniOmani
    • A major concern and danger in Oman is driving during the day and night and in particular in and around the Hajaar Mountains in the north. Camels and donkeys can appear out of nowhere which causes potential problems for drivers. Zooming out of the way of an animal is a problem not to mention the Omani drivers coming at you at 150 km an hour. Be careful !

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    Dangers of the wadi (Part 2)
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    • victorwkf
  • By victorwkf on March 5, 2005
  • Oman Page by victorwkf
    • Wadi Shab, Oman - Oman
    Wadi Shab, Oman
    by victorwkf
    If you need to cross a wadi (river) with running water using your 4 wheel drive vehicle, always check the warning pole. This pole is erected along the main roads with wadi crossings in Oman, and it has a white colour at the bottom and red colour on top. If the water reaches the red colour, it would mean that it is too deep even for a 4 wheel drive to cross.

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    Dangers of the wadi (Part 1)
  • Tip Rating:
    • victorwkf
  • By victorwkf on March 5, 2005
  • Oman Page by victorwkf
    • A dry wadi (river) in Oman - Oman
    A dry wadi (river) in
    Oman
    by victorwkf
    Most of the wadis (rivers) in Oman are dry and it is very tempting to camp or have your picnic on the dry wadi bed or near to it. Please do not try this as it may be raining elsewhere and the water can rush down the wadi very quickly and powerfully (something like a tsunami). If you observe that dark clouds are gathering (or raining) somewhere upstream of the dry wadi (which could be far way), the best option is to stay away quickly.

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