Newly mapped Jebel Akhdar cave raises tourism hopes in Oman

Cavers exploring the site find stalagmites, stalactites and wildlife, and say it could attract adventurous visitors

Oman’s Jebel Akhdar region is dotted with caves caused by eroding limestone. Photo: Nabil Alsaqri

A group of Omani cavers are mapping out the openings. Photo: Salim Alsuqri

The cavers have written a book about Oman's cave system, ranging from expert level explorations to family-friendly adventures. Photo: Nabil Alsaqri

The same team discovered the 'Well of Hell' cave last year.

The caves vary in size, from the small to the enormous.

A caver lies on the ground, to manoeuvre in a tight area, during an expedition. Photo: Nabil Alsaqri

Mounds known as stalagmites on the floor of a cave.

Icicle-shaped stalactites form across a cave’s ceiling.

Rays of sunlight illuminate a shaft as the explorers descend.

Oman is promoting the caves as a tourist draw.

The caves are home to lizards, water beetles, snails, hunting spiders and fish.

This cave called Khaslat Safi Sahra was known to locals but not extensively explored.

The period of discovering, documenting and surveying the cave took about five hours.

A cave-dwelling spider.

Some caves were used in the past as shelter or hideouts during times of conflict.

Cavers have documented a new cave in Oman’s Dakhaliya region, opening up a potential tourist attraction.

The cave, found near Jebel Akhdar — the Green Mountain in Arabic — was named Khaslat Safi Sahra by the Omani Cave Exploration Team, after the nearby village.

Local people told the group about the cave. They spent around six hours exploring it, after removing rocks at its entrance.

Mohammed Al Kindi, a member of the team that documented Khaslat Safi Sahra, said the area is honeycombed with caves — both mapped and unmapped.

“Most of the rocks that cover Jebel Akhdar are limestone ... and these are prone to dissolution because of acidic water,” he told The National.

“The small caverns within the rocks grow larger over time and they form various types of cavities.”

Khaslat Safi Sahra has a 2.5 metre opening and contains two chambers — one to a depth of five metres and the second to 10 metres.

Inside, the explorers found a number of animals, including spiders and frogs, and various forms of stalagmites and stalactites.

Khaslat Safi Sahra was formed in limestone sediments dating back to the Cretaceous period, from about 145 million to 66 million years ago.

It will be added to the next edition of the group’s book A Guide to the Caves of Oman, which features more than 180 caves and advice on how to navigate them.

Mr Al Kindi said the book features caves of various difficulties, from those requiring expert exploration to ones suitable for family adventures.

He hopes the cave will become a tourist destination for Oman’s adventurous visitors, and says there are more to be documented and discovered.

“There could be many more caves to be discovered in Oman,” he said. “The locals will know them but have not communicated their locations to interested cavers.

“On the other hand, many caves are probably not exposed. However, with continuous erosion some may become accessible in tens of years.”

The Omani team also explored the 'Well of Hell' sinkhole in Yemen. They found snakes, cave pearls and fresh water in the bottom of the well in Al Bahra region in 2021.