Oman
Jebel Samhan
Camera traps on these cliffs still catch the Arabian leopard; visitors almost never do.
Jebel Samhan rises from Dhofar in long limestone shelves, sometimes sharp and clear, sometimes wrapped in khareef cloud. Viewpoints open across escarpments where the plateau drops towards the coastal plain.
Jebel Samhan rises behind Mirbat in limestone shelves past 1,700 metres, and its cliffs are the core habitat of the Arabian leopard, critically endangered and holding on here in one of its last strongholds; camera traps see them, visitors almost never do. Frankincense trees grow on the lower slopes; the mountain's honey is rated the region's best by the chefs who buy it. In khareef the plateau disappears into cloud and the viewpoints close in; winter gives the escarpment its full drop to the coastal plain. Main viewpoints take an ordinary car, and the remoter tracks take a guide.
Solo
The escarpment viewpoints are an easy solo drive in clear weather, and the leopard's presence changes how the empty plateau feels.
Friends
Winter road-trip country: viewpoints, frankincense slopes and the escarpment falling away to the coast, with Mirbat's harbour lunch below.
- This plateau is the core habitat of the critically endangered Arabian leopard, holding on in the cliffs below.
- The escarpment tops 1,700 metres and drops towards the coastal plain in long limestone shelves.
- Frankincense trees grow on the mountain, the same species that made this coast rich.
- In khareef the plateau wraps itself in cloud; winter opens the long views instead.
Mountain honey from the Samhan slopes, the jar local chefs reach for first.
Down in Salalah afterwards, madhbi off the fire-heated stones.
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