When is Turtle Hatching Season?

So when exactly is the best time to see turtle hatching? The great turtle migration happens every year on the beaches and shorelines of the Arabian Peninsula. These turtles arrive to dig holes and lay their eggs as Oman is one of the world’s hotspots for turtle hatching. 

Between April and August is the best time to see this. Around this time, over 20,000 turtles make the journey to Oman’s beaches (especially on the Eastern side) and lay between 50,000 – 60,000 eggs. They are then buried under the sand to protect the precious cargo and then 55 days later the eggs hatch and the babies begin their lives.  

The First Race of Their Lives

These babies don’t have it easy. As soon as they emerge from their eggs, they have but one goal: reach the ocean. You would hope that it would be a pretty straightforward journey for these little babies but sadly that is not the case. 

Their journey to the ocean is fraught with danger. There are multiple predators between them and their goal, including foxes, crabs and seagulls. They’re all hungry and looking for breakfast. Sadly, not many of the baby turtles survive to adulthood as their dangerous life does not end with this journey to the sea. Once they reach the ocean, they face tough challenges from sea birds and fish. Their survival rate ranges from somewhere between one in 1,000 to one in 10,000.

Which Breeds of Turtles in Oman Can You See?

There are a number of different breeds of turtles which flock to Oman for the turtle hatching season. Here is a list of the breeds below.  

●      Leatherback Turtle

●      Green Turtle

●      Olive Ridley Turtle

●      Hawksbill Turtle

●      Loggerhead Turtle

Best Places To Go

There are a wide variety of turtle sanctuaries and turtle beach resorts in Oman where you can see these amazing creatures take their first steps. 

Ras al Jinz Turtle Reserve

This turtle sanctuary is situated along the shores of eastern Oman, a fishing village called Ras Al Jinz is known for its turtle nesting sites, especially for the likes of the endangered Green Turtles. These turtles by law are protected and strict punishments will be dealt for anyone who tries to disturb or affect the turtles and their natural habitat.

However, with these rules in place tours run by specialists are available so you can still enjoy watching the process of these beautiful animals laying their eggs and the baby turtles hatching. 

Ras al Hadd

Ras al Hadd is only 12 miles away from Ras al Jinz, and isa lot larger. However, they both receive close to or the same amount of turtles per year. The entrance to Ras al Hadd is 1 OMR (£2.13) This is a lot cheaper than Ras al Jinz, however, it doesn’t have a museum that you can visit. 

Masirah Island

There are four distinct species of a sea turtle on Masirah Island. Oman has recognised the importance of helping out these beautiful creatures as it is such a large portion of their breeding/nesting sites. You will find the likes of the green turtle, hawksbill, olive ridley and loggerhead turtles. They all nest and hatch their eggs at different times throughout the year, so you have a really good chance of seeing them during your visit.

Al-Dimaniyat Islands

These islands are located in Wilayat AlSeeb in the Muscat Governorate and lies around 40 miles west of Muscat, the capital of Oman. The island is home to a large number of sea turtles and a magnet for migratory and native birds.

Plan away

Seeing the turtle hatching season isn’t the only thing Oman has to offer. There is a huge wealth of tourist sights and things to do across the country. You may be wondering: is Oman safe to visit? Due to its location in the middle east, Oman has an unfair reputation for some tourists. This is what makes Oman a bit of a hidden gem. The country is incredibly modern and beautiful, as well as being very safe. 

Now thanks to the new electronic Oman visa system, it’s also never been easier to visit the country. Whether you need a UK Oman visa or an international one, Oman eVisa can help. With their new airport as well, flying there has never been easier. If you are flying from Birmingham, this Birmingham travel agents will be able to arrange the best flights to Oman or other areas of South Asian and the Middle East.