The Khareef -- Monsoon in the Desert
A visit to Oman in midsummer is a very special experience, although the sun then burns vertically and the dark rocks of Muscat turn into ovens that radiate heat day and night. Even in the deepest darkness, temperatures do not drop below forty degrees Celsius. The high humidity does the rest to make the guest of moderate latitudes doubt his decision to travel to Oman during this time. But there are the Omanis, who constantly praise you on your decision, because in Salalah it is the very best weather: monsoon started and it is cool and raining.
The ‘Arabian Paradise’
The south coast of Oman is indeed very busy during the monsoon months of July to September. This is the time of the khareef. If you drive out of the city into the mountains, you are enveloped by dense fog and drizzle within just a few hundred metres; green mountains loom dimly, occasionally interrupted by the silhouette of a camel or a cow With the hazard warning lights flashing, it takes a long time to drive up and down the passes. In the wadis and on the green plains, countless tourists from the Gulf States sit beaming with joy on blankets in the drizzle and have a barbecue – they are on holiday in ‘their’ paradise. There is a strict bathing ban in the sea – the meter-high waves speak for themselves – why
Around half a million tourists from the neighbouring Gulf States come to Salalah between June and August to escape the hottest weeks of the year in their home countries The temperature here never rises above 30° Celsius, while 100% humidity guarantees that not a single ray of direct sunlight will reach the ground. Most of them arrive on special flights, while many others cover the long distance by car and then have to battle through unfamiliar fog shortly before reaching their destination. A traffic risk that should not be underestimated.
