Known as the ‘Ships of the Desert’, camels have for long been part and parcel of a traditional way of life in Oman. Bedouin life in the desert is in fact very much dependant on camels who offer a means of transporting people and goods as well as being used for traditional celebrations and festivals too. The best place to see camels is undoubtedly in the desert itself and if you stay at an Oman desert hotel such as  you have the chance to take part in a sunset safari on camel-back which is a fascinating way to get up close with these curious looking creatures. However, there is another aspect of local culture this animal is a part of and well worth experiencing when in Oman; camel racing!

Very much like horse racing and taken just as seriously, camel racing is a popular sport with owners raising thoroughbreds in order to compete in the races. The season for camel racing in Oman is generally from September all the way to March, with weekends being when these events are held. Races are known to start as early as 6 am and run up to 9 am so look to set aside some time in the morning if you want to catch the action. Check the local papers beforehand for venues and dates of the planned races.

Any preconceived notion you may have that these are slow creatures, will soon be changed whet at the event as camels are known to reach speeds of around 64 kms on these special racetracks. Many of the races are organised by the Omani Camel Racing Federation (OCRF) who work in partnership with the Royal Camels Corps. Al Batinah, Al Dhahirah, Dhofar and Al Sharqiyah are among the governorates where camel races are held each year, while the Al Abiadh racetrack which can be found near the Sinaw-Mahawt road sees some of the best racing action.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+