Ras al Jinz — Turtle Nesting★★★
Experience a Natural Wonder Up Close
Ras al Jinz is one of the most important nesting sites for the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) worldwide — and one of the few places on earth where you can witness this natural spectacle every single night of the year.
What happens here? Green sea turtles — weighing up to 180 kg and 1.5 meters long — come ashore at night, dig a 50 cm deep hole with their flippers, lay about 100 eggs in it, and then return to the sea. The entire process takes 1–2 hours. The turtles have been coming here for thousands of years — an ancient ritual that makes you feel humble and awe-inspired.
The Ras al Jinz Turtle Reserve
The Ras Al Jinz Scientific & Visitor Center organizes controlled night tours:
- Evening Tour (9:00 pm): You are led to the beach by a ranger (approx. 1–2 hours). With red light flashlights (normal light disturbs the animals!), you watch the turtles laying eggs up close — sometimes only 2 meters away
- Morning Tour (4:00–5:00 am): The best chance to see freshly hatched baby turtles making their way to the sea. During the hatching season (April–August), a particularly emotional moment
Nesting Times
| Period | Experience |
|---|---|
| June–October | Main nesting season: Highest turtle activity, up to 100 turtles per night |
| November–May | Less nesting, but still turtles almost every night |
| April–August | Hatching season: Baby turtles on the beach in the morning |
Achtung
Photography is only allowed WITHOUT flash — the light disorients the turtles! Red headlamps are provided by the ranger. Keep your distance and remain quiet. The turtles are in a kind of trance while laying eggs — do not disturb them.
This is how the nesting visit proceeds
The visit to the turtles is strictly organized — for the protection of the animals. Here is the exact procedure:
Evening Tour (9:00 PM)
- 8:30 PM: Meeting point at the Visitor Center. Briefing by the ranger in English: behavioral rules, no flash, no white light, stay quiet, keep distance
- 9:00 PM: In groups (max. 15–20 people), proceed to the beach. The ranger leads and looks for turtles that have already started digging
- The Observation: Once a turtle has dug its nest and begins laying eggs, you may approach — sometimes up to 2 meters. In this phase, the turtle is in a kind of trance and is hardly disturbed. You see the eggs (ping-pong ball-sized, white, soft) falling one after another — about 100 pieces
- The Covering: After laying, the turtle covers the nest with its hind flippers and camouflages it by flinging sand in all directions
- Return to the Sea: The most moving moment: The exhausted turtle drags itself back to the water. In the light of the stars and the moon, you can see the wide track in the sand
Morning Tour (around 4:30 AM)
The morning tour offers the chance to see freshly hatched baby turtles (April–August). The tiny hatchlings (5 cm!) dig themselves out of the sand and instinctively run towards the sea — a race against gulls, crabs, and the rising sun. Only about 1 in 1,000 babies will become an adult turtle. A poignant moment that makes the vulnerability of nature palpable.
Green Sea Turtle — Profile
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chelonia mydas |
| Weight | 100–180 kg (females), up to 300 kg (exceptions) |
| Shell Length | 80–150 cm |
| Lifespan | 60–80 years |
| Eggs per Clutch | 80–120 |
| Incubation Period | 45–65 days |
| Conservation Status | IUCN: Endangered |
| Special Feature | Only herbivorous sea turtle (seagrass diet) |
💡 Tipp
Book the evening tour AND the morning tour — they are two completely different experiences. The overnight stay at Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve (from 25 OMR including evening and morning tour) is the most convenient option. Alternative: Stay in Sur (30 min drive). Book online at rasaljinz-turtlereserve.com — especially in high season (Nov–Feb) it can get crowded.
