From their camp on the shore of The Indian Ocean last night, today the Jewel of Arabia team headed inland to Jiddat al-Harasis. A 3000km2 reserve working to protect, breed and reintroduce the Arabian Oryx to Oman.

In Bertram Thomas’s time the Arabian Oryx was fairly widespread. But the Oryx become a prized trophy for hunters. Numbers fell almost to extinction in the wild. A captive breeding programme was started and in April 1984, 11 captive breed Arabian Oryx were reintroduced to the desert of Jiddat al-Harasis.

Through expedition team member Dikra, Mark talks to the Said bin Nasser Al Harsoosi about his role as a ranger and reveals that today the population stands at over 720 individuals.

Expedition website: The Jewel of Arabia Expedition

Follow the expedition on social media: Instagram and Facebook

The Jewel of Arabia Expedition podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Mark and the team have had a recharge and wash day at their beach camp on the shoreline about 40 kms north of Duqm where they visit tomorrow.

But this evening they are joined around the beach campfire by Mission Spiritus expedition leader, Alan Chambers. Bertram Thomas wrote that stories start where the road ends and around the fire Mark and Alan share stories about their two expedtions.

After a career in the Royal Marines and a colleague suffering a significant neck and spinal injury, Alan has devoted his life to fundraising for spinal injury research through fairly extreme fundraising expeditions. It was over a coffee in Antarctica watching an eclipse that the idea for Mission Spiritus was born.

Alan describes himself as one of “earth’s gardeners”. Travelling to some of the most remote places on earth and collecting snow, sand, water, ice and rock samples, Mission Spiritus are supporting research into the global spread of micro and nano plastic pollution.

Mark and Alan’s path have crossed as Mission Spiritus are about to head into the Sharqiya sands to collect sand samples.

Find out more about Alan and Missions Spiritus here

Expedition website: The Jewel of Arabia Expedition

Follow the expedition on social media: Instagram and Facebook

The Jewel of Arabia Expedition podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Today Mark is joined by Scott McDonald, CEO, The British Council and Thomas Lloyd, Country Director Oman, British Council who have both joined the expedition for 48 hours.

Resting under an acacia tree in a wadi that Thomas described as lush, green and over a kilometre wide, Mark , Scott and Thomas talk about the role of The British Council as it celebrates its 90th year, the work it does in Oman, and how it is helping the expedition engage young Omanis to push for a more sustainable world.

Towards the end of the expedition, The British Council is hosting a sustainability hackathon aimed at promoting and supporting young Omanis in start up to continue to drive the sustainable momentum.

Expedition website: The Jewel of Arabia Expedition

Follow the expedition on social media: Instagram and Facebook

The Jewel of Arabia Expedition podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio