The Al Hota - Al Fallah cave near Al Hamra, at 4.5km long is the second longest cave in Oman after Khoshilat Maqandeli. Al Hota is the name given to the sink and Al Fallah, the resurgence.

The entrances to Al Hota are in a large 45m deep sink hole and both have short pitches needing a 15m rope. The passage downstream leads via a descending, stepped passage to a lake containing blind fish (Garra barreimiae). In high water this section involves a swim around 50m and, in flood conditions, completely sumps.

Beyond the lake the route continues through large chambers well-decorated with speleothems including an area of large rimstone or gour pools.

The whole cave is a very pleasant experience after the blazing heat of the surrounding desert. When I was there a few years ago the Oman Government were in the planning stage of turning this into Oman's first show cave. This was to include blasting a tunnel parallel to the wall of the entrance area in order to take visitors into the cave by train to avoid the large area of unstable boulders surrounding the entrance. The Department of Tourism have chosen to call the cave Al Hotti (several different spelling derive from the original arabic name).

Written by  Dave Clucas.

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