Muscat – It is arguably the first time someone in Oman has taken on the mantle to criss-cross the passage of Tropic of Cancer in the sultanate.

The Tropic of Cancer is the line of latitude that runs around the Earth at approximately 23.5° north of the equator. It is the northernmost point on Earth where the sun comes exactly overhead at local noon time.

In Oman, the line passes through Sunainah in Buraimi, Ibri, Rustaq, Wadi al Ma’awel, Fanja, Amerat and Sifah in Muscat.

Adventurer Mohammed al Randi (33), from the wilayat of Quriyat, started his 550km arduous journey on January 13 from the Oman-UAE border in the wilayat of Sunainah in Buraimi.

An employee of the Directorate General of Scouts and Guides in the Ministry of Education, Randi claims to be the first Omani to move along the Tropic of Cancer on foot.

Speaking to Muscat Daily from the Rustaq mountain, after walking 152km, Randi said, “I hope to finish the trip in Al Sifah beach in Muscat on January 25 after completing 550km.”

The trip, he said, aims to spread awareness on preserving the environment as well educating people on the importance of the Tropic of Cancer in Oman. “This trip will also help to promote the tourist and archaeological sites along the Tropic of Cancer and also popularise trail or mountain walking.”

Randi is walking seven to eight hours every day. He starts at 5am, and takes a break at 9am. The second phase of his walk begins at 3pm and ends at 7pm.

“The terrain of the journey is not easy. The tropic passes through mountains, wadis, and sand dunes. The cold weather and chilly winds add to the challenge,” he said, adding that with patience and determination, “I will complete it”.

Knowing the difficulty of the trip, Randi prepared well in advance. “I studied the terrain and topography of the passage of the Tropic of Cancer in Oman for days. To prepare my body, I walked daily for more than four hours. I also participated in several marathons in Oman, crossing the Sharqiyah desert, and walked 1,200km from Musandam to Mirbat in Dhofar to explore the mountains and caves.”

To leave a legacy of the trip, Randi is meeting school students along the way to talk about his journey and its importance in preserving the environment, climate change and its impact on humans.

Talking about his future plans, Randi said, “I will continue walking to promote tourism in Oman and spread awareness of the importance of preserving the environment. I urge youngsters to pursue some kind of sports, because a healthy mind in a healthy body is important to achieve one’s dreams.”