Socotra

by Hilary Bradt, Janice Booth

Overview

The new, thoroughly updated second edition of Bradt’s Socotra remains the first and only guide available to the largest of the four islands that make up the Socotra Archipelago in the Arabian Sea, 390 km offshore from their mother land, Yemen.

A UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site packed with dramatically varied and essentially undisturbed landscapes (mountains, forest, ravines, sand-dunes, beaches, caves…), Socotra is unique. Sometimes known as ‘The Galapagos of the Indian Ocean’, the archipelago has an exceptionally large number of species found nowhere else in the world (‘endemic’) in an area barely the size of Wiltshire. Accordingly, wildlife-watchers love Socotra: of 220 bird species recorded, 11 are endemic, while more than 300 plant species are endemic, as are all the land snails, 90% of reptiles and about 60% of spiders.

Socotra offers much to fascinate the adventurous traveller. Visitors may snorkel from boats or pristine beaches; camel-trek into mountains formed by volcanic activity; gawp at bizarre plants – dragon blood trees that resemble huge, fuzzy-topped umbrellas and giant desert roses; engage with Socotra's rich history, which stretches back to the Stone Age and includes ancient cave art; and lunch at delightful fishing villages.

Bradt’s full-colour guide covers everything needed for a successful visit, including pre-departure planning, getting there, tour operators, where to stay and what to see. Background information on history, people, language and culture is followed by an easy-to-follow geographical breakdown covering all parts of the island, from the capital Hadiboh to Ayhaft Canyon National Park, Qaria lagoon, Rosh Marine Nature Sanctuary, Homhil Nature Sanctuary, Terbak village, Hoq Cave, Qalansiyah, Diksam plateau and Firmihin Forest.

To preserve its fragile environments, the recent growth in tourism – enabled by recent improvements in transport links and resulting in expansion of tourist infrastructure – is being handled with extreme care. Strict regulations are in force to preserve the island's natural heritage and nearly three-quarters has protected status. This pristine and relatively unknown little island, so full of natural treasures, may be on the brink of a very different future. Responsible tourism is paramount, so let Bradt’s Socotra be your guide to this captivating island.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781804692240
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	02/01/2025
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Hilary Bradt founded Bradt Travel Guides accidentally in 1974 while backpacking with her then-husband George through South America. Though semi-retired she is still involved with the company, mostly in trying to persuade sceptical staff to publish guides to places no-one has heard of. She assumed that after 30 or so years of roughing it, and an MBE, she had finally earned the right for some comfort, and even managed a stint as lecturer on a luxury ship. But then along came Socotra... Ever since seeing images of Socotra on a David Attenborough programme, Hilary had wanted to go there. Socotra meshed perfectly with her interest in off-the-beaten-track destinations and enthusiasm for wildlife, so visiting – and writing a Bradt guidebook to the island – became a no-brainer. When not travelling, Hilary lives in Devon, UK.

Until her death in February 2023, Janice Booth’s working life included professional stage management, archaeology, working for a Belgian NGO, compiling logic-puzzle magazines and travelling widely. She drove Land Rovers in Timbuktu, walked with water-buffalo in Tamil Nadu, waded in the breakers of Namibia's Skeleton Coast, and edited many Bradt guides to various far-flung places. Having seen the positive effect that guidebooks can have on countries recovering from war – particularly through personal experience of writing Bradt’s Rwanda and editing Bradt’s Mali – Janice was keen to visit and write about Socotra in the hope that this guide may also help to encourage visitors. After moving to Devon, she co-authored (with Hilary Bradt) Slow South Devon & Dartmoor and Slow East Devon & the Jurassic Coast.

Table of Contents

Part 1 General Information 1

Chapter 1 Background information 3

The Socotra archipelago 3

Geology, landscape and climate 3

Natural history 4

History 31

Culture and people 36

Chapter 2 Practical information 51

When to visit 51

Highlights 51

Tour operators 52

Red tape: visas and travel insurance 54

Getting there and away 55

Health 55

Safety 61

What to take 61

Money and budgeting 62

Getting around 63

Accommodation 63

Eating and drinking 64

Media and communications 65

Shopping 65

Cultural etiquette 67

Part 2 The Guide 69

Chapter 3 The North 71

Arrival 71

Hadiboh 71

East of Hadiboh 79

West of Hadiboh 82

Chapter 4 The East 86

Protected areas 86

Qaria lagoon 87

Homhil Nature Sanctuary 88

Momi plateau 90

The pools of Killisan 91

The Protected Marine Areas 91

Socotra Folk Museum 101

Hoq Cave 101

The eastern tip: Arher 102

Ras Erissel 104

Chapter 5 The Centre the South 107

The highlands 107

Wadi Dirhur 107

Diksam plateau and village 108

Firmihin Forest 108

The camel trek 108

The south coast 124

Chapter 6 The West and the Outer Islands 127

Qalansiyah 127

Detwah beach and lagoon 128

Shu'ab beach 131

The outer islands 141

Sea stacks 145

Appendix 1 Further Information 147

Appendix 2 Language 151

Appendix 3 Socotra nature - protected by law 152

Appendix 4 Checklist of endemic species in this book 155

Index 157

Index of advertisers 159

Map List

Camel trek 110

Centre and the south, the 106

East, the 87

Hadiboh 73

North, the 70

Socotra archipelago x-xi

Terrestrial Conservation Zoning Plan for the Socotra Archipelago 153

West and Outer islands, the 126

Editorial Reviews

A much-needed guidebook

Tony Wheeler