Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
high-mountain walks each taking a minimum of four hours excluding stops. In general ex-
perienced hikers will find the walking fairly easy.
For a different kind of hike, camel trekking (camel per day YR8000, guide per day
YR5000) in the foothills can be organised. This is a fantastic adventure that involves stay-
ing with nomadic families and trekking for up to a week. Serious naturalists and botanists
will appreciate the knowledge of a guide and any of the tour agencies should be able to
line you up with someone
experienced.
Caving
Caving is a new activity for which Socotra (and the Dhofar Mountains around Hawf) has
immense potential. The island is thought to boast one of the world's largest cave systems,
though they remain almost entirely unexplored to date. The Dogub Cave on the south
coast has huge stalagmites and stalactites, and is one that everyone can enjoy, while the
immense Hoq Caves will require a guide to lead you 3km underground deep into the
bowels of the island - keep your eyes peeled for dragons.
Windsurfing & Surfing
With day-in day-out strong to gale-force winds through the May to September monsoon
season and heavy swells, Socotra could one day be a massive name in the windsurfing
world. For the moment it's just for the hardcore. Surfers will also find some excellent
breaks hidden in the more remote reaches of the island, but the same heavy winds that are
such a delight for windsurfers are anything but for surfers. However, wind-related prob-
lems will be the least of a surfer's worries - it's the sharks that are the real problem!
AN ARABIAN EDEN
The remote Socotran archipelago has been described as an Arabian Garden of Eden and is known for its high
number of endemic plants and animals. There are around 850 plant species, of which approximately 230 to 260
species are found nowhere else on earth. The Hajhir Mountains and the limestone plateaus contain the richest
variety of endemic plants. The most famous of these is the stumpy Dragon's Blood Tree, whose red sap was for
years sold as dragon's blood and used as a cosmetic and for medical reasons. Another favourite is the Cucumber
Tree, the only cucumber plant to grow in tree form. In total, 52 of Socotra's endemic plants are included on the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
The fauna also includes a large proportion of endemics. Only seven types of terrestrial mammals call the island
home and most of these were introduced. Two, a bat and a shrew, are considered endemic. Officially a phoenix
hasn't been seen for donkey's years, but even so the bird life is spectacular and consists of 140 species, 11 of
which are endemic. These are the Socotra buzzard, Socotra scops owl, Socotra pipit, Socotra golden-winged gros-
beak, Socotra white-eye, Socotra warbler, Socotra bunting, Socotra sunbird, Socotra starling, Socotra cisticola
and the Socotra sparrow. New birds are still being discovered on a yearly basis. The most visible bird on the is-
