Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
land, though, is the Egyptian vulture. For an excellent twitching trip report on Socotra, including a rundown on
the island's best birding sights, see
www.worldtwitch.com/socotra_yemen_birding_des.htm
.
There are 26 reptile
species, 23 of which are endemic and while most are small lizards or little harmless snakes, we swear we caught a
quick glimpse of a fire-breathing dragon flying past one evening.
Sleeping
Although Hadibu has the only hotels and restaurants on the island, few people spend more
than a night here at the beginning and end of their trip. Prior to 2011 there were several
places to stay in Hadibu, including
Socotra Holiday Hotel
(r from YR3500)
,
Taj Socotra Hotel
(
660627; tw YR3500)
and
Socotra Tourist Hotel
( 660725; r YR3500)
. We have been unable to con-
tact any of them, and prices listed are from 2010. We were, however, able to update Sum-
mer Land Hotel's prices remotely.
Camping is not permitted everywhere (so check first). Some good, established spots in-
clude
Wadi Dae'rho
near the freshwater pool,
Nojed
on the south coast,
Homhil
and
Dihamri
in
the east and
Detwah Lagoon
in the west. Facilities vary in all of these 'campsites' ranging
from a toilet and some pre-erected tents and huts (Dihamri and Detwah Lagoon) to noth-
ing at all. At most of these sites someone can be found to cook an evening meal (though
not always, so it's good to be prepared). Pitches cost YR1000 per person. It's often pos-
sible to arrange to stay in villages, though this sort of thing is hard to organise in advance.
If you are invited to do so, be generous with how much you donate (YR2000 per person
should be sufficient - more if meals are provided).
If you need to hire camping gear, any of the island's tour operators can provide all the
standards.
Summer Land Hotel$$$
HOTEL
( 660350;
www.summerlandsocotra.com
; s/d incl breakfast US$60/100)
This whitewashed hotel is the
height of Socotran luxury and has stylish, modern rooms with stone tile floors and oh-so-
comfortable beds, but with cold-water-only showers it's mega overpriced (although hot
water is apparently on the way). The staff know the island well and can sort you out with
tours, car hire and camping equipment.
Eating
There are few eating options in Hadibu and none at all outside the town.
Taj Socotra Restaur-
ant
(meals YR700-1000)
, below the hotel of the same name, is every local's favourite eating es-
tablishment.
