People speak of Socotra as the ‘Jewel’ of the Arabian Sea and they have reasons for that. A wealth of tropical sunshine, exotic biodiversity, amazing landscape, sun-kissed fabulous beaches, impressive volcanic caves, crystal clear waters and pristine coral reefs are just some of the characteristics of this magic paradise. One of the world’s most fascinating archipelagos, ideally nestled in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean, the mountainous Socotra is a truly breathtaking getaway.
The island is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers superb opportunities for land and water sports. Head to one of the popular tourist attractions in Yemen and have a wonderful holiday, returning home with picture-perfect memories and the wish to return!
Socotra was isolated and off-limits to tourists till president Ali Abudullah Salih opened the island’s first tarmac airstrip in 1999; before that, it used to be accessible only by small turbo-prop planes and only outside the monsoon season.
Mother Nature has blessed the island with exceptional beauty and charm. Can you imagine? A third of the plant life found on Socotra Island (over 900 species) cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Its alien-like landscape is very unique and the island is best known for its botanical uniqueness and biodiversity, an example of which is the striking Blood Dragon Tree (dracaena cinnabara), the botanical icon of Socotra. This plant was highly sought after for its red sap for medicine (the tree got its name because if any damage is made to the bark then a dark red liquid oozes out) and also as a paint and varnish. Other species worth a mention include the cucumber tree, looking like a giant cucumber, and the giant bottle tree. There is also the rare Socotran pomegranate and Emta tree.
The interior of the island is dominated by the lush green Haggier Mountains and limestone plateau – the richest areas for endemic plant species while on the outer coastline, there is no shortage of pure white sand dunes and swaying palm trees.
The island is also bird-watcher’s paradise, as these lively creatures constitute one of the most natural diversity environment aspects in Socotra, and do not be surprised if you see numerous species flying beside you, above trees or on the sea water around the island and valleys. So far, about 120 bird species have been recorded on the island, of which 31 are known to breed. Of these, 5 species are endemic to the island, including Socotra Warbler, Socotra Cisticola, Socotra Sparrow, Socotra Starling and Socotra Bunting.
Socotra is also filled with a wealth of snails and reptiles, 90 per cent of which will not be found elsewhere. As to marine life, the island has no shortage of it with 253 species of corals, 730 species of coastal fish and 300 species of crab, lobster and shrimp, the reason why so many scuba diving fans flock to this beautiful corner of the world to indulge in endless beauty both below and above the waters.
Remember! If you visit the Republic of Yemen in the Middle East, you’re not far from Socotra Island. Why not make your holidays unique and one-of-a-kind?
