1st edition Published : 09th Oct 2020 Paperback : 176 pages ?A much-needed
guidebook? ? Tony Wheeler, founder, Lonely Planet This new, full-colour title
from Bradt is the first and only guide available to the largest of the four
islands that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Socotra Archipelago
in the Arabian Sea, 240 miles offshore from their mother land, Yemen. Everything
you might need for a successful trip is covered, from pre-departure planning,
getting there, tour operators and where to stay to the full range of information
for making the most of your time while there. Background information on history,
people, language and culture is followed by an easy-to-follow geographical
breakdown covering everywhere from the capital Hadibo to Ayhaft Canyon National
Park, Qaria Lagoon, Rosh Marine Protected Area, Homhil Reserv, Terbak village
and Hoq cave, Qalansiyah, Diksam Plateau and the forest of Firhimin to name just
a few of the places detailed. There is also a section on vocabulary, an endemic
wildlife check list and suggested sources of further information. Socotra is
unique. Sometimes known as ?The Galapagos of the Indian Ocean?, the archipelago
has an exceptionally large number of endemic species. Of the 220 bird species
recorded, 11 are endemic, including the relatively recently identified Socotra
Buzzard. Closer to the ground, an estimated 307 plant species are endemic. More
than 600 species of insects, some 100 land and freshwater molluscs, around 80
arachnids, some dozen myriapods, four land- and fresh-water crabs, 30 reptiles
and 14 mammals have been found to occur, of which all the land snails, 90% of
the reptiles and about 60% of the spiders are unique to the archipelago. With
its superb beaches and dramatically varied landscapes (mountains, forest,
ravines, sand-dunes, beaches, caves.) Socotra is a prime target for tourism,
which will need handling with extreme care. Strict regulations are in force to
preserve the island's natural heritage and much of it has protected status, but
some unprotected land has already been sold to potential developers. This
pristine and relatively unknown little island, so full of natural treasures, may
be on the brink of a very different future.