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Socotra Island, Yemen
  • skip's retirement travel
  • skip's retirement travel

Socotra Island, Yemen

Un’avventura di 8 giorni di skip's retirement travel Leggi altro
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  • Inizio del viaggio
    5 dicembre 2025
    skip's retirement travelSocotra Island, Yemenskip's retirement travel

    Initial Impressions

    5 dicembre, Yemen ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Signs here call Socotra the most alien place on earth. This is only day one. Some unique sights, but not too alien just yet. Another sign refers to Socotra as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, probably due to so many unique species. We'll see!
    Just after leaving the airport, we came upon this overlook with a lovely (and empty) beach and interesting rock formations in the 1st picture. The 2nd picture is a close up of the rock just right of center in the 1st, and the 3rd is the outcrop at the right edge of that photo.
    I'm told there are nearly 1,000 species of plants here and that about 1/3 are endemic. The green tree growing horizontally from the cliff is frankincense. The light gray tree just left of center in the 3rd photo is a bottle tree.
    The 4th picture is a group of bottle trees. These sorta bottle shaped trees store up lots of water. But the water is poisonous. Turns out that locals rub this liquid on their livestock as it repels predators. A natural predator defense system!
    Pictures 5&6 were taken in the capital, Hadibu, the center of government for Socotra and its largest city. I may return here as this is where the airport is .
    The rest of these photos were taken along the road to Arher Beach. Photos 7-9 are typical scenery. Pictures 10&11 are small villages along the way. The 12th picture is what most of this coast looks like: rocky. And the 13th picture is of interesting silhouetted trees along the ridgeline.
    The last 3 pictures were taken where we stopped for lunch. There are several of these interesting rock formations along the way used for picnicking. The 15th picture is across the road. I think that central rock looks like a person's profile.
    And the last is a group of Egyptian vultures helping with cleanup.    Leggi altro

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    Arher Beach

    5 dicembre, Yemen ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Arher Beach is where cliffs come down to sea level and white sand dunes are formed along its front. The dunes are just back from the water line. These are active dunes, being reshaped by the wind, especially during the windy season. The road runs along the seaward foot of the dunes and has to be dug out at least once a year.
    The 1st 3 pictures are different views of the dunes with the cliffs behind. Today has been mostly cloudy. So some pictures look like black and white. Pictures 4-6 turn the other way and look from the dunes to the sea.
    The cliffs add more to the picture. Fresh water flows off the cliffs and streams to the sea. The next 2 pictures look at one of these places. I'm guessing that this spring is in that cave, flows down into the greenery creating the surface water that flows out across the beach.
    Pictures 8&9 are views of Arher Beach itself.
    Quite near Archer Beach is the eastern end of the island where the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean meet. There is active fishing community here who bring their boats in every evening. They are arriving in the 10th picture. The 11th picture is a "sculpture" near the eastern point. Those are whale shark bones arranged by an unknown artist. The last picture looks off the eastern point. To the left is the Arabian Sea; to the right is the Indian Ocean.
    This is a beautiful place.    Leggi altro

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    Hoq Cave

    6 dicembre, Yemen ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Hoq Cave is the largest cave I've seen that is undeveloped, i.e., no lights, no walkway, no improvements of any kind. That is why several pics are very dark, even with flash.
    The cave is located up the side of the ridge, requiring a hike of 1.5-2 hours. The elevation gain is about 550 meters.
    The trailhead is in a small village where there is an effort to propagate native trees (the 1st picture).
    The overview pictures are taken from several points along the trail. I took the first 3 on the way up.
    Next are the cave pictures. Each one is progressively farther into the cave's interior. Even shining several headlamps together plus flash, that's the best I could get.
    The 10th picture is the view from the cave mouth. You can get a sense of the elevation climb by comparing with the other views
    And the last 3 pictures were taken on the way down.    Leggi altro

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    Socotra Folk Museum

    7 dicembre, Yemen ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    This museum is a small, one room facility that provides a look at the history and culture of Socotra through everyday articles from different times.
    The 1st picture is a baby swing. It's hanging to the right of center.
    The 2nd picture shows part of a log boat used for fishing, trading and even ocean journeys to the Horn of Africa, or mainland Yemen and Oman. Socotra is actually closer to Africa than it is to mainland Yemen.
    The 3rd and 4th pictures are of goat skin bags. The 3rd picture is a bag for shaking goat's milk into a soured product used for food. The 4th picture is a date bag for crushed dates.
    The 5th picture shows several different drums, among other artifacts.
    The 6th picture is an example of women's dress from years past.
    The 7th picture is a pottery bowl made in Socotra with painted decorations. The paint here is Dragon Blood Tree resin.
    Socotra has its own language called Soqotri. This is a Semitic language related to, but distinct from, Arabic. Traditionally a spoken language, they are now developing a written language. The last picture is a soqotri alphabet based on Arabic.    Leggi altro

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    Dihamri Protected Area

    7 dicembre, Yemen ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    This is an upland reserve set aside for preservation. It can be described as a flat valley up towards the central plateau.
    While this is not the main area for the Dragon Blood Tree, they do exist here. The 1st picture is the 1st Dragon Blood Tree I've seen. Their name comes from the red sap the tree exudes when damaged. The sap is used as a dye and medicinally, among other uses.
    The 2nd is a bottle tree in flower.
    Homhill infinity pool is a natural infinity pool perched at the top of a limestone cliff with a view to the ocean. The next 3 pictures are all taken there: a look at the pool; a look at the view; and a closer look at the pool.
    The next 3 pictures look at the landscape of this protected area. In particular, the next last picture is a stand of frankincense, and the last picture is of some Dragon Blood Trees in silhouette on a ridge line.    Leggi altro

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    Dihamri Marine Reserve

    7 dicembre, Yemen ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    This ocean sanctuary boasts some of the best snorkeling with many marine species, some of which are endemic. Since I don't have an underwater camera, I don't have pictures of what makes this place special. Unfortunately, in my brief snorkel, I didn't see any live coral. I'm told it's farther out. So, you will see the local land and facilities.
    In the 1st picture you can see the pyramidal orangey rock formation that is a sort of marker for the sanctuary.
    The 2nd picture looks out from the dive shack (in the 3rd picture) over where the reefs are located.
    The next 3 pictures are of the immediate area in and around the reserve. The last picture looks over to some fishing boats that work outside the reserve.    Leggi altro

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    Kilisan Wadi

    8 dicembre, Yemen ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Kilisan is where the largest natural pool is located down a trail that takes the better part of an hour. The end is worth it. The pool and setting are beautiful.
    The 1st picture is taken from the top of the canyon where the wadi runs. The 2nd picture was taken most of the way down and foreshadows what's to come.
    Pictures 3, 4, & 5 are of the pool. It is up to 5 meters deep with shelves along some of the sides. You can see the limestone walls of the wadi with all the different height tops. The water is deep enough to jump from most of them.
    The 6th picture is of the area alongside the pool. The limestone is smoothed and shaped by the flow of water when it rains enough.
    The 7th picture is looking down the wadi from the outlet, and the 8th picture is the view farther down the wadi, taken on the way up.    Leggi altro

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    Zahek Sand Dunes

    8 dicembre, Yemen ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Zahek Dunes are an extensive area of white sand dunes adjoining the Indian Ocean. They aren't as high as the dunes at Arher Beach on the north coast, but they cover a much larger area.
    Here are 3 pictures of the dunes, the 1st from the area approaching the dunes. The other 2 from atop one of the dunes.
    Zahek Dunes are known for their sunrises and sunsets. The next 2 pictures are at sunset taken from the dunes.
    The last picture is at Aomak Beach where the dunes meet the sea.    Leggi altro

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    Dagub Cave

    9 dicembre, Yemen ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Dagub cave was first occupied millennia ago. It is still occasionally used, most recently in the storm of 2015 when the local village moved themselves and their livestock here for protection.
    This is a particularly wet cave with water constantly dripping and forming stalactites and stalagmites. The ready source of water makes this cave attractive for dwelling.
    The 1st picture looks at the cave mouth from a short distance away. The 2nd picture is of 2 columns formed by water that have bushes growing out of them. The 3rd picture is of a bowl shaped feature into which water is constantly dripping. You can see a splash or 2 in the water surface.
    The next 4 pictures are other views in this open and not very deep cave mouth, though it can hold a village and its livestock. The last of these pictures looks into a recess that extends farther into the hill but requires crawling to enter.
    The very last picture is the view from the cave mouth.    Leggi altro

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    Dragon Blood Trees!

    9 dicembre, Yemen ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    At the only dragon blood tree forest on earth on the Diksam Plateau. This tree has become a symbol for Socotra, and being here is a highlight of Socotra.
    The tree is so called because it exudes a red sap or resin when injured. There is also a legend from the Qu'ranic telling of the Cain and Abel story: that their altercation occurred here, giving the tree its Arabic name, the tree of two brothers' blood.
    The 1st 4 pictures are in the dragon blood forest.
    There is only one way to this forest, and that is to pass through Wadi Dirhur, the deepest canyon in Socotra. The next 3 pictures are taken from the bottom of the wadi. On the far wall of the canyon you can see the road carved into the cliff side.
    While the forest is on Diksam Plateau, dragon blood trees live on the other side of the canyon. That's the next last picture.
    In a nearby village there is a dragon blood tree nursery to help maintain and to study the species. Those trees that look something like pineapples are 20 year old dragon blood trees. They are extraordinarily slow growing.    Leggi altro

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    Qalansiya

    10 dicembre, Yemen ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Qalansiyah is the 2nd largest city in Socotra located on the northwest of the island. It is largely a fishing port, and there is a growing tourism sector here now, too.
    The 1st picture looks at the town from the water, and the 2nd picture looks down on the town from a local viewpoint. The next 3 pictures are in the town. The 5th picture is a town square. That is the flag of South Yemen. It seems that none of the streets are paved.
    The 6th picture is a look at some of the local fishing fleet. These fishermen are the folks who provide rides to Shoab Beach.
    Qalansiyah is probably best known for its beaches. In addition to Shoab, the local beach is often considered one of the best beaches in the world. The 7th picture looks from an overlook along the extremely wide, white sand beach. The next 2 pictures give a sense of the extent of the beach.
    Another unique feature is that the beach extends a long ways across water, becoming a sand bar that encloses Detwah Lagoon. In the 10th picture, you can see the sand bar in the distance. The sandy area in the foreground is a continuation of the beach. However, Detwah Lagoon is very shallow and not swimmable. It is now a protected area that is loaded with many marine species.
    The next 2 pictures are of the beach and Detwah Lagoon from another viewpoint where I watched the sunset.    Leggi altro

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    Shoab Beach

    11 dicembre, Yemen ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Shoab Beach is accessible only by boat from Qalanshiya. It has soft white sand, crystal clear water and cliffs on the land side. The water side is the Arabian Sea.
    But perhaps the best part is the boat ride of more than a half hour, provided by local fishermen. The ride is along dramatic cliffs shaped by tectonic forces with detail provided by wind and water erosion. Sometimes you'll see fishermen at work like the 9th picture, and if you're really lucky you'll see dolphins as in the 10th picture.
    The last 2 pictures are at the beach which is essentially a sand bar across a small cove. The 11th picture is the sand along the water. The 12th picture is behind the sand bar with its lagoon.    Leggi altro

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    Fine del viaggio
    12 dicembre 2025