Alien-looking scenery, birds and animals that you can’t find anywhere else, weird trees and a truly prehistoric landscape are just some of the things that make the islands of Socotra a paradise worth visiting.

Dragon's Blood Tree

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Socotra was born during the Miocene, when the four islands of the archipelago detached from the Gondwana super continent. It became one of the most isolated lands of continental origin and it started growing at a different pace than the rest of the world. Socotra, the main island of the archipelago, Abad al Kuri, Samhah, Darsa and many other small rock islands, all lie in the Indian Ocean, close to the Horse of Africa, and belong to the Republic of Yemen.

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Socotra is one of the few places in the world where all your knowledge of biology and zoology are of no use. The trees here look totally different than any other tree you’ve seen before, and the animals are not exactly what you would expect to find in a place so close to Africa. Even the people look unique, they are neither African, nor Arab or European, they are just inhabitants of Socotra.

Frankincense Tree

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The long period of isolation, the high temperatures and the currents of the Indian Ocean have managed to turn Socotra into a one-of-a-kind jewel of biodiversity. Out of the 800 known species of plants found on the islands, 240 are endemic, which means they are not found anywhere else on Earth, and biologists are discovering new species every year. The Dragon’s Blood Tree is a weird umbrella-shaped tree, sought-after since ancient times for its red sap. It was used as a miraculous medicine and as dye by violin makers like the famous Stradivarius. Also the Frankincense Tree, prized for its aromatic resin, or the beautiful Desert’s Rose (Adenium obesum), are just a small part of Socotra’s incredible flora.

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The islands’ fauna isn’t less impressive. 80% of the reptiles found in the archipelago are endemic, and experts say there are still many species yet to be discovered. Giant centipedes, strange insects and over 20 species of spiders found only in Socotra may definitely scare off some tourists, but they are invaluable to entomologists all around the world. Six of the 140 species of birds that live in the area are only found here (sadly all of them are almost extinct), while another 30 species only hatch on these islands. As is the case on other isolated landforms, few mammals live in Socotra and the only endemic species is the bat. The marine biodiversity of Socotra is simply amazing, characterized by unique mixtures of species from the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, Arabia and East Africa.

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Traveling to Socotra has become easier since an airport was built on the main island of Socotra, in 1999. It is located 12 km west of Hadiboh, the island’s main city, with a population of 8545. Still, it remains a remote destination with an undeveloped infrastructure, but for the sake of its unique plants and wildlife, this is definitely a good thing. So if you’re interested in visiting Socotra don’t expect any luxury accommodations, just get ready to travel back in time.

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