A landscape dotted with umbrella-looking Dragon Blood trees and home to exclusive species of birds and animals, the Socotra archipelago is truly unique. With rich biodiversity and reputed as one of the most alien-looking lands in the world, this group of islands is a gold mine for naturalists, travellers, and those seeking adventure. Also called the "Galapagos of the Indian Ocean," you'll see species that are not found anywhere on the face of Earth.
A true treasure of Yemen, the Socotra archipelago is a remote collection of islands in the western Indian Ocean, near the Horn of Africa. The archipelago consists of four main islands: Socotra, Abd al Kuri, Samhah, and Darsah, with Socorta being the largest of the four.
Located between the Guardafui Channel and the Arabian Sea, this archipelago is often described as one of the most alien-looking places on Earth. In 2008, it was also recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Socotra’s geographical isolation and extreme weather conditions (it plays host to violent winter monsoons and baking summer temperatures) has resulted in a unique and highly endemic ecosystem.
Socotra's interiors consist of a barren mountainous landscape, plateaus at various altitudes, and sparse shrubbery. The almost 25-million-years-old archipelago has limestone plateaus, arid mountains, and coastal plains coexisting on one island.
Despite its natural wonders, Socotra faces many challenges rooting from human intervention and politicisation of the land. For instance, the civil war in Yemen led to concerns about the archipelago's future. The archipelago has also been on UAE’s radar for its strategic location between the navigable waterways of the Gulf, Africa and Asia.
Socotra is home to roughly 60,000 people and the current population there is a patchwork of indigenous and foreign lineages. Indigenous Socotris, the land's ethnic group, inhabit the island. This community belongs to the Al-Mahra tribe of South Arabia, and make up for a large share of the total population here. The rest of the population is composed of people of East-African descent and an increasing number of mainland Yemenis.
Along with being famed as one of the most alien-looking lands on Earth, Socotra is also one of the world’s most biodiverse lands. According to estimates arrived at by naturalists and environmentalists, 37 per cent of the land’s 825 plant species, 90 per cent of its reptiles and 95 per cent of its land snails are exclusive to the island and can't be found anywhere else on the planet.
The same estimates also note that there are around 825 different species of plants on the archipelago, 307 out which are endemic to the land—be it trees that look like large umbrellas or rose bushes that look like tubers.
Take the endemic umbrella-shaped Dragon Blood trees as an example. These trees, which can date back 300 years, are a source of the prized red resin that is used for medicinal and dyeing purposes.
Nine different varieties of endemic frankincense also populate the island. The Socotra desert rose, another endemic plant species, has a trunk that can store water. The plant has sparse leaves and flowers, lending the desert rose a unique look.
Also called the “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean,” Socotra is home to 700 endemic species. The Socotra warbler, Socotra bunting, ghost crab, Socotra limestone crab, Socotra cormorant, Socotra sunbird, Egyptian vulture, and the loggerhead turtle are some of the rarest species that one can spot on the archipelago. It is also home to various species of fish, lobsters, and shrimp. Apart from its rich fauna, bats are the only mammals here while amphibians are missing entirely.
Various factors including climate change and unsustainable use of resources have affected life on the islands. However, the people of Socotra, who depend on their land and nature for their sustenance and livelihood, have been taking initiative to safeguard their source of life from all dangers.
While the sight of the umbrella-like trees and the reputation of one of the most alien-looking lands in the world is enough for tourists to flock to Socotra, the islands also offer nature-focussed, activity-focussed or culture-focussed itineraries.
If you enjoy observing animals, birds, and interacting with trees, spend time watching the many migratory and indigenous birds on the islands. Fishing, sea-turtle watching, resin harvesting, and spotting the rare endemic fauna are some other activities that you can indulge in.
However, for adventure enthusiasts, Socotra has lots on offer. Fossil scouting, trekking, caving, tide-pooling, camping, and scuba diving are just some of the many activities that you can enjoy.
