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The
Indian
"dvipa sukhatara" ("the
island of happiness"), the Greek Dioscoride,
located at less than 250 km from the Horn of Africa
and some thousand kilometers from Aden, the old
capital of South Yemen. The island has the shape of a
stretched crescent and has a length of 130 km and a
width of 40 km. Mountainous, it culminates at 1,500
meters above sea level, and is exposed to two monsoons.
The island doesn't have safe anchorage places and is
often difficult to reach.
Its
position places Socotra on the Arabian dhows routes,
from the South Arabic coasts to East Africa and South
India ; positioned at such a crossroads, it was
subject to varied cultural influences, from India as
well as from Africa.
The island population, whose cosmopolitan
character had already struck the ancient travellers,
counts
ca. twenty thousands inhabitants : Arabs, Indians,
Somalis, ...
Age-old
refuge of the world strangest plants, on the 850
plants species listed on Socotra, nearly a third are
unique. Many of these endemic species are the remains
of old floras which have disappeared on the African
continent, a long time ago. Due to this singular
vegetation, the island of Socotra is the tenth richest
island in the world with regard to the endemic plants
species, according to the World Conservation Center.
Detailed
journey
- Day
1 : Paris
- Sana'a
- Take
off in the evening with Yemen Airways.
CDG1 Airport. - Night flight -
-
- Day
2
: Sana'a
- Landing
in Sana'a
in the early morning. Transfer to the
capital.
Visit of Sana'a,
discovery of its unique architectural style, and
its picturesque Bazaars.
Visit of the National Museum which exposes a
beautiful collection of art and archaeology.
Overnight at the hotel in Sana'a.
-
- Day
3
: Sana'a - Taiz - Aden
- Departure
in the morning to Taiz, the city of the south.
Crossing of the mountainous area of green Yemen.
Fields of "qat" and coffee cultures
alternate with the mountainous landscapes of
South Arabia. Crossing of several villages with
their typically local architecture, which give a
good idea of the art to build in Yemen.
Arrival at Taiz
in
the afternoon. Stop in the Taiz Bazaars, before
carrying on our route to Aden.
Arrival in the late afternoon. (transportation
will be done in a 4WD Toyota - 4 passengers per
car).
Overnight at the hotel in Aden
.
-
- Day
4
: Aden - Socotra (domestic flight)
- Departure
on domestic flight :
Aden-Socotra : 11am -
1.45 pm
The
Island of Socotra
is located more than 1,000 km south-east of Aden and 250
km off Guardafui Cape in Somalia. The island (3,580 sq.
km) only had 15,000 inhabitants at the beginning of
1990, living from fishing and pearls searching. Because
of the dryness, agriculture is limited to dates and
condiments productions.
Isolated for a long time, the lack of substructures (few
dhows and the landing strip is very recent), as well as
the few interest expressed by the land authorities,
maintained this isolation. Today, and more recently, a
airline regular service of Yemenia has been establishes
between mainland and island.
However, the interest for the island is obvious,
historically, ethnologically and ecologically, the flora
is exceptional, one discovers there, tropical plants and
trees with surprising proportions and forms.
The infrastructures are modest, except a "small
funduk" (kind of inn with few comfort), in Hadiboh,
the capital city, everywhere else, we can only rely on
our camping gear (imported tents and gear from France).
Overnight at Hadiboh
in "funduk".
- Day
5
: The big island - Hadiboh - Ras Habek
- Exploration of the
settings which contain an exceptional flora, and
amazing landscapes, dominating an emerald sea.
Discovery of the specific island forest : the adenium obesum
sokotranum, "the desert rose",
flourishes here, Dracaena, as well as
Aloe, can be seen amongst the rocks.
Return to Hadiboh -
Overnight in the "funduk".
-
- Day
6, 7 & 8
: Hadiboh - Ras Hawlaf - Hammadiroh - Ras
Badressa
- 3 days
exploration to the east side of the island.
Some fishermen villages reflect the austere way of life of the
island inhabitants. These inhabitants still speak the
"Mahri", language coming from
South Arabia related to the language of Sheba,
and live from sea products. The waters around Socotra contains some of richest
fish stocks in the Indian Ocean. Today, several Japanese
ships get supplies in Socotra, which makes it possible to the inhabitants to improve their living condition.
3 bivouac overnights, under tent.
-
- Day
9 & 10
: Ras Momi - Wadi Mayahan - Hadiboh
- Inland
expedition in the middle of the island. Some
oasis villages, but especially the "boswalia"
(incense tree) stand out the way.
Overnight at Hadiboh
in "funduk".
-
- Day
11
: Hadiboh - Jebel Haggieh - Dexam
- The
Jebel Haggieh dominates the island, and
culminates at 1,500
meters above sea level. The cliffs are wooded and at
the top, we discover the renowned dorstenia
gigas "the Socotra fig tree", an amazing
tree which grows on the rock faces.
- Possibility
to ascent the Rughid Mount
We go along the granitic coast with splendid
vegetable setting, then junction towards the
central table-lands, to reach tops with amazing
points of view.
Around 1,000 meters above sea level, we will
discover Dracaena Cinnabari (the tree of
the dragon), Aloe, Caralluma,
still the Adenium Obesum, and many other
endemic species.
Overnight in camp-site in altitude.
Day
12 & 13
: Dexam - Qalansiyah
By
leaving the limestone table-land and the dracaena
forests, we use a trail which takes us to the west of
the island, towards the village of Qalansiyah, its
white sand beach and its lagoon. The place is
remarkable and the bay is sheltered from the winds and
the waves of the Ocean.
On the journey, we will still discover Adenium Obesum
forests, but also Dendrosicyos Socotrana
"the cucumber tree", the only tree of the
cucurbitaceous specie. The Boswalia essence
"the incence tree" and the myrrh tree "Commiphora"
grow in this area.
Bivouac overnight on the beach.
Day
14
: Qalansiyah - Hadiboh
Back
to Hadiboh during the day, and settling down in the
"funduk".
Possibility to meet the persons in charge of the local
office of the Department of Environment in Hadiboh.
Overnight at the "funduk" of Hadiboh.
- Day
15
: Hadiboh - Sana'a (domestic flight : 2pm -
4.45pm)
- Back
to the capital by plane.
Arrival in the late afternoon.
Overnight in hotels and "funduk".
-
- Day
16
: Sana'a - Amran - Hajjah
- Trip
north of the capital, to discover the
exceptional Yemenite architecture : perched
villages at the top of steep peaks. The
mountains sides are carved in thousands
terraces, where "qat" and coffee-trees
are grown. From Amran to Khohlan and Hajjah,
only perched villages or citadels, with an
amazing architecture.
Hotel overnight in Hajjah.
-
- Day
17
: Hajjah - Sana'a and its surroundings
- Back to
Sana'a, the capital, passing through At-Tawilah, Thula and Wadi Dhar.
Possibility to visit again the bazaars and the old town of
Sana'a for shopping or a last glance.
Dining in a typical downtown restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel.
-
- Day
18
: Sana'a - Paris
- Take-off
to Paris in the morning, with YEMENIA -
Arrival at Paris in the late afternoon.
- Note
:
This journey is escorted by an experienced
botanist, and assisted by a guide of our agency.
Notice
:
The
above route
is only
given
as an indication, it could be modified according
to the requirements met on the spot.
The
full journey price
was calculated in March 2003 - on basis of air
transportation
tariffs
and
local
services into force. Any modification of these
data would involve modifications of the journey
price.
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