Offroad on Soqotra Island

[Fox]

During my vactions, my wife and I visited the Island of Soqotra, which
has a very unique flora with many endemic plants (i.e. which can not be
found anywhere else in the world). I fell in love with the bottle trees.

The island is not much developed and has few roads only. So we camped
6 nights in wadis and on mountain tops, offroading the other way
- rock crawling -.

Apart from the fact that my poor wife contracted a serious infection on the foot
and had to return to Abu Dhabi in a wheelchair (thank GOD she is well now !),
it was a great experience to see this place before a tourist boom starts !

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[Serge]

So green! Thats nice.

Hope you put a AD4x4 flag there to mark the place

[desert_hawk]

hi Fox
do u mind sharing how did u reach there and any other useful tips
thanks

[Fox]

@ desert_hawk
You have to go through a tour operator. Flights are from Mukalla to Soqotra, by boat it is 2 days
through pirate waters, not so advisable I guess.
I went through www.yamanat.com. The owner is Mohammad Shaif, very friendly. He organizes
flight, car, driver, guide, tent, food.
The best time to go is end October through November. Bring along mosquito repellent ! And
be prepared to smell goats all the time, they are always around.
Do a boat trip from Kalamansi towards south, you find some dolphins and thousands of
cormorans. I like the highland best though. There are also large caves, I went into one and
figured the length at approx. 700 to 1000 m, bring your own lamp, you see huge huge huge
stalactites and stalacmites.

[desert_hawk]

@ desert_hawk
You have to go through a tour operator. Flights are from Mukalla to Soqotra, by boat it is 2 days
through pirate waters, not so advisable I guess.
I went through http://www.yamanat.com. The owner is Mohammad Shaif, very friendly. He organizes
flight, car, driver, guide, tent, food.
The best time to go is end October through November. Bring along mosquito repellent ! And
be prepared to smell goats all the time, they are always around.
Do a boat trip from Kalamansi towards south, you find some dolphins and thousands of
cormorans. I like the highland best though. There are also large caves, I went into one and
figured the length at approx. 700 to 1000 m, bring your own lamp, you see huge huge huge
stalactites and stalacmites.

Thanx, appreciate the info

[nikofin]

Wow, that looks nice!

How many days would you recommend for the trip, including the air transfers?

[Fox]

Wow, that looks nice!

How many days would you recommend for the trip, including the air transfers?

I would recommend about one week on the island. For the mainland, I do not know,
we spent only one day in Sana'a, had two days planned for the near surroundings only
due to security concerns. Deleted the two days however and returned early for medical
treatment.

[Mpenzi]

WOW vERY NICE PLACE /TRIP

Any Pirates??????????????

[Fox]

WOW vERY NICE PLACE /TRIP

Any Pirates??????????????

Their boats could not fly up to our airplane, and could not follow us on the rock paths !

[Mpenzi]

WOW vERY NICE PLACE /TRIP

Any Pirates??????????????

Their boats could not fly up to our airplane, and could not follow us on the rock paths !

Hehehehehheeeeeeeeeee