Socotra

Hilary Bradt founded Bradt Travel Guides accidentally in 1974 while backpacking with her then-husband George through South America. Though semi-retired she is still involved with the company, mostly in trying to persuade sceptical staff to publish guides to places no-one has heard of. She assumed that after 30 or so years of roughing it, and an MBE, she had finally earned the right for some comfort, and even managed a stint as lecturer on a luxury ship. But then along came Socotra... Ever since seeing images of Socotra on a David Attenborough programme, Hilary had wanted to go there. Socotra meshed perfectly with her interest in off-the-beaten-track destinations and enthusiasm for wildlife, so visiting - and writing a Bradt guidebook to the island - became a no-brainer. When not travelling, Hilary lives in Devon, UK.Until her death in February 2023, Janice Booth's working life included professional stage management, archaeology, working for a Belgian NGO, compiling logic-puzzle magazines and travelling widely. She drove Land Rovers in Timbuktu, walked with water-buffalo in Tamil Nadu, waded in the breakers of Namibia's Skeleton Coast, and edited many Bradt guides to various far-flung places. Having seen the positive effect that guidebooks can have on countries recovering from war - particularly through personal experience of writing Bradt's Rwanda and editing Bradt's Mali - Janice was keen to visit and write about Socotra in the hope that this guide may also help to encourage visitors. After moving to Devon, she co-authored (with Hilary Bradt) Slow South Devon & Dartmoor and Slow East Devon & the Jurassic Coast.

• Introduction PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION Chapter 1 Background information The Socotra archipelago, Geology, landscape and climate, Natural history, History, Culture and people Chapter 2 Practical information When to visit, Highlights, Tour operators, Red tape: visas and travel insurance, Getting there and away, Health, Safety,What to take, Money and budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Shopping, Media and communications, Cultural etiquette PART TWO THE GUIDE Chapter 3 The North Arrival, Hadiboh, East of Hadiboh, West of Hadiboh Chapter 4 The East Protected areas, Qaria lagoon, Homhil Nature Sanctuary, Momi Plateau, The pools of Killisan, The Protected Marine Areas, Socotra Folk Museum, Hoq Cave, The eastern tip: Arher, Ras Erissel Chapter 5 The Centre and the South The highlands, Wadi Dirhur, Diksam Plateau and village, Firmihin Forest, Hadiboh to Diksam camel trek, Dakam Forest camel trek, The south coast Chapter 6 The West and the Outer Islands Qalansiyah, Detwah beach and lagoon, Shu'ab beach, The outer islands, Sea stacks Appendix 1 Further information Appendix 2 Language Appendix 3 Socotra nature - protected by law Appendix 4 Checklist of endemic species in this book Index

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