Is a natural garden full of dragon blood trees and bottle trees. From the mountain’s top you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama view over the ocean.

 National park is one of the most attractive and important place of interest. There are many big trees around the valley. The landscape of the valley  is really beautiful. There is a possibility to swim in the canyon of Ayhft.

Hagher Mountain

Is the highest mountain on the island (above 1000m) where you can see beautiful landscape with many different trees.

 Is a beautiful beach situated on the coast of the Indian Ocean with many sand dunes and palm trees.

 Is a charming and picturesque fishing village with its traditional houses and narrow alleyways?

Detwah lagoon

 Spectacular landscape.

 is one of the most beautiful places in Socotra. Here one can see many endemic plants which can bee seen nowhere else on the earth.

Arhår (Arrarr)

Hàdibî – Wàdi àyhàft – Dålishåh – Sàêàrà – Hîmhill – Dihàmri – Rîsh Båàñhås – Dåtwàh Làgîîn – Qàlànsiàh – Dixim – Wàdi Dirrhàrr – Nàwgàd – Àmàê Båàñh – Wàdi àl Shifà – Hàdibî    

Hadibu area

Hadibu lies on a small plain bounded to the north by sea, and mountains on the remaining sides. The town itself has only a small, heavily-polluted, palm-lined khor (coastal lagoon usually connected to the sea) that attracts a few roosting gulls and terns near the beach.

 This area is also the last stand of the few remaining House Crows on Socotra, which are thankfully being slowly but surely eradicated.

Wadi Dihazafaq and Qrahan Plain

Wadi Dihazafaq and Wadi Shoq

Wadi Dihazafaq (sometimes referred to as Wadi Denegen), the closest well-vegetated wadi to Hadibu, contains the commoner and more widespread endemics. From the Hadibu bypass take the track (waypoint 010) 500 metres after the large wadi crossing and follow it through palm plantations in a south-easterly direction for around 6.4 km.

 As you approach, from some distance, you see the wadi entrance before you. Several tracks branch off, but the scale of the wadi makes finding it easy.

 The track terminates by a house, conveniently beneath a large shady tree, just after the wadi entrance, where you can park and continue on foot (waypoint 020).

Socotra Sunbird and Socotra Sparrow are common in this area, and Golden-winged Grosbeak and Socotra Starling are both present, though the later is well-outnumbered by the ubiquitous Somali Starling.

We spent only a couple of hours here and walked no more than a kilometre up the wadi. However, it would be possible to continue for several kilometres, and potentially Socotra Warbler should occur.

 The wadi, as well as the surrounding open areas, holds Nubian Nightjar, though we tried on several occasions and failed.

 Between the palms of Wadi Sirhin and Wadi Dihazafaq the track passes mainly through Croton Croton socotranus scrub. However, to the east, toward Wadi Shoq, is a large open area, known as Qrahan Plain, which regularly holds Cream-coloured Courser.

Wadi Shoq

Wadi Shoq, lying to the east of the Qrahan plain, has a number of date palm plantations which are a good locality for Socotra Scops-Owl.

 The wadi starts directly from the road (waypoint 031), a few kilometres from Hadibu, immediately before the road snakes left around the mountain. Only the first 500 metres or so of the wadi has palms; thereafter it opens into rocky open areas containing few birds.

 As in most of the palm groves around Hadibu, the scops-owl can be heard readily in the evening, as it usually commences calling before dusk.

 Some of the taller palms held wintering Black-crowned Night-Heron, a relatively scarce species on Socotra.

Khor Sirhin

Affectionately known as "Hadibu Marsh", and sometimes Khor Erhina, this small khor just east of town, is within walking distance and makes an attractive stop for a an hour or so. Although small, a good variety of species has been recorded and, on both visits we made, interesting species were found.

 In winter a few ducks are often present, and the shallow edges have waders, egrets, and herons in addition to passerines such as wagtails. It is recommended to circumnavigate the khor, although this will involve weaving in and out of palm plantations at the northern end, to check for migrants or roosting birds in the palms. We recorded Yellow Bittern, Indian Pond-Heron and Black-crowned Night-Heron. On the slopes above the palms a few garden plots contain vegetable patches which should attract migrants at the appropriate time.

Khors west of Hadibu

Two small sandy khors west of Hadibu are passed en route to the airport, the first just before the village of Qadab and the second a couple of kilometres after. Both are without vegetation, so only waders, seabirds, and waterbirds might be expected. We did however record Socotra's first Slender-billed Gull here.

Deham

Deham

The saline flats and low scrub just behind the village of Deham is, as far as I am aware, the only site close to Hadibu where Socotra Cisticola can be readily found.

The area must be under threat from marauding goats and camels. Certainly we saw no similar habitat along the coast between Hadibu and Deham.

 The Socotra Cisticola is readily found here, as it displays from low bush tops. The small adjacent khor and beach hold the usual collection of gulls, terns and a few waders.

 Access is directly from the main coastal road, 7.8 km west of the airport turn.

Wadi Ayhaft National Park

Wadi Ayhaft National Park

This excellent and verdant wadi lies about an hour's drive from Hadibu. From Hadibu, take the main coastal highway toward the airport, and then the track 8.2 kilometres from the start of the ring road. This track crosses a small wadi and skirts a village before a major fork after 1.9 km (waypoint 048) where you should turn left. After a further 1.1 kilometres a park sign is seen on the right. This rough track, which gets progressively worse as you ascend, runs along the wadi, crossing the wadi floor regularly, to the end of the road at around a further six kilometres. Higher sections will almost certainly be inaccessible after heavy rains. The habitat contains good numbers of large trees, and this is easily the best locality we visited for finding Golden-winged Grosbeak, and well as Socotra Sunbird in good numbers. Socotra Bunting is sometimes recorded from higher sections of the track. The road terminates at a small settlement, around which Socotra Warbler can be found, although it does occur in small numbers anywhere along the access road. Socotra Starling is also present in the area, but not common. A few pairs of Socotra Buzzard are regularly seen and heard. Some of us found the very impressive purple tarantula Monocentropus balfouri here.

Dixem, Wadi Zerig and the Central highway

  Dixem Plateau

The limestone hills and central highlands, particularly on the Dixem plateau, are the stronghold of the rare and localised Socotra Bunting, which is, without doubt, the most difficult of the endemics to locate.

 The paving of the cross-island route has made access to Dixem relatively straightforward, so weather-permitting it should be possible to find the bunting on a day trip from Hadibu.

 However, with its rugged landscape, Dragon's Blood Trees and cooler climate, this makes an excellent camping trip for those with time and inclination

. Additionally, this is the stronghold of the Socotra Starling, which is relatively common here.

From Hadibu, take the coast road toward Qalansiyah, passing the airport. From the airport turn-off, continue 12.5 km and turn left (waypoint 094) - well signposted to Dixem.

 After a further three kilometres, the road starts to ascend the escarpment, with excellent views across the northern plains. The Croton scrub here forms a rather monotonous habitat, but holds both Golden-winged Grosbeak and Socotra Warbler.

 We stopped at random, 6.3 km from the turnoff and had a party of at least five cisticolas.

 At 23.4 km from the turn off (waypoint 090), a rough track leads off left to Dixem, terminating after 2.2 kilometres from where it is necessary to continue on foot.

I would strongly recommend using a GPS from this point, as the footpath, which leads to a few goat-herders huts, rapidly disappears.

The whole area, comprised of limestone hills and grassy valleys, is rather confusing, so directions cannot be reliably given; hence the use of GPS coordinates. From the parking area, looking to the northeast, across the valley, you see a prominent, domed, limestone hillside, transacted by a few valleys which are the areas to search for the bunting.

 They feed on the grassy hillsides both in the valleys and on the tops. During our visit we walked around the southern edge initially, as this was where the buntings had been seen the previous week.

 This proved unsuccessful and we spent further time around the far side before eventually finding several individuals (waypoints BUNT and VIEW).

 We noted that the birds were not as obvious as illustrated in the field guide, and Cinnamon-breasted Rock-Bunting is common in the area.

Returning to the road and turning south toward the south coast will, after 5.3 km, bring you to Wadi Zerig. This was the only wadi we encountered with a good cover of rushes, and a walk eastward along it produced Bluethroat, Common Quail and Common Snipe – a site well worth checking for those with time.

Qalansiyah and Ditwah Protected Area

Qalansiyah and Ditwah Protected Area

As these two adjacent sites are located on the extreme western side of Socotra, an overnight camp is recommended.

 However, once the paved road from Hadibu to Qalansiyah is complete, the journey would be less than two hours. When travelling from Hadibu, the turning off the main coast road to Qalansiyah is 16.3 km after the Dixem turn off.

 Currently this windy mountain road is paved for 9.4 km, with the remaining 20 kilometres rough and dusty. On approach to Qalansiyah village the road crosses the small wadi that feeds Khor Qalansiyah, and after a further 1.3 km forks, just before the large new, flashy governor's office.

 Turning right at the fork takes you past the office and after 1.5 km to the shore of the coastal lagoon of Ditwah Protected Area.

 With permission, it is possible to camp on the beach, where some palm shelters and toilets have been provided by the local Environmental Protection Agency.

 Basic food can be purchased in Qalansiyah or brought from Hadibu. The tidal flats at Ditwah are very scenic and the beach unspoilt and beautiful. Waders are present in good numbers on the lagoon.

In stark contrast to the beauty of Ditwah is the polluted Khor Qalansiyah situated behind the beach to the south of the village.

 Despite several clean-up exercises by the Environment Protection Agency the khor is still treated as a dustbin by the local inhabitants, and must rate as the worst eyesore on Socotra – maybe equalling the khor in central Hadibu.

 Despite the mess, the khor attracts numerous gulls, terns, waders and a few passerines. We recorded Collared Pratincole as well as Socotra's first Great Black-headed Gull. A walk around the khor will take no more than an hour.

 Offshore the good fishing attracts hundreds of Socotra Cormorants and Brown Boobies. Qalansiyah was the only place on Socotra where the young kids were objectionable, and they appear to have developed a reputation for it.

Small fishing boats for offshore trips and journeys to Shoep can be arranged by talking to the fishermen on the beach here.

Shoep

Shoep is a largish khor with a fair amount of mangrove still remaining. The long sandy beach is beautiful and, due to access difficulties, rarely visited. The rocky edges of the khor mean few waders are present, and we were surprised to find no ducks and very few water birds on our visit – Indian Pond-Heron being a notable record.

 The mangroves are a good locality for Socotra Warbler. Socotra Cisticola occurs in low densities on the surrounding low vegetation, which is very arid and unlike that at Deham where this species is more readily found.

Shoep is only accessible by sea from Qalansiyah, a journey of 21 kilometres and best attempted in the morning, when the sea is calm. Any wind makes seas on this exposed western side very rough.

 The journey from Qalansiyah takes about an hour, but try to hire a boat with larger motor if possible (40 HP should be possible). The trip passes stunning, towering cliffs which hold a number of breeding seabirds including Jouanin's Petrel.

 Brown Boobies are very common as are Socotra Cormorant. Well offshore, nearer Shoep it's possible to make out some isolated rocky islets where Masked Booby breeds, and a few might be seen en route.

Khors East of Hadibu

East of Hadibu

East of Hadibu, three small khors are passed en route to Khor Quryah National Reserve.

 Their small size and steep sides makes them generally unattractive to birds, but surprisingly Khor Dilish held Socotra's first Sacred Ibis.

 The first khor, Khor Shoq is passed just after Wadi Shoq, 2.9 km east of Khor Sirhin. The next Khor is Khor Dilish, a further 9.4 km, with finally Khor Dibni 2.5 km beyond Dilish.

Khor Quryah National Reserve

Khor Quryah National Reserve

The largest khor on Socotra, Khor Quryah, sometimes attracts good numbers of ducks and waders.

 The road from Hadibu is currently being paved, and once completed will cut the travel time considerably.

 A rough track branches off the main Hadibu to South Coast road (waypoint 167) about six kilometres before Quryah, and continues to the village where it eventually crosses the khor on a low causeway (waypoint 165).

Scanning the two arms of water to the south may reveal ducks if present. Walking through the palm plantations leads to the eastern side of the khor where extensive flats are exposed at low tide.

Khor Ghuba

Khor Ghuba

Khor Ghuba lies a couple of kilometres from the highway, around six kilometres west of the Dixem turn-off.

 From the Dixem junction (waypoint 94) continue west for 6.1 km (passing some rusting soviet tanks en route) and take the track north.

 After less than a kilometre you will see the small khor on the right, and the beach is reached after 1.8 km. It is possible to drive between the sea and khor and loop back to the main road.

The Nowged Plain and the South Coast

Dixem to the South Coast

The towering escarpment across the southern edge of Socotra creates the arid Nowged Plain.

 With little vegetation and no standing fresh water, birds are not plentiful. Wadis that cross the plain definitely have Nubian Nightjar, but they appear as rare here as anywhere.

 We investigated some palms, tamarisk scrub and salt pans east of Abetar village.

 Take plenty of fresh water when traveling in this area