Soqotra (Socotra) Island

A website dedicated to this unique island

The Island of the Dragon's Blood Tree

The Island of Soqotra, as part of the Soqotran Archipelago, lies in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Somalia, about 500 miles southeast of Aden.

For much of the year Soqotra is battered by strong winds and is therefore inaccessible at those times. Consequently little is known of the Island, its people and the environment in which they exist. Why my interest ?

JF at the radio set
My name is John Farrar and I was fortunate to be a member of a Royal Air Force/Army expedition to the Island in 1964/1965.

The memories of the two months the expedition was on the Island have remained with me throughout the years and I always had a desire to return there.

In 1998 I began to plan my return and in January 2002 those plans were realised. See the Diary of Events

There are three main aspects to this website. One being the Island as it was during my first visit in 1964/65 and the others as seen through the lens of my camera following two visits in January 2002 and January 2003. There are also some articles written by those with a keen interest in the Island. Please see the menu links at the top of the pages. If you have an appropriate article I would be pleased to add it to the site.

My local public library ran a display of my photos throughout October 2007.
Go here for details.

The new-look photographic galleries have been updated with more images of Soqotra, plus Aden including more from Capt. Peter Boxhall (see menus), plus galleries of photographs with nothing at all to do with Soqotra. I still enjoy taking photographs, of many types, and have added them for your pleasure. I hope you enjoy them.

Eva Bruder has visited Soqotra and sent me a selection of her photographs.
View them here.

If you would like to see video of Soqotra please go here.


I welcome any feedback through email or my Guest Book which contains many interesting messages.

Website updated - 8 January 2008

Copyright © 2003. John Farrar. All rights reserved.