Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
desert land is extraordinary. You'll find it hard to believe that Dittilou belongs to the same
country as the one you left on the burning coastal road just one hour before.
Activities
Dittilou is a good base for
hiking
. The owners of Campement Touristique de Dittilou will
be happy to suggest guided walks suited to your level of ability. Don't miss the waterfall
of Toha (a three- to four-hour return visit). Another lovely walk goes to a plane wreck (a
six-hour loop). You can also walk to Bankoualé (four to five hours one way).
Sleeping & Eating
Campement Touristique de Dittilou $
( 27510871, 21354520, 77810488; Dittilou; full board DFr8000)
This
campement
has
helpful and friendly management offering a series of well-designed
daboytas
(traditional
huts) brimful of rustic charm. They are set against a lush and peaceful landscape. The
laid-back restaurant is chilled and the food is great. The prices quoted include guided
walks.
HUTS
ABOURMA ROCK ART SITE
This superb hike is a must for those with a penchant for archaeology, as it feels like you're catching a time machine
into the prehistoric past. It takes you to a site that was uncovered by a team of French archaeologists in 2008, some
30km northeast of Randa. It's a tiring hike but you'll be rewarded with spectacular landscapes consisting of undulat-
ing rocky hills, small gorges, barren ridges and vast expanses of chaotic boulders. Reached after about 3½ hours, the
site features well-preserved rock engravings dating back to the Neolithic. They're striking both for their rich com-
plexity and their incredible variety; many of the engravings depict animals that are no longer found in the area - gir-
affes, cows, antelopes, kudus, oryxes and ostriches. Human figures are also represented.
The usual starting point for the hike is the tiny Afar settlement of Giba Gebiley, about 22km north of Randa.
You'll need a rented 4WD with driver to get here. From Giba Gebiley, allow eight hours there and back. A know-
ledgeable guide (usually somebody from Randa who has worked with the archaeologists) is mandatory and can be
arranged through Agence Safar (
Click here
)
in Djibouti City. Count on DFr5000.
There are no facilities at all, so bring several litres of water, as well as a hat and plenty of sunscreen.
