Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Land-Lover's Dream
Ethiopia's landscape impresses in both scale and beauty. Travellers are thrilled by the
amazing backdrop of canyons, chasms, lakes, savannah plains and high plateaus - not to
mention the mesmerisingly desolate Danakil Depression, peppered with an astonishing
25% of Africa's active volcanoes. Lying at the convergence of three tectonic plates, Dji-
bouti offers a unique geological landscape. The vast salt lake of Lac Assal and the bizarre
lunarscape of Lac Abbé are strangely unforgettable. Somaliland wows visitors with its
natural beauty, from the superscenic Daallo Escarpment to the seemingly endless beaches
that are strung along the coast.
Outdoor Adventures
These countries beg outdoor escapades with their larger-than-life, hallucinatory land-
scapes. Hiking and trekking in Ethiopia's Simien and Bale Mountains or Djibouti's Goda
Mountains are obvious choices. Then there are those must-do- before-you-die moments,
such as swimming with whale sharks in Djibouti's Gulf of Tadjoura or diving amid coral-
encrusted wrecks off Djibouti City. Last but not least, Ethiopia and Somaliland rank
among Africa's best birdwatching destinations, with plenty of endemic species. One thing
is sure: you'll be rewarded with memorable experiences.
Peoples with Proud Traditions
Peopling these landscapes is a wide variety of African peoples, including the Afar, the
Mursi, the Karo, the Hamer, the Nuer and the Anuak, whose ancient customs and tradi-
tions have remained almost entirely intact. Staying with these communities is a great in-
troduction to a way of life once followed by all of humankind. A highlight of any trip to
the Horn is witnessing one of the many ceremonies and festivals that are an integral part
of traditional culture in the region. They may be Christian, Islamic or animist festivals, or
village events, such as a wedding, a rite-of-passage celebration or a local market day.
Historical Wonders
Ethiopia, almost the only African country to have escaped European colonialism, has re-
tained much of its cultural identity. Its sovereign story has left its wide-ranging and fertile
highlands laden with historical treasures ranging from ancient Aksumite tombs and ob-
elisks to 17th-century castles. And it's not dubbed the Cradle of Humanity for nothing; ar-
chaeologically speaking, Ethiopia is to sub-Saharan Africa what Egypt is to North Africa.
