Horn of Africa

Arrive in Djibouti City and transfer to hotel.

In the afternoon we explore the city with our local guide.

Overnight in Djibouti City at hotel.

You will certainly remember your visit to Lake Abbe, a desolate Salt Lake surrounded by limestone chimneys and dotted with old ruins.

Those of you familiar with the film “Planet of the Apes” will already be aware of the otherworldly landscape that served as the backdrop.

Overnight at the Lac Abbe Camp.

In this trip, we will visit the crater lake of Lac Assal, which has the lowest point in all of Africa (-150 m).

The lake also has the highest salinity (up to 40%) of any lake in the world. Its spectacular colors and unusual crystal formations give the impression that this is an inhabited area by Afar herders or salt collectors. It is one of the most stunning natural phenomena in Africa.

Return to Djibouti’s capital city and overnight at hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the border with Somaliland in the early morning hours. As we crossed the border into Somaliland, our journey begins.

This is a long and challenging drive which may take up to ten hours to complete, but offers spectacular scenery and allows the opportunity to explore a much less travelled route.

A packed lunch will be provided.

Overnight in Hargeisa at hotel.

Full day in the Somaliland capital Hargeisa.

In the morning we will visit the livestock market where you can purchase your own camel or goat, for those who can’t fit a camel in their luggage, this market will provide great photo opportunities and a chance to see how the Somalilanders do business. We will also visit the Hargeisa Cultural Centre.

After lunch we take a walking tour around the city center of Hargeisa to get a further sense of the people and the city. Here you will see the central market, and the MiG Jetfighter War Memorial which stands for the atrocities committed by the dictator during the Civil War, and get some currency converted into schillings at one of the famous street exchange “offices”.

Overnight in Hargeisa at hotel.

Drive to Las Geel, one of the most important rock art sites in Africa and with numerous well- preserved paintings.

The quality of the art here is particularly good and Las Geel is a real highlight of the trip.

From here we continue to the coastal city of Berbera. Enjoy the sunset and go for a swim at the public beach.

Overnight in Berbera at hotel.

Explore the old quarter of Berbera, Darole, with its Ottoman era buildings and atmospheric streets.

From here drive into the mountains and the town of Sheikh, before returning to Hargeisa.

Overnight in Hargeisa at hotel.

Travel south towards the Ethiopian border.

As we journey out here, we pass a number of small seminomadic communities as well as small desert towns and villages, such as Borama – home of one of the the oldest and most prestigious universities of the Somali-speaking region.

Explore the site of Dhagax Khoure, another one of Somaliland’s famous rock art sites, while enjoying a panoramic view of the surroundings.

Return to Hargeisa.
Overnight in Hargeisa at hotel.

Transfer to the airport for departure.

End of trip.