Djibouti & Somaliland, the horn of Africa

Planet

As a destination right at the forefront of ecotourism in Africa, the Horn of Africa is dripping with potential, but is also deeply vulnerable and internationally important. In particular, the south-eastern reaches of Djibouti and the Ga'an Libah mountain range are hugely important refuges for the highly-localised beira antelope, as well as sensitive species including Somali sengi, Speke's pectinator, leopard, dorcas gazelle, klipspringer and many more. In Djibouti, bird species such as Djibouti francolin depend entirely on the wilderness they inhabit being adequately protected. In order to protect these areas, and the wildlife that depends on them, we pay fees towards those working every day to defend these areas, including non-governmental agencies in both Djibouti and Somaliland. These fees directly contribute to activities including community engagement, anti-poaching patrols and snare removal, having a genuine impact on the diversity and volume of wildlife remaining in Djibouti and Somaliland.

Djibouti and Somaliland are both extremely arid, particularly away from the main mountain ranges such as Goda and Ga'an Libah. The campsites we use are designed to limit the use of water as far as possible, and we implore clients to limit any and all superfluous water usage throughout this tour as far as possible - this includes limiting the use of water for washing and cleaning.

People

Ecotourism is an entirely novel concept in both Djibouti and Somaliland, but we are certain visits such as this can be a powerful tool in our mission to improve the lives of communities we visit in the Horn of Africa. In particular, we recognise that we can only reasonably expect local communities to prioritise the conservation of the species and ecosystems we travel so far to see, if there is a genuine, tangible benefit attached to the continued existence of these areas and animals. Our visit is an important way of ensuring this benefit exists, offering a financial benefit to local communities, through direct employment of local people. With this in mind, throughout this tour clients will note that we employ Somali and Djibouti nationals to act as local guides, chefs, housekeeping staff and porters.

We have a zero-tolerance policy towards any behaviour that is disrespectful or inconsiderate towards local people. We, and our clients, are often the only ambassadors for ecotourism that local people have seen, and any negative experiences can damage the willingness of local communities to engage with future ecotourism initiatives. We therefore ask clients to be patient in their interactions with local staff, who are often working with western tourists for the first time, and to act and dress appropriately at all times.