The Horn of Africa is referred to the area of North-eastern Africa and at times also called as the Somali Peninsula. The area extends into the Arabian Sea and is located on the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. The countries in the region include Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Ibn Battuta first stepped foot in Somalia in 1331 and visited a few cities along the coast. The Horn of Africa is considered as the Conservation International Biodiversity hotspot. There are several mammals, birds and reptiles found in the Horn of Africa.
Somalia was a country of importance in the past as a vital commercial centre. The main attractions in the country are the port of Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Bosaso. The islands off the shore of Zeila used to be excellent sites for diving. Close to Hargeisa there are a number of cave paintings dating back to the ancient times. Berbera has a number of white sandy beaches.
Adis Ababa, the capital of Ethopia is one of the prominent cities in Africa. Merkato is one of the largest outdoor shopping areas in the world. The city also has several museums and monuments to be seen. The Anwar Masjid is one of the largest masaajid in Africa and is also quite impressive. Adama is also a wonderful destination and is popular among locals as a weekend spot. There are a number of national parks in Ethopia including Abijatta Shalla Lakes National Park, Bale Mountains National Park, Neshisar National Park, Yangudi National Park, etc.
Djibouti is bordered by, Eritrea, Ethopia and Somalia with the Gulf of Aden flanking the eastern side of the country. The capital of the country is Djibouti city which houses some exclusive beaches on the eastern side. The Kempinski Palace and the Djibouti Kempinski Palace are excellent attractions. The Lake Abhe on the Ethopian border is an isolated steaming lake surrounded by limestone structures. The Lake Assal is the saltiest lake outside Antarctica and close to the lake is Ardoukoba, the youngest volcano of the world.
Eritrea is also one of the countries in the Horn of Africa. Asmara is the capital of the country and houses several Italian architecture monuments and the palm-lined "Independence Avenue". In the outskirts of the city is, the Biet Ghiorghis Zoo and Park. Gold and silver ornaments in the city are excellent buys. The food in the country is quite spicy, there are several restaurants serving seafood.
