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I am
Africa: Would
you believe I am often thought of as one country
with a uniform culture. In truth, as the world's
second largest continent, I am a mosaic of over 50
countries, each with a rich diversity. This vast
treasury includes unique music, festivals and
events, food and dining, tribal culture, fashions,
natural remedies, ancient traditions, languages and
history - each worth exploring by the visitor, who
will benefit greatly from the Africa
experience. |
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.. I am Djibouti: They call me "Africa's Red Sea Miracle." Why? For starters think of the familiar line - location, location and, location. I am a former French colony situated on the Red Sea in Africa's farthest corner, bordered by Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia, with Yemen across the way in the Arabian Peninsula. My coastline extends from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, the same route taken by traders and explorers since early times. Lonely Planet describes me as an ideal place to recharge one's batteries before or after an overland trip to Ethiopia or Eritrea. The Africa Travel Association (ATA) chose me as host country for its 11th Annual Eco Cultural Symposium in January, 2008, which became an opportunity to showcase my travel, trade and tourism attractions to influential contacts from North America, Africa and points beyond. Some say I have the location and potential of becoming another Dubai, which time will tell. Among my most popular visitor attractions is year round diving and snorkeling in the Gulf of Aden with denizens of the deep including Whale Shark. I compare in size to Massachusetts and my three main regions, include the coastal plain and volcanic plateaus in my central and southern regions and mountain ranges to the north. Djibouti City, my strategic seaport, has a half million population. Do you enjoy warm weather? You will find me a great vacation spot, with November to mid April the best time to visit. Being at the mouth of the Red Sea, with my status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa I serve as an important transshipment location for trade goods entering and leaving the highlands of East Africa. My two official languages are French and Arabic, however Somali and Afar are spoken throughout the country. I have two main population groups, the Issa (Somali) and the Afar, with Europeans, Arabs and Ethiopians in lesser numbers. Click for sample page. I am Ethiopia .. land of great discoveries, a broad cultural mosaic and hidden treasures such as the"Lucy Legacy. My capital Addis Ababa is headquarters for many key organizations including the African Union. Here's an item on how I am gaining wide recognition in the USA. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ethiopia and the Houston Museum of Natural Science of Texas, USA signed an agreement to mount an exhibition entitled "Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia" The agreement was signed by the Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ambassador Mohammed Drir and the President of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Mr. Joel A. Bartsch. Following the signing of the agreement, Ambassador Mohammed Dirir said the centerpiece of this Ethiopian Exhibition in the United States will be Lucy, but nearly 190 other Ethiopian Heritage items from various regions of the country will be included. These range form humankind's' earliest stone tools to contemporary articles representing the legacy of our forebears and of our own time. The Ambassador further said that millions of Americans-school children and adults- will view in some eleven major museums across the United States these fabulous collections from the cradle of human kind, Ethiopia. He went on to say that they will have the opportunity to somberly reflect on human origins, they will have a chance to know about an ancient millennia-old civilization in Africa, and a chance to acquaint themselves with contemporary Ethiopia through a realistic image. Continued . Click for sample page
I am
Uganda: Visitors
love exploring my wildlife areas, however, according to a
recent item by Professor Thome of Kampala they should
exeercise caution. A French tourist visitor had a near fatal
run in with an elephant at Murchisons Falls National Park
last week. Ignoring guidance habitually given to visitors,
to take a ranger with them for their game drive, the group
approached some elephants to within very close range before
switching their car engine off. Little did they know that a
female elephant with a small cub was taking this intrusion
into her space as a potential threat to her newly born and
promptly went on the attack. With the engine off the car
could not back up and escape in time and was, according to
park sources, rolled over by the mother elephant, before she
retreated towards her baby. I am
Ghana: My people are
among the most friendly, creative and industrious in all of
Africa. Here's what Africa Travel Magazine had to say: |
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