A railway line runs from Dire Dawa which is part of the line stretching from Addis Ababa to Djibouti; it was built at the beginning of the 20th century with the co-operation of the French governement.
The market in Kefira is very interesting, providing an opportunity to mingle with the peoples of the region: the Afar, Somali and Oromo.
Located 50 km from Dire Dawa and at a height of 1,870 m above sea level is the city of Harar. Founded in 1500, the city was once a Muslim fortress and one of the most dynamic markets in east Africa.
There are 87 mosques and various sanctuaries within the old city walls.
The poet Rimbaud spent some of his last years here and made it the headquarters for his arms dealing, which involved trading in arms destined for the emperor Menelik. The city now contains a museum in his honour.

AWASH NATIONAL PARK

The Awash National Park is located about 150 km from Addis Ababa. It consists of 120,000 protected hectares, which extend down to where the Rift Valley flows into the Dancala plain on the edge of the desert. The park is crossed by the deep-cutting path of the river Awash, a river with neither source nor outlet.
The land within the park, centred around the Fantale volcano, is an endless plain, dotted with spiny acacia trees and spurges, the home to antelopes and gazelles, as well as 400 species of birds.
The nomadic Kurrou people live around the river Awash and one begins to see the Afar shepherds, the proud inhabitants of Dancalia.

DANCALIA

Dancalia is the lowest part of Ethiopia at 116 m below sea level; it stretches between the Red Sea and the foothills of the eastern slopes of the Ethiopian plateau.
The area contains marvellous examples of volcanoes, although currently only minimally active. The rock surfaces are coloured in spectacular hues due to the emissions of various chlorides from geysers.
There are 30 salt lakes in the north of the region, which are home to an enormous variety of birds.
The whole region is inhabited by the Afar people - proud nomadic shepherds. They carry salt in their camel caravans up to the Ethiopian highlands.