Monthly Archives: December 2023

The small East African nation of Djibouti is an uncommon leisure travel destination for residents of Chicagoland.  The smallest and least-populated nation in Africa (population 1.1 million) is known mainly for its strategic military and geopolitical importance.  However, the multi-ethnic and multi-lingual country has welcomed foreign travelers for centuries with its warm hospitality and diverse natural features.

“Nestled in the Horn of Africa, Djibouti is a little piece of heaven for nature and history lovers, food enthusiasts, and anyone intrigued by the ethnic composition of this tiny land inhabited since the Neolithic Age.,” according to a profile on the Culture Trip website (https://theculturetrip.com/africa/djibouti/articles/12-reasons-why-you-should-visit-djibouti-at-least-once-in-your-lifetime ). “Djibouti is home to three ethnic groups that live side by side in harmony and peace.  Somali, Afar and Arabs have been coexisting together here since the Ifat Sultanate that dates back to the 12th century.”

Tourists from the New Orleans area continue to discover the picturesque natural landscapes, cultural diversity, sparkling beaches, and sprawling game preserves of South Africa.  Located at the intersection of the Atlantic and Indian oceans, the country occupies the southernmost tip of Africa.  South Africa draws most of its overseas visitors from the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and France.

The Republic of South Africa was previously a Dutch and British colony before gaining independence from the United Kingdom in the early 20^th Century.  Almost 80 percent of its 60 million inhabitants identify as Black Africans, while nearly 10 percent are white.  The nation has 12 official languages, reflecting a multi-ethnic society with numerous cultures and religions.  The most popular sports are association football (soccer), rugby, and cricket.   

The African nation of Sudan is a hidden gem, with huge deserts, hospitable people, and twice as many pyramids than Egypt.  However, few tourists from the Atlanta area visit the country: continuing armed conflict with neighboring countries, domestic unrest, and terrorism have kept Sudan off most travelers’ itineraries in recent years.

Located in Northeast Africa, Sudan borders the Red Sea, the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, and South Sudan.  The White Nile and the Blue Nile merge at the capital city of Khartoum to create the River Nile, the world’s longest river.

The area known as Sudan has been inhabited for several millennia.  From 780 B.C. through 350 A.D., it made up part of the Kingdom of Kush (which also included part of Egypt).  Over time, Egypt took political control of Sudan and introduced cultural influences that remain today.  By 1896, the United Kingdom and Egypt were exercising joint control of Sudan until the new Republic of the Sudan achieved independence in 1956.  Arab Muslims dominated the northern part of Sudan, while African Christians and other groups dominated the south.  Sudan was the largest country in Africa until South Sudan seceded in 2011.  Today Sudan covers more than 720,000 square miles, making it the third largest African nation.  Official languages are Arabic and English.