The cliffs
Sheer and brown.
Abukar Musa — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Abukar Musa — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Abukar Musa — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Abukar Musa — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Abukar Musa — CC BY-SA 4.0
Daallo Mountain is a protected area in the Sanaag region of northern Somalia, part of the Ogo Mountains. It rises steeply from the coastal plain to the top of a limestone escarpment, with wide views over valleys towards the sea. It is an example of untouched wilderness, a dense forest in a dry region. The forest sits on a limestone and gypsum escarpment near the base of Mount Shimbiris, the region's highest peak. Rainfall on the summit averages about 650 mm a year, far more than the plains around. Some trees here are over a thousand years old, and many of its plants have medicinal uses. You see sheer brown rock cliffs dropping to broad valleys, and green forest of juniper and dense plants on the top. From the cliff edge a vast view spreads towards the distant plain, with small rainwater pools in the rock. Clouds sometimes cover the peaks. It is about 18 km from Erigavo in a straight line. It is designated an Important Bird Area, and dorcas gazelle and Somali wild ass live here. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Sanaag, so read the current advice before any planning.
Sheer and brown.
Dense juniper.
Towards the plain.
North of Erigavo, Sanaag region, northern Somalia
Its summit gets far more rain than the plains around.
Yes, the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the area.