Randa

Randa sits in the Goda mountains inland from Tadjoura at around eight hundred metres, high enough that it is noticeably cooler than the coast and that gardens can be grown, with date palms, vegetables and fruit trees along the wadi. It is the base for reaching the Day Forest above and for walks in the surrounding hills. Afar families work the gardens and keep livestock on the slopes. The village is one of the few places in Djibouti where enough water reaches the surface to support permanent cultivation.

What to look for

• The gardens - dates, vegetables and fruit grown along the wadi.
• The altitude - high enough to be cool when the coast is not.
• The Goda mountains - the range the village sits in.
• The Day Forest access - the base for reaching the forest above.

When to go

November to March is the cool season. The village is cooler than the coast in any month. Summer is still hot even at altitude.

Practical notes

There is little in the village itself and it functions as a base. Facilities are minimal. The road up is winding and slow.

Nearby

Day Forest is above, and Bankoualé is nearby.

Key facts