You need a visa to visit Eritrea, and another permit to visit Eritrea’s Dahlak Archipelago, a chain of 124 small islands and two larger ones in the Red Sea near Massawa. Off the beaten path doesn’t begin to describe it. You can expect pristine beaches and unparalleled marine life with few other tourists for miles. Dahlak’s pearl fisheries have been famous since ancient times. Charter yachts are available for hire in Massawa for scuba diving and pearl fishing. The island population of 2,500 still maintains a traditional lifestyle of fishing, goat and camel herding. The rich island feeding grounds attract dolphins, sharks, dugongs, turtles and nesting sea birds from all over the Red Sea. Shipwrecks and pumice stones formed from submarine volcanoes make it an unforgettable diving experience. During years of war, fishery came to a halt. The unexpected result was large numbers of fish and the fish aren’t shy, according to Eritrea.be.

The Dahlak Archipelago is just one of the many wet and wild outdoor adventures you never heard of in Africa.

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