Celebrating Ethiopia slowly beginning to open their boarders I thought it was a good time to share the interview with Dani. We call him the natural history encyclopaedia of Ethiopia; his passion for guiding and brilliant mind is special.
Q. What was it like growing up in Ethiopia? Share with us a little about your culture and growing up in Ethiopia.
I’m Daniel Million,31 years old.I was born in the eastern corner of Ethiopia,in the small town of Chiro(Hasebe Teferi) in Western Harar.Like other partsof Ethiopia,Harar hasits own diverse culture,with people of different ethnic origins livingtogether.Harar is dominantly Islamic,with a strong Islamic historical background.It was where Islamic scholarsused to goin east Africa; we have mosques every 100 meters in the city of Harar, otherwise known as the”Islamic walled city of Harar.”According to some scholars,Harar is considered one of the earliest and holiest Islamic cities, as Ethiopia was one of the earliest to welcome both Christianity and Islam and ofcourse has deep rootsof Judaism as well.Growing up in this part of Ethiopia shaped and taught me a lot about social values and norms,as Harar is where Christiansand Muslims live together in great harmony.
Q. What made you decide to go into tourism and be a guide?
Like many Ethiopian kids, I wasn’t raised in a big city,so Ihad the exposure of getting close to nature, wildlife,culture,and history. I could say theseare some of the factors that led me to study tourism. After Ididmy three-year tourism study,Ipassionately got to work and specialised inbirding and photography. I started quite young,and it has been 12 years since I got into guiding. It has been my passion all these years,and it will always be!For me,being a guide is always a discovery; I learn new thingsand connect with great people around the world.
Q. What is the most challenging experience you have had as a guide?
Because I’m so passionate,challenges don’t much get inmy way. So far,Ihave faced lots of challenges—but Idon’t really consider them challenges—such as carsbreakingdown in the middle of nowhere,floods,getting stuckin remote areas,sleeping in the wild,and getting lost in the Denakil depression. Wewalked for over 16 hours to find aid to rescue guests from 55⁰ C heat,withno shade and burning sand! Just to mention a few…
Q. What is your favourite destination in Ethiopia and why?
Ethiopia is such vast country,but I could mention some of my favourite destinations.
SURI: Culturally,they’re such an elegant and beautiful tribe and an exotic,untouched culture.
LALIBELA: Historically and physically,the Lalibela rock churches are stunning!
SIMIEN and BALE MOUNTAINS:These are the twosummits of Ethiopia, or “Africa’s water tower.” Naturally,these are diverse habitatsfor some of the endangered and endemic mammal and bird species of Ethiopiasuch as the Abyssinian Wolf (the rarest caninein the world and threetimes rarer than the panda),the Walia Ibex,and the Troliticus Geldas to mentiona few.
Q. What has life been like for the past months with coronavirus?
Tourism took me everywhere in Ethiopia and has taught me a lot for the last 12 years.It has beenastrange time for me since Covid 19 has broughtabout thisunprecedented situation. The last sixmonths have been unexpectedly difficult,butafter sometime Igot used to the restriction of movement and isolation. I’m taking advantage of this time for reading,updating,and trying to see life with a different consciousness than before. I keep in mind thattime will change everything,and after all this,there will be great days to come.Life always has challenges, but there will always be greater days after challenges.SoI’m looking forward for the greater days to come.I miss being out with the wildlife,being with all my friends from the villages down in Omo valley,and traveling all around my beautiful country.
Q. What message would you like to send everyone?
I would like to say stay safe and appreciate the freedom we had in the past to travel around and discover our passions. Be happy and look forward,as we will do that again once those great daysare back.
DANI WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. He will receive the comments you live below
Dani was part of our GPA Omo Valley and you can watch the video clips here. He speaks about the tribes is several of the clips-
GPA 3 Omo Valley – Mursi & Nyogatham
GPA-3 Omo Valley – Hamar Tribe
GPA 3 Omo Valley – Daasanach
What a positive guy with a great outlook!