Ethiopia
Africa's second largest population; an old Christian country, home to castles, beautiful monasteries, and wonderful food
Eritrea
This relatively small nation has heavy Arab and African influences
Djibouti
Small country across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen and largely Arabic in nature
Comoros
Tiny Indian Ocean Island group between Madagascar and Mozambique
Burundi
On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, it's the beating heart of Africa. Holds the source of the famous Nile River.
South Sudan
The world's newest country, split off from warring neighbor Sudan in July 2011
São Tomé and Príncipe
Tiny islands in the Gulf of Guinea
Republic of the Congo
Huge tracts of forest with a small population mean great potential for eco-tourism, but the country is still to fully recover from a terrible war in the 1990s
Gabon
Has escaped the strife afflicting other Central African states, rich in oil and mineral reserves and a high biodiversity.
Equatorial Guinea
Perhaps one of the continent's most corrupt countries, where massive oil wealth is confiscated by a thuggish government, is not a terribly safe place to travel, but it has great beaches, laid-back beach bars, and locals speak Spanish.