Djibouti

Understand

Djibouti's location near the Suez Route, one of the world's busiest shipping routes, has made the country important for international trade.

Get in

thumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of Djibouti, with countries in lime having visa on arrival

Get around

Taxis are available in Djibouti and from the airport to the town, as you exit the airport there is a big billboard displaying expected taxi fares, look for it; also in Ali-Sabieh, Dikhil, Dorale and Arta. Fares can increase by 50% after dark. Bicycling is a great way to get around the small capital. Ferry services sail daily from L'Escale (Djibouti) to Tadjoura and Obock. The journey takes about three hours.

See

thumb|Lake Assalthumb|Shores of Lake Abbe Lake Assal, at 150 m below sea level, is the third-lowest point on Earth. You'll need to hire a car or ask someone who lives in Djibouti to drive you there. Expect a rough ride: the roads outside the capital are destroyed by the truck traffic between Djibouti and Ethiopia. The road passes within sight of the Devil's Island, and some impressive views. Expect to be awestruck. Lake Abbe is one of the most desolate places on Earth and is dotted with limestone chimneys up to 50 m high. It is described as lunar, and Planet of the Apes was filmed here.

Do

Scuba diving — Despite the country's arid landscape, off the coast lie several reefs teeming with all sorts of life. Sea kayaking — Sea kayaking allows you to enjoy the Gulf of Tadjoura and Ghoubet Kharrib in an eco-friendly way, with the possibility of observing whale sharks and sea turtles. Whale shark tours — You can also go snorkelling or diving with whale sharks, although the chance of seeing them varies throughout the season (70-80% in Nov-Jan and close to zero during warmer months).

Eat

The city of Djibouti has many places to eat, including tourist traps. Western food is often expensive cuisine, with local cuisine being much cheaper. For example, the Ethiopian Community Center offers a wide variety of local, tasty and reasonably priced dishes. Average price per meal outside tourist areas is US$4 including drink.

Stay safe

Natural hazards include earthquakes and droughts. Occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods.

Visitors should be aware of the risk of banditry outside the capital city.

Stay healthy

Health insurance is advisable. Doctors and hospitals may expect immediate cash payment for any medical treatment. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for visitors over one year of age coming from infected areas. Cholera is also a serious risk and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding if these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. Typhoid immunization is usually advised.

Malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists year-round. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported. Mefloquine, doxycycline or atovaquone/proguanil are recommended.

The adult HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is over 3% or 1 in 33 adults. Protect yourself.

Tap water is not safe to drink unless it has been boiled or otherwise sterilized.

Respect

Casual wear is widely acceptable, but Djibouti is a Muslim country, and certain codes of behaviour should be observed. Shorts are generally not appropriate outside of hotels, beaches or sport activities. While homosexuality is not explicitly criminalized it remains broadly unaccepted, Djibouti is generally considered unsafe for LGBTQ+ travelers in all locations.

Connect

There is a 3G phone network in the country that runs on 900MHz. The maximum speed is 7mbps but expect it to be lower. You can get 1GB of data for about US$3. More info can be obtained here