Introducing Djibouti City

Arriving from Eritrea, Ethiopia or the Middle East, it usually comes as a surprise to many travellers to discover that Djibouti City is an active and fairly cosmopolitan city that tries hard to be recognised as the little Dubai on the Red Sea. Traditionally robed Afar tribesmen, unashamed qat-chewing men, stalwart French legionnaires (and the odd GI), sensuous Somali glamour kittens and frazzled businessmen with the latest mobile phones stuck to their ear all jostle side by side. This boisterous, sweltering cocktail of African, Arab and European influences is simply mind-boggling.

Djibouti City boasts good infrastructure but can be shockingly expensive – be warned.