Djibouti City Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Local transport

Minibuses leave from various departure points south of town. They connect Djibouti City to Ali Sabieh, Dikhil, Tadjoura, Yoboki and the Ethiopian border. There is no fixed schedule. Most buses leave early in the morning and only when they are full. Most journeys cost from DFr500 to DFr1000, depending on distance.

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Land

Car

Vehicle rental is extortionate in Djibouti, but you can reduce the costs by joining up with other travellers to hire a car. For most off-road areas you will need to have a 4WD. For rentals, try Marill (351150; Rue Marchand). Expect to pay up to DFr21, 000 per day for a 4WD.

Train

The Djibouti–Ethiopia train departs three times a week and runs as far as Dire Dawa (DFr3900 in 1st class). You can take it and get off at Ali Sabieh (about DFr1500). Tickets can be bought 24 hours in advance at the railway station (morning only).

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Boat

A ferry did ply the Djibouti–Tadjoura and Djibouti–Obock routes three times a week, but services were indefinitely suspended at the time of research.

Your best bet is to rely on the speedboats and dhows that carry the precious qat and other commodities to Tadjoura and Obock. All boats leave from L’Escale.

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Air

Airlines with offices in Djibouti City:

Air France (351010; www.airfrance.com ; Pl du 27 Juin 1977)

Daallo Airlines (353401; www.daallo.com ; Rue de Paris)

Djibouti Airlines (351006; www.djiboutiairlines.com ; Pl Lagarde)

Eritrean Airlines (www.ertra.com) The agent for Eritrean Airlines is ATTA/Globe Travel.

Ethiopian Airlines (351007; www.flyethiopian.com ; Rue de Marseille)

Kenya Airways (www.kenya-airways.com) The agent for Kenya Airways is ATTA/Globe Travel.

Yemenia Yemen Airways (356579; www.yemenia.com ; Rue Marchand)

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