Getty Images/AWL Images RM

Djibouti

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against all travel to the border with Eritrea. Click here for more information.

This tiny speck of a country packs a big punch. What it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in beauty. Few countries in the world, with the possible exception of Iceland, offer such weird landscapes – think salt lakes, extinct volcanoes, sunken plains, limestone chimneys belching out puffs of steam, basaltic plateaus and majestic canyons. Outdoorsy types will enjoy a good mix of land and water activities, including hiking, diving and whale-shark spotting in the Gulf of Tadjoura.

Barring Djibouti City, the country is refreshingly devoid of large-scale development. It’s all about ecotravel, with some sustainable stays in the hinterland.

Traveling independently around Djibouti may not come cheap, but despite the high cost of living, you’ll surely leave this little corner of Africa with new experiences and wonderful memories.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Djibouti.

  • Archaeological Site

    Abourma Rock Art Site

    This superb archaeological site features well-preserved rock engravings dating back to Neolithic times, which are striking both for their rich complexity and their incredible variety. Many of the engravings depict animals that are no longer found in the area – giraffes, cows, antelopes, kudus, oryxes and ostriches. Human figures are also represented. The rock art works were uncovered by a team of French archaeologists in 2008. Some 30km northeast of Randa, the site is only accessible on foot.

  • Wildlife Reserve

    Decan

    Weary of the hustle and bustle of Djibouti City? Have a soft spot for endangered species? The well-organised wildlife refuge Decan is about 10km south of Djibouti City (in Douda, on the road to Somaliland), an easy two- to three-hour excursion from the capital. It’s not a zoo, but a small nature reserve, with its own ecosystem. You’ll see eight endlessly appealing cheetahs, four lions, as well as ostriches, turtles, Somali donkeys, caracals, squirrels, antelopes, kudus, zebras and porcupines.

  • Landmark

    Les Allols

    It does not get the hype of the iconic Lac Assal and Lac Abbé, but Les Allols depression is one the most spectacular natural sites in the Horn. The landscape is an extraordinary geological showcase of faults, folds, ancient lava, salt fields and igneous black rocks. It's possible to drive down to a large inhabited oasis at the entrance to Les Allols but the best way to explore this geological wonder is to hike across the depression.

  • Area

    European Quarter

    The focal point of the European Quarter is Place du 27 Juin 1977 (Place Ménélik). With its whitewashed houses and Moorish arcades, this vast square is a strange mix of the Arab and the European. It’s lined with cafés, bars, restaurants and shops. The European Quarter is connected to the Plateau du Serpent area to the north by the Blvd de la République, along which many of the principal administrative buildings can be found.

  • Mosque

    Hamoudi Mosque

    The vast and chaotic Place Mahmoud Harbi (Place Rimbaud) is dominated by the minaret of this imposing mosque, Djibouti City’s most iconic building.

  • Area

    African Quarter

    The vast Place Mahmoud Harbi (aka Pl Rimbaud), which is dominated by the minaret of the great Hamoudi Mosque, Djibouti City’s most iconic building, is considered the real soul of the city. Eastward, the chaotic Quartier 1 is a crisscross of alleyways where stalls and shops are lined cheek by jowl. Spreading along Blvd de Bender are the stalls of Les Caisses Market. Crammed with every type of souvenir from woodcarvings to clothing, it’s a colourful place for soaking up the atmosphere.

  • Harbour

    L’Escale

    In the early evening, the walk along the causeway northwest of the centre makes a very pleasant stroll. The Moorish-inspired presidential palace (not open to the public) marks one end, the harbour of L’Escale, the other. The little marina is home to a variety of boats, from the traditional and picturesque Arab dhows to the simple local fishing skiffs and ferries to Tadjoura and Obock.

  • Landmark

    Grand Barra

    This spectacular plain of dried and cracked white clay, 27km long and 12km wide, was once an ancient lake. You can't miss it if you're heading to Lac Abbé from Djibouti City – the road skirts it all the way.

  • Area

    Plateau du Serpent & Îlot du Héron

    These adjoining neighbourhoods north of the centre are residential areas where you’ll find many of the foreign embassies and residences, as well as lavish villas and Djibouti’s swankiest hotels.

Featured videos

Just back from Djibouti

2:13