Djibouti shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Ethiopia to both the west and south and Somalia to the southeast. It is also washed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in the east. This country is in the Horn of Africa. The capital city is Djibouti City.
Djibouti is a multilingual country. The majority of the population speaks Somali and Afar. However, two official languages are Arabic and French. The predominant religion is Islam, as more than 90% of the population follow it.
The official currency is Djibouti Franc. The approximate exchange rate is Djf178.8 for US$1. The currency exchange is available at major banks, hotels, and bureaus de change in the capital city. Only airlines and large hotels accept credit cards.
Taxis are available in Djibouti City, Ali-Sabieh, Dikhil, Dorale and Arta. Fares are reasonable, although they increase by 50% after dark. If you want to hire a car, you can do it in the capital city and at the airport. Cars drive on the right side of the road here. However, road conditions are poor, except for a highway from Djibouti to Tadjoura. Also, you should bring a water and petrol supply, if you plan to go off the main road.
In Djibouti, they use electric sockets and plugs of types C and F, as in Europe. The standard voltage is 220V.
One of the major tourist attractions is Goubbet al Kharab, where the cliff, which was turned dark green by black lava, is situated. There are also numerous other active volcanoes nearby. Another popular tourist spot is the Day Forest National Park. Near Ali Sabieh town, you will find famous red mountains and a national park, where numerous gazelles live.
Other tourist attractions also include Maskali Islands, Moucha Island, Lakes Abbe and Assal, the Presidential Palace and the Central Market.
However, tourism is only a growing sector of the economy of Djibouti so far. Less than 100 thousand travelers visit the country within a year. The majority of tourists come from Europe. But there are also visitors from Asia and North America.
However, you won’t find large-scale development here. Djibouti is ecotravel at its purest. In the hinterlands, you can find modest accommodations and the chance to interact closely with the tribes.
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