This year’s World Tourism Day host nation is Djibouti, a country in Africa often shadowed by its wilderness-heavy neighbours. Today we tell you why it deserves a place in your travel bucket list. By Bayar Jain
There’s little that this tiny African country does not have. Unlike the popular perception of this continent’s wilderness-heavy image, Djibouti has many landscapes and natural wonders credited to its name—that too, in a tiny speck of land! Picture dormant volcanoes, rugged canyons, whale-dotted waters, limestone chimneys and expansive salt lakes. Pair this with an opportunity to indulge in an array of activities, and you’ve got yourself a destination worthy of a spot in your travel bucket list. Here are some top tourist spots to get your Djiboutian adventure started!
1. Djibouti City
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The capital of the country, Djibouti City is steeped in years of history. Once a French outpost of the 1980s and 90s, the bustling city has shed its former image and risen like a phoenix. Swanky bars and hotels now dot the space, with some of the country’s best restaurants eyeing for the top spot here. While the whitewashed promenades of the European Quarter here fuse Arab with Europe, the African Quarter oozes with traditional-styled architecture. Apart from woodcarvings and clothing shops lining the streets here, the colourful area is accentuated further with the great Hamoudi Mosque—the country’s most iconic landmark.
2. Day Forest National Park
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Also known as Forêt du Day National Park, the evergreen forest is the oldest of its kind in the country. Spread across 14,500 acres, many native animals seek refuge here. Think, Djibouti spurfowl and Djibouti sunbird. A rare species of reptile—the colubrid snake—also slithers through the lush greens here. Some estimates have counted up to 820 plant species here such as olive trees and boxwood, with over 350 bird species chirruping away merrily.
3. Lac ‘Assal
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Located in the Danakil Desert, the peaceful crater-lake is designed to deceive! From a distance, the tropical waters of Lac ‘Assal look as though a swish of powdery white sands have painted the space. Up close, however, an aline-like landscape takes over. Akin to the famous Dead Sea of Israel and Jordan, the saline waters of this lake assure ultimate buoyancy, amid a land devoid of all kinds of vegetation. When here, only thorny bushes accompany. The most fascinating aspect of the lake, however, is not its saline nature. Instead, it is the visual deception it creates with respect to the colours. Depending upon where you stand and gaze at it, the waters seem to don a new colour.
4. Gulf of Tadjoura
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Home to many colourful reefs, expansive schools of fish, and countless pearl oysters, the gulf is dubbed as an ideal spot to deep dive into the waters. The curious folks can even venture into hidden sunken ships for a dose of underwater mysteries. Above the waters, however, scenic green mountains embrace the beach with many must-visit mosques nearby.
5. Dorale and Khor Ambado beaches
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Approximately 15 kilometres away from the capital city, these beaches are ideal for water sports enthusiasts. Nicknamed the French beach—after the French militaries who would once unwind here with their families—the caramel-coloured sands here are juxtaposed beautifully with the stark black lava cliffs that surround the space. As the sun starts to descent, the water reflects an orange-red hue, giving you a memorable sunset like no other African land can boast of.
Related: This Is How Countries Are Celebrating World Tourism Day This Year
