Djibouti flag

Djibouti

History

Islam spread early through the Gulf of Tadjoura ports.
France consolidated the territory as French Somaliland.
The Addis Ababa railway made the port the outlet for Ethiopian trade.
Independence came on 27 June.
Civil conflict ended in a power-sharing agreement.
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Capital
Population1.1M
Area23k km2
CurrencyDjiboutian franc

Short facts

RegionEast Africa / Horn of Africa
LanguageArabic, French
Time zoneEAT (UTC+3)
Drives onRight

Worth seeing

  • Lake Assal: A crater lake 155 m below sea level, the lowest point in Africa.
  • Lake Abbe: Limestone chimneys venting steam on the Ethiopian border.
  • Gulf of Tadjoura: Whale sharks gather seasonally in the bay near Arta.

Find a city in Djibouti

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Djibouti thumbnailDjiboutiCity

Planning questions

What is Djibouti known for?Lake Assal, Lake Abbe, Gulf of Tadjoura.
What is the capital?Djibouti City.
Which language is useful?Arabic, French.
When is the national day?27 June.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.

Upcoming events

Use Djibouti as the first planning anchor for Djibouti, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

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Known for

Lake AssalLake AbbeGulf of TadjouraDjibouti CityStreet foodCoffee
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