Introduction
Little known and little visited, the tiny, youthful country of Djibouti is rarely more than a stepping-stone for people travelling to Ethiopia and Eritrea. However, it has plenty to offer and tailor-made holidays in Djibouti will allow you to explore and discover a genuine African secret.
Escape Djibouti City, the capital with a distinctly Arabic feel, and undertake a self-drive trip to the lakes; Lac Assal, surrounded by dormant volcanoes and lava fields is a salt lake lying 150m below sea level; Lac Goubet is a seawater loch known as the ‘pit of demons' by locals; Lac Abbé is a surreal landscape that's home to vast flocks of flamingos and pelicans.
On the opposite side of the Gulf of Tadjoura sits the town of Tadjoura in a scenic setting, surrounded by several large mountains and a number of attractive beaches along the edge of the Gulf. It also provides easy access to some superb Red Sea coral reefs, popular with snorkelers and divers. Alternatively, try windsurfing on wheels at Ali Sableh, where you can zip across the salty Petit Bara and Grand Bara desert plains.
North-west of the Gulf lie the Goda Mountains, which offer a cool and green alternative to the scorching plains. They also house the Forêt du Day National Park, which has some decent walking trails for you to explore.
