The black lava fields, weird natural chimneys blowing steam and the burning, endless plains are deserted. Diving and snorkelling around Red Sea coral reefs is fabulous. The town of Djibouti is a boisterous blend of colonial French and modern Arabic, and what it lacks in major attractions it makes up for in buzz. The city is crowded with Arab and African cultures jostling each other's prayer mats, and travellers are often regarded as curios and treated to traditional African hospitality. Everyone except French nationals needs a visa.
Visitors also require evidence of a yellow fever vaccination.
Lonely Planet Publications Pty. Ltd. All rights reserved.