Lentils, flat bread, chicken, fried meat and fish are common ingredients in dishes, and Red Sea fish, baked or barbecued in a spicy sauce, is a real treat. As in many Muslim countries, alcohol is not freely available, but locals use qat widely. Qat is a mild stimulant grown in the highlands, and one of the few things that runs to schedule in Djibouti is the daily Ethiopian Airlines cargo plane that arrives punctually at 1 pm, bearing the day's shipment. Fresh supplies are on the street no more than an hour later, and you will see piles of it under wet cloths at the market. Events Friday is a holiday for offices and government institutions.
Visitors also require evidence of a yellow fever vaccination.
There is no currency exchange at the airport, and banks in central Djibouti are only open from 7.30 am to 1.30 pm. You'll get a better exchange rate on travellers cheques and cash for French francs or US dollars than for any other currency. Most of the larger and western shops, restaurants and hotels in Djibouti city accept credit cards, but you'd be better off to rely on cash in the smaller towns. Bargaining is normal in the markets, and even in some places to stay, but not, of course, in top of the range hotels. When To Go November to mid-April is the best time to visit, as it is too hot for the rest of the year.