"Djibouti -- It does not get hotter than this" Top 5 Page for this destination Djibouti by Ekahau

Djibouti Travel Guide: 236 reviews and 680 photos

Djibouti -- It does not get hotter than this - Djibouti

Now this is a place with fond memories on my first of 12 trips to this place on the horn of Africa I was watching TV and Hassan Gouled Aptidon the President of Djibouti announced he was going home for the month of July. Home to his villa in France the president of a place but he considers France home. This really summed it up every time I went in my official capacity to visit a Djiboutian official they would say hi give me tea and than out of a closet from the back of a room would come a French functionary who would take care of the business at hand.

The Republic of Djibouti is a small country only 8,250 square miles located at the the spot that the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden meet the Bab-el-Mandeb. Since independence from France in 1977, Djibouti has pursued a moderate foreign policy. Djibouti's population of approximately 600,000 is predominantly Muslim and mainly of Somali or Afar origin. The main languages are French and Somali, and little English is spoken. There is a small but influential Arab population, mainly from Yemen, and a European community of approximately 10,000, primarily French. Djibouti is France's largest foreign military base. Djibouti is host to several thousand French military personnel, including the 13e Démi-Brigade de la Légion Étrangère (13e DBLE - 13th Half-Brigade of the Foreign Legion) and is the home port of the French Indian Ocean Fleet.

Now time for an intresting story well at least intresting to this VTer. It was very early on a very hot Bastille Day, the Fourteenth of July and I went down to see the Bastille Day Parade of the French Foreign Legion. They had a large group march by than a long pause and another long group march by. I asked my friend from tne Freanch Navy what was that he explained that - The 13th Brigade was deployed in the Battle of Bir Hakeim. Interestingly, part of the Legion was loyal to the Free French movement, yet another part was loyal to the Vichy government. A battle in Syria saw two opposing sides fight against each other in a short engagement, and later on the Vichy Legion joined its Free French brethren. Because half deserted General Gegal declarded it a Demi-one half brigade. It has been know ever since as the 13th Démi-Brigade de la Légion Étrangère even though it is at full a Brigade strength.

Pros and Cons

Pros:So much to do so few tourist
Cons:$$$

Intro Updated May 28, 2006
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Reviews (14)

good Indian Restaurants (6)

Very good Indian -- nice owner Tandoori fish more travel advice

best Bakery Djibouti Restaurants (6)

PATISSERIE LA DJIB’HOUSE , Djibouti more travel advice

The list I would eat at Restaurants (6)

• ALLO PIZZA SARL - HERON (Djibouti Ville) • BLUE NILE (Djibouti Ville) • HOTEL RESIDENCE DE L’EUROPE (Djibouti Ville) •... more travel advice

“French Ethiopian” train Djibouti - Djibouti

Djibouti's “French Ethiopian” train Transportation (3)

Now if you want to step back in time and do a really cool old colonial trip than the “French Ethiopian” train is the... more travel advice

Things to Do (4)
See All Lake Abbe

Hotels (1)
Sheraton standard international Hotel

Comments (14)

hunterV Dec 14, 2008 at 1:35 AM Report Abuse

Hi, Paul, thanks for your informative and exciting pages that make me wanna go there... Take care, mate!
Zarrah Jan 13, 2008 at 12:04 PM Report Abuse

A good page from an educated person. Just back from Djibouti and reading VT comments on my home country, I see too many unfair comments coming from ignorant people who imagined that because it is Africa, it was going to be cheap and full of lions.
iwys Nov 19, 2007 at 12:10 PM Report Abuse

Very interesting page. You give a good overall impression of what it's like to visit Djibouti.
craic Jun 24, 2007 at 4:39 PM Report Abuse

a small wave can sink a ferry? that is a bit scarey.
traveldave Apr 17, 2007 at 7:21 AM Report Abuse

I really ennjoy reading about these obscure places that are well off the beaten tourist path.
grets Dec 11, 2006 at 1:48 AM Report Abuse

A very refreshing page, as not many people have anything good to say about Djibouti on VT. That dhow sank while we were there and we saw the wreck in the harbour.
Bwana_Brown Nov 28, 2006 at 7:34 AM Report Abuse

An amazingly interesting account of your Djibouti experiences! It sounds like quite an exotic spot and I would not mind that train ride myself! Beautiful photos of the area too.
SLLiew Nov 24, 2006 at 9:39 PM Report Abuse

Djibouti another great page. Enjoyed reading about this African country. SL
adelinemmc Nov 15, 2006 at 6:17 AM Report Abuse

This is the most useful personal Djibouti page I have seen on the web. Tx for the very practical tips, and yes, I did swim with the whale sharks!!!
Hildeal Sep 25, 2006 at 4:38 AM Report Abuse

interesting page, and great pictures! I would like to go there soon.