"DJIBOUTI" Djibouti by Pakistaniguy

Djibouti Travel Guide: 194 reviews and 1,009 photos

December, 2004:

How do i describe Djibouti ? expensive, unsafe and boring and this is what I've discovered about this country. Except that there are a couple of nice places to visit such as Lake Assal and the desert oasis close to Ethiopian border. If you have spare time & money, yes why not to visit Djibouti !

Djibouti is one of the most overpriced cities in the world. Djibouti is basically legalized theft on a large scale: you are overcharged for everything (i.e., make sure that you know the price of the drinks you order because a restaurant can easily charge you $10 for a coke). Taxis can easily ask for 10-20 times the regular price. Air conditioning is quite essential. Cheapest A/C hotel is Banadir ($25). The pestering of children in Ethiopia is replaced by the pestering of taxi drivers. The only good news is that it is very safe. You can easily change money in the streets.
Djibouti-Hargheisa (Somaliland) is served by at least two airlines (the horrible Djibouti Airlines and Daallo, $90 each way). Djibouti-Asmara is $150 with Daallo. Somaliland now requires a visa from tourists that must be obtained before arrival, despite the fact that no country recognizes Somaliland and therefore there are no embassies abroad.
A visa for Eritrea in Djibouti is $50 and takes a few hours.

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Landscape outside main towns and villages
  • Cons:Djibouti city is not worth a visit
  • In a nutshell:If you like desert & oasis then consider visiting Djibouti otherwise its waste of money.
  • Last visit to Djibouti: Dec 2004
  • Intro Updated Mar 7, 2005
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Reviews (12)

Comments (11)

  • Aug 20, 2012 at 12:55 PM

    Djibouti has many good things and good people and don't that though its very expensive to at some hotels its not the most expensive in Africa. if anyone of you ever travelled to South Sudan Congo and Angola you will tell us that Djibouti's life and staying is cheap.

  • Jan 13, 2008 at 11:25 AM

    If you like your credibility don't say Djibout is unsafe. It is very safe with very low criminality rate and that when it is full of refugees. It is safer than Pakistan, US or Canada so get your facts straight and give to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar!

  • triplehelix's Profile Photo
    Apr 13, 2007 at 8:54 PM

    i have yet to hear a good review about this place lol. the only thing i'd want to see there is lake assal perhaps on an overland adventure. happy travels!

  • venusinfur's Profile Photo
    Mar 16, 2007 at 7:02 AM

    sorry Hindu...but what good tips and good advice are you refering to exactly? i found only one tip to be helpful...not a very impressive score.

  • hindu1936's Profile Photo
    Sep 20, 2006 at 11:49 PM

    thanks for the good tips again. I have started looking for your pages because you always have good advice.

  • b1bob's Profile Photo
    Oct 22, 2005 at 12:07 PM

    Sorry you had such a bad time in Djibouti. I guess the bad trips make you appreciate the good ones even more. May you have a better trip next time.

  • vesna04's Profile Photo
    Oct 8, 2005 at 4:28 PM

    Nice page. I am sorry about the earthquake !

  • hunwagner's Profile Photo
    Jan 18, 2005 at 5:58 AM

    Djibouti is the worst hellhole I have ever visited - and had to pass through twice! As for Somaliland, they have a Liasion Office in Addis where the visa is issued while you wait. Much nicer place than Djibouti - which of course is not saying much!

  • adel_bakhwar's Profile Photo
    Jan 9, 2005 at 11:14 AM

    hey nice to see your pictures in djibouti , i like djibouti very much because i have been thier for more than 4 years, i injoyed a lot.... keep it up >>>>>>>>>:):):):)

  • iwys's Profile Photo
    Jan 5, 2005 at 4:00 PM

    How the hell did you end up there????

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