Tourist attractions in Djibouti include islands in the Gulf of Tadjoura, the Bab al Mandab and some of the best coral reef sites in the world for snorkeling and diving.

Djibouti lies in northeast Africa on the Gulf of Aden at the south entrance to the Red Sea. Djibouti has 314 kilometers (195 miles) of coastline and borders with Eritrea to the north, Ethiopia to the west ad south and Somalia to the southeast. On the other side of the Red Sea, on the Arabian Peninsula, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the coast of Djibouti, is Yemen. The country is mainly a stony desert, with scattered plateaus and highlands. The total area of Djibouti is 23,200 sq. km. (8,958 sq. mi.) and the total population 506,000 people. The capital is called the city of Djibouti and has around 383,000 inhabitants.

Map of Africa      

Djibouti was originally inhabited by nomadic tribes, and came under French control in 1862 and gradually became firmly associated with France until 1977 when the French agreed to withdraw and the country achieved independence. The present leadership favors close ties to France, which maintains a significant military presence in the country, but also strong ties with USA. Djibouti hosts the only US military base in sub-Saharan Africa and is a front-line state in the global war on terrorism.

Djibouti is only country in the Horn of Africa which is stable and peaceful, although it is sandwiched by war ravaged countries like Somalia and to some extend Ethiopia. The tourism industry in Djibouti is not developed near that of major tourist destinations on the continent. The country however has a number of unspoiled and isolated, sandy beaches along the Gulf of Tadjoura. Tourist attractions include islands in the Gulf of Tadjoura, the Bab al Mandab and some of the best coral reef sites in the world for snorkeling and diving. Other attractions include the geographical nature of the Djibouti countryside which features ravines, lakes and plains. The Forest of the Day is a national park for rare trees on Mt. Goda. In the south, the alkaline Lake Abbé is visited by flocks of flamingos, ibis, and pelicans. Near Ali Sabieh are the famous red mountains and a national park full of various gazelles.

The main airport in the country, Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport (JIB) is located in the capital city Djibouti and connects with Paris, London and other international destinations. To enter Djibouti a passport, visa and evidence of yellow fever vaccination are required. Inquiries about entry requirements and getting a visa may be made at the nearest Djiboutian embassy or consulate. In countries where there is no Djiboutian diplomatic representation, travelers may sometimes obtain visas at the French Embassy.