Djibouti, a beautiful little country in northeastern Africa

14.01.2019 16:57

Djibouti, a beautiful little country in northeastern Africa ... In fact, the third smallest state on the continent. Also known as French Somalia, it was a colony until 1977 when it became an independent state. Officially spoken languages are French and Arabic. The two main ethnic groups constituting the population of Djibouti are the tribes of Isa and Afar, the language of the latter being radically different from the Somali spoken by the representatives of Isa. Such a small country - only about 22,000 square kilometers, and so much to see.

We will begin our journey to the interior of the country following the old French railroad linking the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, with the port of Djibouti city. Currently, this rail does not work and its place has a newly built one with large Chinese investments. We stop in a small village, Ali Sabieh, which in the past subsisted mainly along the old railway that has passed, but unfortunately now this place is spreading poverty although smiling faces can still be noticed. Currently, there is a refugee camp where children from Somalia are the main residents.

We head to one of the most memorable places in Djibouti, Lake Abbe. We visit the natural landmark known as The Chimneys of Lake Abbe. They have natural conical form and called by the local chimneys, because of the steam coming out from the mineral springs passing through them and comes out of them in their high part with smoke just like a real chimney. The landscape of this place is as if from another planet. Abbe Lake is drying up, at a very fast pace, because the river that fed it is captured by two dams in Ethiopia. There is an abnormality related to the water in the lake, which is the subject of many studies - to a certain level the water is salty, then it is sweet and both of them do not mix!

On the way to Day Forest National Park, we stopped to enjoy the place where three tectonic plates divide by about 2 cm / year, forming a canyon. The visit to the National Park was interesting, but the sight was more than sad. The trees with very few exceptions were totally dry but still refusing to fall. Some bacteria cause this drying from top to bottom. We leave with mixed feelings, but we head towards the Red Sea and the town of Tadjoura. On the next morning we have the pleasure of immersing itself in its warm waters by visiting Sable blancs.

After a leisurely time, we head to another breath-taking location - Lake Assal, which is also the lowest point in Africa, 155 meters below the sea level. It is located in a volcano crater, revealing a unique combination of different colors, from emerald green through sea blue to yellow and white. The lake is even saltier than the Dead Sea, and there is the world's largest salt deposit.

At the end some important things going to Djibouti: exchange money while you are still in Djibouti City; negotiate prices when the circumstances allow; take a sleeping bag; alcohol can be consumed but is rather expensive; mosquito repellent.

Djibouti Uncovered