1. At 23,200 square kilometers (8,958 square miles), Djibouti is the third smallest country in continental Africa, after Swaziland (second smallest) and Gambia (smallest). 2. Lac Assal is the saltiest lake outside of Antarctica. It is even saltier than the famous Dead Sea. 3. The only way water goes out of Lac Assal is through evaporation. The salt, however, is...
Injera Injera is what Djibouti calls its traditional flatbread. It is also found in Ethiopia, Yemen, and Somalia, where it is called lahooh or lahoh. This slightly spongy flatbread is traditionally made of teff flour and has yeast. Teff is a valuable grain, rich in iron, and grows only in mid-range elevations with just the right amount of rainfall, so it can be...
Swim with the whale sharks Reaching lengths of nearly 13 meters, or 42.6 feet (the largest confirmed report pegged this fish at 12.65 meters, or 41.5 feet, but unconfirmed reports state larger numbers), the whale shark is unarguably the largest existing fish in the world. Despite their size, though, humans have nothing to fear from them, as these gentle giants are...
Djibouti City The City of Djibouti is the country’s capital and largest city. Nearly 70% of the entire country’s population lives there. You couldn’t call it crowded by any means, though, as the whole country’s population is less than 600,000. The city features colonial buildings and green taxis. You will see shawled women, qat-chewing men, and foreigners, all...
Djibouti in summer, from May to September, is swelteringly hot. The average daily temperature is at around 40 °C (104 °F) and can reach up to 45 °C (113 °F) at summer’s peak in July. In the vicinity of the salt lakes, temperatures as high as 50 °C (122 °F) have been reported. And all over the country, the high humidity does nothing to help you feel more comfortable...
