Djibouti - Dschibuti

Djibouti, is the international notation Djibouti, lies in the east Africa. The Capital bears the same name. The country borders in the north Eritrea, to the west and south Ethiopia, in the southeast Somalia (Somaliland) and in the east to that Red Sea.

Cities

Djibouti Ali Sabieh Tadjoura Obock Dikhil Arta Holhol Dorra Galafi Loyada

Places in Djibouti

Cities in Djibouti
rank	Surname		Residents	Administrative unit
	transcription	Arabic
1.	Djibouti	‏جيبوتي‎	623.891	city Djibouti
2.	Ali Sabieh	‏على صبيح‎	40.074	Ali Sabieh
3.	Tadjoura	‏تاجورة‎	22.193	Tadjoura
4.	Obock	‏أوبوك‎	17.776	Obock
5.	Dikhil	‏دخيل‎	12.043	Dikhil

Other goals

See the section trips to the capital.

background

The state, which only gained independence in 1977, had been a colony as French Somaliland since 1888/96.

The US has around 4,000 soldiers in the Camp Lemonnier stationed from where, since October 2016, attacks on the Saudi Arabia government of the Yemen respectively. At least 35,000 Yemenis have fled to Djibouti. Usually Somalis are housed in the central refugee camp near Ali Adde.

getting there

Cruise passengers can enter the country for tourist purposes for up to 72 hours without a visa.

Entry requirements

The is responsible for Germans and Austrians

Swiss apply with the same documents

In countries without a Djiboutian representation, the visa can be applied for at French consulates. The “visa-on-arrival” at the airport was abolished in early 2018.

eVisa

Entry with an eVisa has been possible since April 30, 2018; not only at the airport, but on arrival at all border crossings. The Application on the Internet (2018 only in French, payment only with Visa or Mastercard; processing time should be 72 hours) also requires a travel confirmation and proof of accommodation. The fees, only visas for single entry are issued, are 90 US $ for a 3-day transit visa and 120 US $ for a 31-day stay more expensive than at the consulate.

Customs regulations

The import of any kind of pornographic material is prohibited. Alcohol is allowed up to one liter per person.^[1] Possession and export of sheets of the Kathstrauchs, the regional folk drug, is permitted. The active ingredient cathinone is subject to narcotics law in Germany (and many other countries), more than 30 g is considered a "not small amount."

By plane

From Frankfurt you can fly cheaply Ethiopian (via Addis Abbeba or Jeddah) or Emirates above Dubai. Flight times are comparatively long with Kenya Airways, whose flights go via Nairobi.

The resurrected one Air Djibouti with headquarters on Airport has been offering passenger flights again since 2016. Central African cities and Dubai.

The Aérodrome de Chabelley, ten kilometers south of the capital, only serves the French and American military.

By train

In October 2016, the Djibouti-Ethiopia railway, built with Chinese help, was opened in standard gauge. Passenger traffic is to begin after a three-month trial run. The 756 km long route starts from Sebeta /Addis Ababa above Awash (Branch line to Weldiya / Hara Gebeya under construction until 2018^[outdated] ) and Miesso to Djibouti. The scheduled journey time for the continuously electrified route is ten hours. The trains depart every other day at 8.00 a.m., reservations in Addis must be made 24 hours in advance. Foreigners pay double.

In the street

The armed border dispute with Eritrea in 2008 was settled by arbitration at the end of 2015, and a normalization of the border regime between the two states was to be expected. Since June 2017, there have been again shootings in the border area after the peacekeeping force withdrew. Travel north of Obock should be avoided.

Crossing the land border at Loyada (لويادا) To Somaliland is described as problem-free in 2016.^[2]

By boat

There are connections to Yemen and Berbera in Somaliland with local ships. Corresponding trips are to be inquired in the port, due to the bad security situation it is probably not advisable to use them.

Because of the piracy risk off Somalia, the region is dangerous for sailors. Current information can be obtained from Maritime Security Center.

mobility

Buses / minibuses run without a timetable. Departure is when the vehicle - according to local understanding - is "full". Minibuses stop when they are flagged up.

Taxi prices are posted at larger stands (including at the airport). A night surcharge of 50% is common.

language

The official languages ​​are French and Arabic, while Somali and common languages ​​are common Afar. French is rarely spoken outside the capital.

to buy

Exchange rate (Feb. 2021): € 1 a little more than 215Djibouti Franc (DJF).

Banks and many smaller shops are closed on Friday and Saturday and open on Sundays. Long afternoon rest is common. If credit cards are accepted - which actually only happens in the capital - you usually only take them Visa, Mastercard is not accepted. When changing cash (which is difficult outside the capital) of dollar bills, only notes (in good condition) of the series issued after 2000 will be accepted.

kitchen

The culinary delights of Djibouti are determined by influences from neighboring countries. Arab-Yemeni tastes can also be found.

Breakfast is usually a hearty meal with tea. On the basis of a flatbread lahoh, similar to ethiopian injera but thinner, are often made with meat, offal or honey or clarified butter (niter kebbeh) eaten. Garoobey is an oatmeal flavored with milk and caraway seeds.

Lunch and dinner often consist of stew (maraq) of various kinds. Fah-fah is a beef soup. Rice is served with plantains or meat. With pasta (baasto) there are very thick sauces. The hot spice mixture is essential Berbere and, if you can afford it, saffron. As in Somalia, when guests are visiting, dining rooms are often filled with incense in special burners (Dabqaad) "Fumigated."

The dessert halo (Halwa) is mainly given on special occasions.

nightlife

Mainly takes place in the European quarter of the capital city.

accommodation

There are around forty hotels in the capital, few of which are inexpensive.

There are hardly any accommodations in other places. There are a few close to the few natural beauties Campements, which are specially set up for tourist needs.

public holidays

January 1st; 1st of May; National holiday June 27th, Independence Day. On Christian holidays only Christmas on December 25th.

The majority of the population is Muslim, so the usual Islamic holidays calculated according to the lunar calendar are observed: first (April 12, 2021) and last (May 12, 2021) day in the fasting month of Ramadan. - last day of the fasting month of Ramadan, beginning of Id al-Fitr, on the 1st show whale (May 13, 2021) as a two-day festival of breaking the fast. Two-day Islamic Festival of Sacrifice (ʿĪd al-Aḍḥā), which begins on 10th Dhū al-Jiddjah (July 19, 2021). Birthday (Mulid / maulid) of the Prophet Mohammed on the 12th Rabi 'al-auwal (October 19, 2021).

security

Djibouti is a safe country by African standards. Warnings are only given against casual and pickpockets in bazaars.

"Individual trips to remote areas of Djibouti that are not absolutely necessary are not recommended."^[1] Areas along the border with Eritrea are mined.

Americans and French prefer to practice at the 11.58837342.854821 Arta Bay(11 ° 35 ′ 18 ″ N.42 ° 51 '17 "E) killing people, it is advisable to avoid this area.

health

Many indigenous men chew after noon Khat, which can lead to restricted ability to react (also in traffic) or unusual, at first lively, in need of communication, then after about two hours lethargic behavior.

Risk of malaria (through Plasmodium falciparum) only exists during the wet season from November to April.

climate

Daytime temperatures of over 40 ° C are the rule from May to October.

Practical advice

One does not like to be photographed, permission should be asked in any case. In principle, military matters may not be included.

Consumption of alcohol in public, except in licensed restaurants, is a criminal offense. For women, hijab and loose abaya are appropriate clothing.

post: Letters to all EU countries and Switzerland are classified as "Zone 1" and in 2018 cost up to 20 g: 220 DJF, 100 g: 675 DJF.

literature

• Redman, Nigel; Birds of the Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Socotra; London 2009 (helmet); ISBN 9780713665413
• Saïd Chiré, Amina; Djibouti contemporary; Paris 2013; ISBN 9782811108243

cards

• Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somaliland: map for businessmen & tourists; geographical map; with index; relief with elevation tints; Budapest 2011; 1: 2 million, 82 x 91 cm; ISBN 9786155010026
• Houssein Ahmed Hersi; Carte de Djibouti: ville et ses agglomérations: carte de rues, street map; [Djibouti] 2015; 68 x 98 cm

Web links

• Bureau of African Affairs, US Department of State; Background note: Djibouti; Washington 2005-
• Djiboutiweb French tourist information

News from the region

• "Horn Diplomat" (engl.)
• Voice of Djibouti
• La Nation (French)