Djibouti is the third smallest country in Africa. It has become independent in 1977 being a colony of France prior to that. The country is a model of stability in the region for other nations. Its strategic position along major trade routes make Djibouti attractive for many military powers. China, France, Great Britain, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the US, all have military bases set up in Djibouti making it the most politically stable country in Africa and one of the safest.

Traveling info

Every visitor traveling to Djibouti is required to have a valid passport. Entry requirements vary depending on visitors nationality. Visitors coming from the ROC and Singapore enjoy the luxury of visa-free travel. All others are required to obtain a visa either online or upon arrival. Admission of visa or transit is refused to the citizens of Eritrea. Visitors who wish to drive in Djibouti may do so using their national driving permit. An international driving permit is strongly recommended as it will aid drivers in dealing with the local police or when renting a vehicle. IDP holders must beware that it cannot be used alone for driving and must always be complemented by the original driving permit. Driving permits may be exchanged for a Djibouti driving permit however such process may be lengthy and expensive.

Traveling hazards

Driving on Djiboutian roads can be hazardous. Since most roads do not have shoulders or sidewalks, pedestrians and livestock use the roadways both day and night. Driving at night is extremely dangerous and strongly discouraged on all roads outside Djibouti City. While some main roads in Djibouti are well maintained, roads are often narrow, poorly lit, or rutted. Many secondary roads are in poor repair. Drivers and pedestrians should exercise extreme caution. Minibusses and cars often break down, when breakdowns occur, local drivers usually place branches or rocks behind the vehicle to indicate trouble, but these warning signals are barely visible and hazardous in and of themselves. Excessive speed, unpredictable local driving habits, pedestrians, and livestock in the roadway, and the lack of basic safety equipment on many vehicles are daily hazards. Speed limits are posted occasionally but are not enforced.

Environmental hazards

There are no dangerous large animals in Djibouti. The landscape of Djibouti is hostile towards life. The most dangerous creatures to be found in the country are the boomslangs and puff adders. These lethally venomous snakes can deliver a deadly bite. Puff adder alone is responsible for 30 thousand deaths across Africa. There has been only a single record of a shark attack in Djibouti. Neighboring countries, however, have more such records meaning that such incidents cannot be ruled out.
There are numerous natural hazards occurring in Djibouti. These range from floods and storms to droughts. Droughts and floods, however, are responsible for most economic damage and carry the biggest death toll.

Health hazards

There is no risk of yellow fever in Djibouti. The government of Djibouti requires proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever. There are other recommended vaccines. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, typhoid and rabies vaccines. Mosquitoes in Djibouti carry malaria. There is no approved vaccine against malaria however there is medicine on prescription which should be available to anyone after consulting their local general practitioner. There are also alternative ways to protect against malaria. Since the disease is transmitted through mosquito bites, the use of mosquito repellents is advised. The standard of healthcare in Djibouti is not quite on par with the standard that some foreigners are used to at their home country. In general, the healthcare system in Djibouti is weak, there is a lack of equipment and insufficient maintenance, and there is a serious shortage of qualified and motivated medical personnel at all levels of the healthcare system. Medicine is provided by the state however the truth is there is hardly any available. Expats should bring some of the most basic medicine with them and get a supply of prescribed medication in their home country if such is taken as it most likely will not be available in Djibouti. The private healthcare sector in Djibouti is relatively underdeveloped. The private sector provides inpatient, outpatient, and dental care services, primarily in the capital city. There is no private insurance in the country.
In case of an emergency dial 18.

Crime

Most reported incidents are crimes of opportunity such as pickpocketing, petty theft, for immediate gain. Panhandlers and street children target foreigners for petty theft by creating distractions. Unreported crimes also commonly occur within the local community. Caution should be exercised in congested areas like the central market, the city center, the downtown neighborhoods known locally as quarters, especially after dark. Visitors should avoid isolated areas, particularly along the urban coastline. A large number of illegal immigrants and unemployed Djiboutians loitering downtown and in other areas frequented by expatriates may allow criminals to roam undetected. People in congested areas like a port, market areas, and city center are considered at greatest risk for street crime. It is strongly advised not to give money to people who wash your cars without permission or who watch your car while parked. Tourists are generally the only people who give money, and this leads to further targeting. Tourists are also strongly discouraged from giving money to peddlers and street children, as this can easily lead to being swarmed by additional individuals who can become aggressive. There is a risk of terrorism in Djibouti however due to the large military presence of numerous world powers it is quite unlikely.

Summary

Despite the fact that Djibouti is one of the smallest countries in Africa, it is a place of interest for many countries making it a relatively safe destination. There are numerous attractions in Djibouti to witness such as lake Assal which is saltier than the dead sea. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.evisa.gouv.dj/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/djibouti