Djibouti Luxury Yachting Guide

One of the smallest and least-known nations in Africa, Djibouti stands out as a haven of stability. Colonised by the French, Djibouti retains a vibrant city culture, rich in nightlife and adventure, while its outer regions are reminiscent of lunar landscapes: the ideal destination for intrepid travellers with a penchant for bizarre or secretive places.

Popular among sailors of all levels, Djibouti is often used as a convenient refuelling stop among superyacht captains as it allows vessels enough range to set a course for the Seychelles, the Maldives and India or up the coast to Oman and around into the Persian Gulf.

Whether travellers stop here to re-fuel, experience the pristine diving of Tadjoura or to try their first taste of khat, a narcotic leaf traditionally chewed in a social context, Djibouti offers every amenity to satisfy the weary traveller and ensnare the intrepid mind. Djibouti can be divided into three regions: the lush coastal plain and eerie volcanic plateaus in the central and southern parts of the country and the emerald Goda mountain range of the north.

Djibouti City
Djibouti City is the capital and it is distinguished by glorious restaurants and raucous nightlife along with the brilliant alleyways and aromatic fumes of the Marché Central. Outside this urban centre lays the intriguing and immense salt lake of Lac Assal and the unique landscape of Lac Abbe, whose alien atmosphere proved to be the perfect backdrop for the film, Planet of the Apes.

Activities
Active travellers will enjoy the intensive hikes and wheel-based windsurfing, while marine enthusiasts will adore the pristine diving areas and the opportunity to snorkel with whale sharks in the Bay of Ghoubbet. Sun-seekers need look no further than the pale-sand beaches of the Gulf of Tadjoura, but for a more ‘tropical’ experience, the glittering white-sand beaches of Moucha Island will surely fit the bill.