'''Djibouti''' (??????) is the capital city of Djibouti and has a population of around 400,000.
Understand
The city was founded in 1888 and was designated the capital of French Somaliland three years later. The city has some beaches along its eastern shore.
Get in
By plane
Ambouli Airport (JIB) serves the city, and there are regular Air France and Kenya Airways flights.
By Train
There is a frequent service connecting the city with Addis Ababa - a journey of more than 700km, taking around 24 hours, with a stopover about halfway, in Dire Dawa. Reservations are strongly recommended.
23:00, 30 March 2009 (EDT)98.183.138.100Greg Pellegrino==Get around==
Get around by Green TaxiCabs... People will tell you to avoid the taxi's with the drivers chewing Khat, but that is a load of crap ...Khat is not a narcotic, but a stimulant (more mild than Meth, or Coke) ....It gives the local djiboutians and somali's something called MERKAN ..(The Somali word for Energy) ... I would say that driving with these guys is safer than driving with the 103 year olf African man who goes 15Km while cars are zooming past him and honking ... Taxis range from 500fr to any amount, depending on how far you go ...
Some Guidelines:
Camp Lemonier to Downtown 1500FR
Downtown to Kempinski 2000
Base to Kempinski 2500 ...
Again, negotiate and you may get a lower price, but I have better things to do than to argue over 500fr (3 american dollars)
See
'''Beaches''' on the eastern shore.
Kempinski Palace.
Djibouti Palace Kempinski. lot Du Heron P.O. Box 1960. 253 32555 5. Expensive but luxurious.
Do
Buy
Eat
French and Somalian influences make up some of the food in Djibouti.
Drink
Club Hermes. Underground club, low key. Good security at the door. 1,000 Djiboutian francs per beer.
Sham's. Decent DJ, small dance floor. 1,000 Djiboutian francs/beer and 1,500 Djiboutian francs for mixed drinks.
Club Menelik. Inside the Menelik Hotel, security is good here. Drinks are 1,000 Djiboutian francs/beer & 1,500 Djiboutian francs/mixed drink. The music here ranges widely but often times consists of '90's to current hip-hop & R&B.
Sleep
.
La Galette. La Galette. Wonderful Underground Club ...1000 Franc Beers, 1500 Franc Mixed Drinks and 1000 Francs for Sheesha (hookah) ...This place is awesome!! Updated Mar 30, 2009 from somebody who just left after spending 7 months there
La Oasis. Nice place with beautiful women and a second, smaller bar upstairs... Very fun place...If you happen to go there, ask for Saada (pronounce Sow ah Da) and tell her Greg says hello ...
Le Maries. Nice place with a dancefloor in the front alongside a bar .. In the back are a bunch of couches where all the Sheesha smoking takes place (Again 1000 francs to participate) ...Ask for Gigi, she will take care of you ...Tell her Greg sent you and she will "really" hook you up :)
Golden Club. This place holds a special place in my heart, as it is were I met the love of my life Saadia... 1000 Franc Beers, Pool for 500 Francs and a dancefloor ... The Best Sheesha in Djibouti here also (of course, for 1000 francs) ...No trip is complete without stopping in
Budget
somebody has loaded clubs in the accommodation field!
Mid range
Splurge
Stay safe
All cab rides are different (none is the same); make sure you go with someone who knows the city, otherwise you will pay way more than needed, just like in any other city in the world.
Get out