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Djibouti Travel Information
Travel Alert Status
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Time Difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Travel Climate
Djibouti has two seasons. During the May-to-September hot season, daytime temperatures average over 100°F and often exceed 120°F. The high temperatures are sometimes accompanied by hot, sandy winds called the "Kahm Sin." The beginning and ending months of the hot season are also marked by high humidity. The cooler season, from October through April, has clear skies, refreshingly cool breezes, somewhat lower humidity, and temperatures in the 80s.
Because of its geographic location between the Ethiopian and Yemeni escarpments, Djibouti gets little precipitation. Occasional rains occur mostly in the hills in the interior, but the average annual rainfall is only 5 to 10 inches. Rains most often come to Djibouti City in the fall and spring; some years are rainless. Because of a high water table and lack of drainage, the rare heavy rain can cause flooding in and around the capital.
Travel Currency
177.7
Languages
French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Ethnic Groups
Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%
National Holiday
Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Geographic Coordinates
11 30 N, 43 00 E
Location
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia