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Luggage and bags: A soft, easy to carry bag that can be squashed into small spaces is useful. It doesn't need to be very big - you don't need many clothes.
We left big bags at the hotel while we were on the boat.
Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: You don't need much. We were told we needed 3mm wetsuits for snorkelling and would have hired them on the boat but found we didn't need them at all as the sea is very warm - about 28C. I take my own snorkel and mask and it can be a good idea to take an old T Shirt to protect your back from the sun while snorkelling.
Photo Equipment: It can be difficult to charge your camera battery on a dive boat as some have limited power and sockets and they are in much demand.
An underwater camera is great if you have one, particularly if you see Whale Sharks, and the coral and fish are stunning. I take my Panasonic Lumix which has a waterproof case so I can use it on land and in the water.
Written Feb 20, 2010
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Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear:
One of my photos is of a dark street in Djibouti. Like many places in Africa there are areas where there are no street lights and the electricity can go off at anytime. The flashlight pictured here is powered by winding it up, so no need for batteries. They are available at any good camping store and could very well keep you from breaking a leg.
Updated Jun 6, 2009
Website: http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?page=headlamps-flashlights-lanterns&categoryId=9923&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&qs
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Miscellaneous:
Beer is shockingly expensive in Djibouti. The CHEAPEST I could find was a full $2 for a small can of Amstel (pictured in my hotel room) – and that was bought at the Super-Marché or Grocery Store!!!! Needless to say, yes a small glass of beer at the bar was between $5-7. If you have even the remotest possibility to get beer in from Ethiopia you will save money. A bottle of beer in Ethiopia is about 20 cents US.
Updated Apr 1, 2008
Website: http://www.ethiopianrestaurant.com/ethiopian_beers.html
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Toiletries and Medical Supplies:
Is your holiday or job worth dying for? No? Good. Djibouti has MALARIA The most effective way to avoid it is not to get bitten. Then there are malaria tablets. They must be taken BEFORE you go here. They have malaria, serious illness and death available for the unprepared all year round. Don’t take chances – go get a prescription from the doctor before you fly. There are several pharmacies in Djibouti Ville to get refills.
Updated Dec 26, 2007
Website: http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/index.htm
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Miscellaneous:
If you don’t speak fluent French, you will find carrying around a pen and small note pad very helpful. I used mine a lot here, especially in trying to haggle. My command of French does not include large numbers! Also good for VT’ers writing done information about hotels, restaurants and trading email addresses.
Updated Dec 26, 2007
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Miscellaneous:
The LINGUA FRANCA here is, well, French. There are at least 2 books stores in Djibouti Ville who do sell some books in English, but its very limited. So BYOB – Bring Your Own Books. If you are working here I suggest bringing a lot and trading with your colleagues.
Updated Dec 26, 2007
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Toiletries and Medical Supplies:
A lot of budget hotels and even restaurants do not offer toilet paper. Even the toilets at the airport are ‘sans papier’. You need to carry around your own. Absolutely priceless when you really need it. Sure to ruin your day if you don’t have it!
Updated Dec 26, 2007
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Toiletries and Medical Supplies:
Want to look older? Well keep getting too much sun and your skin will. Burn too many times and get cancer. Yep, Sun Screen is a modern medical miracle. It’s a pain, but you need it. Europeans and North Americans may think they don’t, but just look at a map. You will be closer to the Equator than probably any other time in your life. Look on a map. The Equator is very far away. You can burn in a few minutes. I would suggest you buy before you fly. It is available here, but expensive.
Updated Dec 22, 2007
Website: http://www.jaxmed.com/articles/wellness/spf.htm
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Toiletries and Medical Supplies: I won’t travel anywhere without these now, even when I am working back home. Many toilets, even in restaurants, have no soap to clean your hands. Some cheap accommodations will not have soap either. Hot water is a luxury and if you go off-road to do some camping these are worth their weight in gold. A certain must have for those small wounds. Also good for cleaning toilets before you use them as well.
Updated Dec 22, 2007
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Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: The sun is really strong here. You are not far from the Equator and many months (like December) get no rain and really no clouds either. Your eyes are getting battered! UVA rays will literally fry your eyes. I know. I have a damaged retina. Buying cheapo imitation glasses will only make you look better to other people. They actually cause your pupils to dilate and let even more UVA rays in to do more damage. Buy some proper UVA protection glasses. I recommend Ray Bans (those pictured are for prescription eyeglasses). Be aware that there are a lot of very good fakes here, so buy before you travel to ensure you get the real ones.
Updated Dec 22, 2007
Website: http://www.allaboutvision.com/sunglasses/spf.htm
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Reviews and photos of Djibouti attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Djibouti sightseeing.
The sun is really strong here. You are not far from the Equator and many months (like December) get no rain and really no clouds either. Your eyes are getting...
5 members live in Djibouti
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Q: Hi, I am thinking of visiting Djibouti in December 2010. I am a UK passport holder and would like some information...
A: Thank you so much.
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