Resorts Magazine

Smal l in s i ze yet s t r i k ingl y intense, Dj ibout i i s a land of cont ras t s where Af r ica and the Middle Eas t meet , and where landscapes shi f t dramat ical l y wi thin jus t a few k i lomet res . St i l l largel y untouched by mas s tour i sm, i t rewards t ravel ler s drawn to remote places and power ful , elemental geographies . Mos t journeys begin in Dj ibout i Ci ty, a l i vel y, mul t icul tural por t over look ing the Gul f of Tadjourah. Here, Eas t Af r ican rhythms blend wi th Arab and F rench inf luences—market s , cafés , a sun-washed seaf ront and dai l y l i fe unfolding under intense l ight and heat . I t i s the ideal base f rom which to explore the count ry and grasp i t s layered ident i ty. Leav ing the capi tal , the scenery quick l y turns sur real . Lake Abbé i s one of the count ry’ s mos t iconic s ight s : a sal t lake dot ted wi th l imes tone chimneys and dr i f t ing s team, especial l y evocat i ve at dawn, when the landscape feel s almos t lunar . Not far away l ies Lake As sal , the lowes t point in Af r ica and one of the sal t ies t bodies of water on Ear th, where bl inding whi te sal t f lat s meet deep blue water and black volcanic rock . Ovidio Guaita 67 R ESORTS M AGAZINE