Tadjourah and Plage de Sables Blancs

Near Tadjourah we visited lava fields and caves resulting from Ardoukoba Volcano.  Nearby the lava fields, the Chinese were building a new geothermal power plant.  The Chinese are everywhere.

After exploring Tadjourah, we headed to Plage de Sables Blancs known for its white sand beaches before heading to the airport.

Lake Assal, Goubet Al-Kharab, and Canyon Adaleh

Lake Assal is a saline crater lake in the Danakil desert in Central Djibouti.  It's the lowest point on the African continent. It's 155 meters below sea level and one of the hottest places I’ve visited 43 C or 110 F! Regardless, I jumped in for a swim.  The saline content was super high.  It was easy to float.

Afterwards, we visited the Panoramic views of Canyon Adaleh and Goubet and then overnight at Tadjourah. Tadjourah is the oldest town in Djibouti, known for its whitewashed buildings.

On my way for a swim. 

Goubet Al-Kharab 

Here's the story that related to Jacques Cousteau... "The famous oceanologist made a strange experiment in 1986, not far from Djibouti City, near Goubet Al-Kharab.  Cousteau and his crew immersed a shark cage containing the body of a camel. When they haul it, the cage was totally crushed. According to unverified rumours, Cousteau has made a film of the creature but it was of bad quality and humanity was not ready to assimilate the discovery."

Canyon Adaleh - Grand Canyon of Djibouti 

Lake Abbé

We arrive at Lake Abbé Camp in the evening to watch the sunset over the "moon-like" landscape. It's often described as a “slice of the moon’s crust on earth”.  Then after overnighted at the local campsite, staying in traditional huts, we woke up early to witness the sunrise over the chimneys.  It’s one of those places like the Grand Canyon in the US where you have to visit in person to get the full surreal visual experience. Pictures don’t do it justice.

Dikhil to Lake Abbé

In the morning we passed through The Grand Bara and Petit Barra deserts, and Dikhil, transit town,  on our way to  Lake Abbé.

Exploring Djibouti City

There wasn't much to see in Djibouti City.  The city tour was a waste of time other than chatting with the tour guide.  He told me there are three types of people present in Djibouti City: 1) 7000 military personal from about 10 countries; 2) port workers, mainly Djiboutians, but also a significant number of international labors, and 3) the nomadic Djiboutians that have come to the city for employment opportunities and to live.

Not a very clean city. 

The Seaport = Djibouti City's pulse. 

China recently built a railroad that extends from the seaport to Addis Abba.

My lunch an entire fish roasted "Yemen" style. 

The part of the city where my hotel was located was very western and developed.