Djibouti travel guide

One of the busiest port in Africa, Djibouti City has a sort of salty-seaman feel to it. Hot, humid and decaying, the former French colony still bares the markers of its former ruler. The old town of Djibouti abounds with the pastels and facades common in 19th-century French buildings. The tight and hemmed in streets are full of vibrant cultural life, while the buildings seem to be slowly dying. Even the mosques and market are stylistically in tune with the period. Sure, Djibouti is expensive. Sure it's hard to get to. But the reward is being one of the few tourists to wander its streets caught in a time warp.

Gentle giants of the deep. The largest fish in the world. Whale sharks. It doesn't matter what you call them, these massive animals are incredibly elusive. Predominantly solitary, the chances of just happening upon one is slim to none. That is unless you're in Djibouti (specifically the Gulf of Tadjoura) between October and February. It is here whale sharks congregate in one of the highest densities on Earth. While nothing in life is guaranteed, the chances of not only seeing one but multiple whale sharks is about as close to 100% as you'll get. To make things all the better, swimmers and divers load into little zodiacs in a paramilitary-esque operation hoping not only to see them, but to swim alongside them. Truly an amazing experience.