Northeast in the Horn of Africa, on the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden opposite Jemen, lies the small country of Djibouti. It is hot, humid and arid, mostly rocky desert and volcanic plateau. There is occasional rain only from October to April. The north of the country is the most mountainous, with the volcano of Mousa Ali (2028 m) as the highest, but there are also magnificent landscapes around the lakes of Assal and Abbé.

Hiking is possible with a local guide, and normally with camels for pack animals and sleeping under the stars.