Africa
Salt lakes, lava fields and whale sharks in a volcanic landscape.
Djibouti sits where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden, on one of the most geologically active pieces of land on Earth. Lac Assal, a salt lake below sea level, is ringed with white crusts, and Lac Abbé is dotted with steaming limestone chimneys. The Gulf of Tadjoura draws whale sharks in the cooler months, and the Day Forest offers a rare patch of green in the mountains.
It's a place for landscapes and sea life rather than sightseeing, with small hotels, 4x4 trips into the desert and dives or snorkelling off the coast. Food mixes Somali, Afar, Yemeni and French influences, from grilled fish to spiced rice. Visit from November to February, when whale sharks are around and temperatures are bearable; June to August brings dangerous heat.
January, February, November, December.