Situated in the Gulf of Aden in Northeast Africa, Djibouti is bordered by Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea. The country is mostly barren desert land with thorn bushes, steppes and volcanic mountain ranges, except for the white sandy beaches looking out onto the Red Sea. The official languages are Arabic and French. Afar and Somali are spoken locally, while most, taxi drivers and traders controlling access to the Red Sea, speak English.

Djibouti is a major strategic site, especially so during the Gulf War, and it is still under the French military control. It is also in a particular geographical position known as the Afar Triangle, being one of the hottest and most desolate sites of the world.

Just outside the city one may find a pleasant respite from the heat at the Ambouli palm grove, as well as at the beaches of Khor-Ambado and Doralé that are also near to the capital.

The Gulf of Tadjoura teems with numerous species of fish and coral and is a paradise for snorkeling and scuba diving, for most of the coral reefs are accessible directly from the beach. The best time of the year for these activities is from September to May.

Lake Abbé is a paradise for wildlife spotting, here flamingos and pelicans gather in flocks while strange natural steaming chimneys pour out steam. Lake Assal is surrounded by dormant volcanoes and lava fields and is the lowest area in the world, situated at 150 m below sea level.

The climate is very hot and arid particularly between June to August, being slightly cooler from October to April. Rainfall is very rare.

The people from Djibouti are called Djiboutians.