If you’re stumped for souvenirs, try these! 4 souvenir picks from Djibouti!
Djibouti is a small country in northeastern Africa. The land is small and the natural environment is harsh. Temperatures can exceed 45°C! The country's main sources of income are said to be transshipment trade, revenue from the presence of foreign military bases, and profits from the Ethiopia–Djibouti Railway. Djibouti has almost no domestic industry.
So what kinds of souvenirs can you find in Djibouti? Here, we introduce several options for souvenirs from Djibouti.
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If you’re stumped for souvenirs, try these! 4 souvenir picks from Djibouti!
1. Salt from Lake Assal
When it comes to souvenirs from Djibouti, salt from Lake Assal is a must-have. Lake Assal is a rare salt lake located 100 km west of Djibouti City, at 157 meters below sea level. Its salinity is said to be higher than Israel’s Dead Sea!
Salt is sold as a souvenir at Lake Assal, but its shape is unusual. It comes in spherical forms ranging from the size of beads to ping pong balls and is sold in plastic bags or PET bottles. Online, it is referred to as "pearl salt." You can also find salt crystals that look like quartz, or mysterious salt objects made by soaking animal bones in the lake. How about bringing back some salt as a souvenir from Djibouti?
2. Pumice toys
If you're particular about souvenirs made in Djibouti, pumice toys are a good option. At tourist spots, you can find toys shaped like camels, cars, and cameras made from pumice.
The camel toys have cushions placed on their backs for people to ride on—very authentic. The windows of the cars and the lenses of the cameras are made from recycled glass bottles. In addition to toys, there are also pumice accessory cases and more.
Since they’re made of pumice, carrying them might be a bit tricky, but you won’t see pumice toys like these just anywhere. Isn’t it impressive how such items are made in an industry-scarce country like Djibouti? These make for rather unique souvenirs.
3. Yemeni products
Djibouti has almost no industry. Even if you visit souvenir shops, most of the goods are imports like Kenyan wooden carvings or Asian fabrics, with few items actually made in Djibouti. But looking at it another way, Djibouti is a place where you can buy souvenirs from neighboring countries. That’s what you’d expect from a nation that serves as a hub for trade.
Among these, why not consider Yemeni souvenirs? Due to ongoing security issues, many people avoid traveling to Yemen. However, in Djibouti, you can buy Yemeni men’s decorative daggers, lapis lazuli accessories, silver goods, and more.
There are many shops in town selling African souvenirs, so if you’re not fixated on Djibouti-made products, you won’t have trouble finding something Africa-themed. Among these, Yemeni products are well worth considering.
4. French products
Djibouti used to be a French colony! Walking through the town center, you’ll see colonial-style buildings reminiscent of its French past. French bread is served in restaurants, alongside rice as a staple food.
There’s also a French supermarket chain called Casino in Djibouti where you can buy French food items. Famous products include LU cookies, sweets, jarred pâté and foie gras, and chestnut cream. Even if you don’t insist on buying something made in Djibouti, don’t you think these items still reflect the essence of the country?
◎ Summary
What do you think? You might be saying, “These aren’t even Djibouti souvenirs!” but the reality is that there aren’t many products actually made in Djibouti. However, souvenir shops in Djibouti offer many items from neighboring countries. Doesn’t that say a lot about Djibouti’s role as a center of transshipment trade? Hopefully, Djibouti’s tourism industry will grow in the future.
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