What animals live in Djibouti?

Djibouti is a small country on the Horn of Africa, and it has some remarkable wildlife. Out in its dry, rocky landscape you can spot animals like golden jackals, Somali wild donkeys, and Dorcas gazelles — a slender, tan-colored antelope built perfectly for hot, dry places. The waters around Djibouti are just as interesting as the land. Whale sharks — the biggest fish in the world — swim in the Gulf of Tadjoura, and the coral reefs shelter colorful fish, sea turtles, and dolphins. Most people in Djibouti have never heard the good news about Jesus, so while you're thinking about this little country, it's a great moment to pray that they would get a chance to hear it.

What do kids eat in Djibouti?

Great question to chew on! Kids in Djibouti often eat a dish called skoudehkaris — that's spiced rice cooked with lamb or goat meat, flavored with cumin and other warm spices. Flatbread called lahoh, which is soft and spongy like a pancake, is also a breakfast favorite, often dipped in honey or a savory broth. Because Djibouti sits right on the coast of the Red Sea, fish shows up on a lot of plates too — grilled or stewed with tomatoes and spices. Camel milk is a real treat there, and dates are a popular snack, especially during the holy month of Ramadan when Muslim families break their fast at sundown. Most people in Djibouti follow Islam, which means many of them have not yet heard the good news about Jesus — so every meal there is a reminder that we can pray for them to meet the One who called Himself the Bread of Life.

How do people say hello in Djibouti?

Great question for any explorer! In Djibouti, most people greet each other with the Arabic phrase 'As-salamu alaykum,' which means 'Peace be upon you.' The reply is 'Wa alaykum as-salam,' meaning 'And upon you, peace.' It is a greeting you will hear everywhere — in the market, on the street, and between friends. Djibouti has two main local languages besides Arabic: Somali and Afar. In Somali, a friendly hello sounds like 'Nabad myah' — and if you say it, locals will probably light up with a big smile. Learning even one word of someone's language is a small way to show respect, and missionaries who work in Djibouti often spend a long time learning these languages so they can share the good news about Jesus in a way people can truly understand in their hearts.

What sports or games do kids play in Djibouti?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Djibouti love football — what many countries call soccer — more than just about anything else. You'll find boys and girls kicking makeshift balls in dusty alleyways and open lots all across the capital city, also called Djibouti. It's the kind of game that needs almost nothing to get started, just some energy and a few friends. Rusty wants to add that traditional running and athletics are also a big deal in Djibouti, since the whole Horn of Africa region is famous for producing great long-distance runners. Some kids also enjoy pétanque, a French game where you toss metal balls to land close to a small target ball — France had a long history in Djibouti, and that game stuck around. Next time you kick a ball around or play a game outside, think about the kids in Djibouti doing the same thing, and maybe say a prayer that they would one day hear the good news about Jesus.

What's the weather like in Djibouti?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Djibouti is one of the hottest countries on earth. It sits right on the coast of the Red Sea in East Africa, and the sun beats down hard almost every single day. Summer temperatures can climb past 105 degrees Fahrenheit — that is hotter than most ovens are set for baking bread. Rusty wants to add that Djibouti gets very little rain, so it is mostly desert with dry, rocky land stretching in every direction. The air near the coast is thick and humid, which makes the heat feel even heavier. People there have learned to rest during the hottest parts of the day and do their work in the cooler mornings and evenings. It takes real toughness to live and share the gospel in a place like that — and missionaries who go there really do need our prayers for strength and endurance.

Tell me a fun fact about Djibouti.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along — Djibouti sits at one of the busiest water crossings on the entire planet! The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, right at Djibouti's doorstep, is a narrow strip of water where ships carrying goods between Europe, Asia, and Africa squeeze through every single day. Rusty wants to add this: Djibouti is also home to Lake Assal, which sits about 155 meters below sea level — making it the lowest point on the African continent. The lake is so salty that salt crystals actually form along its shores, and it looks almost otherworldly, with bright white crusts against dark volcanic rock. It is a reminder that God made some truly striking places on this earth!

What is school like for kids in Djibouti?

In Djibouti, most kids go to school and learn in French or Arabic — sometimes both! School days can be tough because the country is very hot and dry, and not every family can afford supplies like notebooks and pencils. Many children study hard even when the conditions aren't easy. One thing that stands out is that fewer girls than boys finish school in Djibouti, which means many young women miss out on learning to read. And here's something important for us explorers to notice — most schools in Djibouti don't teach children about Jesus or the Bible, since Islam is the main religion there. That means many kids grow up never hearing that Jesus loves them and died to save them. That's a big reason missionaries and local believers work so carefully to share that good news.

Who are the unreached people in Djibouti?

Great question! Djibouti is a small country on the Horn of Africa, and most of the people there belong to two main groups — the Afar and the Issa Somali. Both groups are almost entirely Muslim, meaning the vast majority have never heard the good news about Jesus as their Savior. When a people group has very few or no Christians among them, missionaries call them 'unreached.' The Afar people are especially hard to reach because many of them are nomads — they move from place to place across the desert with their camels and goats, looking for water and grazing land. There are very few Afar believers in Jesus, and they have almost no churches or Christian resources in their own language. That means they need people willing to go to hard, hot, remote places to share the gospel with them.

How can I pray for the people of Djibouti?

Djibouti is a small country on the Horn of Africa, and most people there follow Islam — meaning very few have ever heard the good news about Jesus as Savior. You can pray that God opens hearts in Djibouti to hear and believe the gospel, and that local Djiboutian Christians grow bold and strong in their faith. Missionaries working in Djibouti face real challenges sharing the gospel, so pray for their safety and courage and that doors keep opening for them to tell people about Jesus. Djibouti also has several languages, so pray that God raises up people to translate the Bible so every person can read God's Word in the language they know best.

What is a holiday or celebration in Djibouti?

One of the biggest celebrations in Djibouti is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan — a month when Muslims fast from food and water during the daylight hours. When Eid arrives, families put on their best clothes, share special meals, and give gifts to children. The streets fill with music and the smell of grilled meat and sweet pastries. Almost everyone in Djibouti is Muslim, so Eid is a deeply important time for them — it is about faith, family, and gratitude. As explorers, Herman and Rusty think about this: millions of people in Djibouti are celebrating and praying, but most have never heard the good news that Jesus died and rose again to make a way to God. That is exactly why missionaries and local Christians work so hard to share the gospel there, even when it is difficult.

What language do people speak in Djibouti?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Djibouti actually has two official languages: French and Arabic. But most people on the streets speak Somali or Afar — those are the two main local languages that families have used for hundreds of years. Rusty finds this part really worth knowing: the Afar language is one where very few people have ever been able to read the Bible in their own tongue. Translators have worked hard to change that, because God's Word is meant to be heard in the language that touches your heart deepest. That's one big reason missionaries and Bible translators keep going back to places like Djibouti.

What's a famous place to visit in Djibouti?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the most striking places in Djibouti is Lake Assal. It sits more than 500 feet below sea level, making it the lowest point in all of Africa. The water is so salty that white crystals coat the rocks around the shore — it looks like snow in the middle of a hot desert. Rusty loves telling people about the Gulf of Tadjoura too, a wide blue inlet of the Red Sea where the water is incredibly clear. Djibouti is a tiny country, but it sits at one of the busiest shipping crossroads in the world — ships from dozens of nations pass through there every day. Not many people in Djibouti have heard the good news about Jesus yet, so it is worth knowing about and praying for this small but important place.

Djibouti — Kids Missions Explorer

Djibouti Francolin

This small, speckled bird is found nowhere else on Earth except the juniper forests on Djibouti's Goda Mountains, making it one of the rarest birds in all of Africa.

Whale Shark

The warm waters of the Gulf of Tadjoura draw whale sharks — the largest fish in the world — to feed near Djibouti's coast each winter, and divers come from many countries just to swim beside them.

Hamadryas Baboon

Troops of hamadryas baboons roam Djibouti's rocky hillsides and were considered sacred by ancient Egyptians, though today they are simply a striking part of the landscape locals know well.

Skoudehkaris

This spiced rice dish cooked with goat or lamb and fragrant with cumin and cinnamon is considered Djibouti's national dish and appears at family gatherings and celebrations.

Lahoh

A spongy, slightly sour flatbread with a lacy pattern of holes on top, lahoh is eaten for breakfast or alongside stew and has roots shared across the Horn of Africa and Yemen.

Maraq

This thin, savory broth made with goat meat and aromatic spices is a daily staple in many Djiboutian homes and is often the first course of a family meal.

Djibouti

Things you should know about Djibouti

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Djibouti

Missions in Djibouti

Pray for Djibouti