The Most Important Country in Africa You’ve Never Heard Of (Djibouti 🇩🇯)

Welcome to Djibouti, man. >> This is Djibouti. No. >> [singing] >> Guys, stop pronouncing Djibouti like Djibouti. We don't pronounce the T. No, it's Djibouti. >> Mix, my friend. She's the real definition of Djibouti, man. >> Djibouti. >> T? >> D. T T T Djibouti. >> Not booty. There's not booty TO SEE HERE. WE [laughter] ARE KIDDING, GUYS. WE ARE KIDDING. >> OH, BRUH. I've never seen anything like this before, man. >> Neither. >> Even the air is extremely hot. >> Yes, yes, Djibouti. >> You see the view? Nazmia, the view. >> Djibouti is a nice and beautiful country. I am a nice Djiboutian. I like my people. I I like my government. >> Djibouti is a really lovely country, you know. It's like we are almost 1 million now people. It's a small country, but it's very like multicultural, you know. There is a lot of people here living. A lot of like different culture, you know. >> The people are unique. >> Mhm. >> Djibouti. >> Mhm. >> And also the climate. >> Ooh. Geez. We just landed in Djibouti, and trust me, it feels like I mean, somewhere in the Sahara Desert, Roughly like jeez, the heat. >> Bro. >> Ha! That's insane, man. Wow. What's the temperature for today, man? >> [music] >> The temperature in Djibouti can go as high as 50° C, making Djibouti one of the hottest places on earth. The entire area is so hot and very humid, and at the same time it's super dry. It's a bit rocky. Uh you barely see trees, even though if you see trees, they're few of them. But there there's one tribe that survived in all these areas, which is the afar people. They build with rocks, and all they do is to rear cattle, sheep, and goats. The heat in this country is so intense that I had to stay shirtless even in the evenings. I'm so happy to be exploring Djibouti. [music] It's night time in this beautiful country, and I'm up in the truck of a pickup, and I'm living my best life, man. You just have to visit Djibouti, man. Like it's so dark, by the way. [music] Look at the ocean right behind me. So we are almost close to >> Yeah, approximately. >> But [music] surprisingly, not all places in Djibouti are hot. >> Welcome to Randa. >> Randa? >> Randa. >> the name. Ruanda or Randa? >> Lele Randa, the place never get dry. It's the greenest >> Never Never get dry? >> Dry, yeah. >> Oh, wow. >> Never get dry, you know. >> It's so cooler in Randa to the extent that I'm been able to play table tennis OUT HERE. OUCH! DON'T RUN AWAY, BRAH. >> [laughter] >> I LOVE HOW it's absolutely windy and cooler in this part of Djibouti to the extent that I managed to play ping pong because in Djibouti City I cannot try this outside. Anyway, whether heat or rain, we will still have to do what we have to do. Bro, it was a stressful trip, man, even though it was a short flight, but at the end of the day, we landed and we're told that no cameras, so we couldn't film at the airport, but here we are. We need to have our first meal because I'm so hungry. I just want to eat, drink more water because it's extremely hot. Watch our videos. Thank you so much. I just got here just now. Yeah, I just arrived, landed. Yeah. Yeah, thank you so much. Pleasure. Thank you. Thank you. of the day, man. Yeah. This will definitely [music] be our first meal of this entire trip. I feel like there's a lot of similarities between Djibouti, Somaliland, Somalia because kind of the meals are all the same. And when you come here, forget about your spoon and everything, and reach your natural form. This is the hand. >> [music] >> But shooting videos in this beautiful country was more like a nightmare. I can't even count the number of times I was stopped for filming >> [music] >> in the city. Can't believe that you have to get a before you do everything you have to do. So 2 days wasted. We finally got it. So we just can't wait to go to the city and explore. So when you're coming to Djibouti as a YouTuber or content creator, be aware that you have to apply for permit before coming so that you don't waste time like what I am I am man. And we just came with a drone and apparently we can't use it. So the drone is at the airport even though we tried to get a permit but if you can understand this place is a a very strategic area where so many superpower countries have their military bases in here. So hence the reason why drone is forbidden but we'll see what we can do. >> Yeah. This >> [music] >> is what makes Djibouti the most important country in Africa. Djibouti is located on the Horn of Africa bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia [music] and across the Gulf of Aden it lies opposite Yemen. This is why the influence [music] of Yemen in Djibouti is so strong. >> Why you brought me here today? >> Because today we're going to eat Djiboutian food. >> Okay. >> You mean it's a specialist. >> Is it Djiboutian food or Yemenite food? >> No, it's Djiboutian food that is a it's a traditional local Yemenite food. >> Okay. Trust me this is my favorite dish on the table. What is this? >> It's a specialist local Yemenite >> [snorts] >> No no common dish for you to pass over there. >> It's a it's a traditional fish. >> Traditional fish? >> Yeah, cook traditional. >> Yes and it's a traditional Yemenite fish. >> Oh, Yemenite? >> Yemenite fish. >> [music] >> Djibouti was a French colony until it gained its independence [music] in the year 1977. >> [music] >> Djibouti is a very tiny country with no natural resources, but still remains the most important country in Africa. So, the question is why is it so important? This is because of its strategic geographical location. Djibouti's coastline along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, along its proximity to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, also known as the Gates of Tears, makes it a crucial choke point for international shipping and trade, which means that the Bab el-Mandeb operates just like what? The Strait of Hormuz. You know why? Because millions of barrels of oil pass through here every [music] single day. >> [music] >> I mean, you're waiting for your shipping container, right? >> [music] >> Did you know that 30% of shipping container that connect to global market pass through here every single day? And one thing that I want [music] to let you know that this country is a very strategic country where, I mean, a lot of ships docks in here. I've seen a lot of ships that is owned by Ethiopians underwater, but as you can see, this is a beautiful ship. Have you heard of sea [music] cables? I mean, the internet and telecommunication between Europe and Asia pass through here every [music] single day. I mean, this is the country that connect both continent. This is what attracts so many foreign military bases in Djibouti. Do you know the countries that are here? America is here. Japan is here. Almost all the European [music] superpowers are here. And the latest one to join is China. But guess what? This is the only country in the world where the United States of America and China have their military base next to each other. >> [music] >> So the biggest question is, why are they all here? Let me know what you think in the comment section, but don't forget to like this video. It's very important to me. But if you're new to the channel, please subscribe to be part of this awesome channel. My name is Wodemaya, a young man on a journey to change the negative narrative of Africa by traveling one country at a time. >> Brothers and sisters, welcome. >> did you know that 90% of Ethiopia's import and export passes through Djibouti? >> [music] >> So I don't know if you all know that Djibouti's port is the port that feeds the entire Ethiopia. That's more like a shipping containers on the rail on its way to Ethiopia. This is absolutely beautiful, man. >> [music] >> I guess both countries depend on each other. All these trucks lined up that you see at the moment are actually on its way to Ethiopia. So which means that Ethiopia depends on you guys, man. >> Yeah, and we depend on Ethiopia also, you see? >> Okay. >> Because without Ethiopia, the port is not working. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. Let's say tomorrow Ethiopia has a new sea. >> Uh-huh. >> Let's say they seize the Eritrea. We are like this. What are we going to do? >> Where we are is a [music] 60 km away from the Ethiopian border. So, you see trucks using this major road to Ethiopia. I mean, Ethiopia don't have a port, so some of the goods go by road and it passes through Rwanda, man. That's an Ethiopian number plate. Isn't that nice? >> [music] >> Even though it was extremely difficult to film in Djibouti, but I must confess that this is one of the safest countries that I've ever visited in Africa to the extent that you see women sitting on the street exchanging bulk amount of money and they are not scared of being attacked. Is this because of the presence of the military bases in Djibouti? Let me know what you think in the comment section. But, hey, I saw something like this in Somaliland. So, yeah, probably it's the culture of the Somalis. >> I found myself in the peaceful spot >> Okay, we're going to have to settle it. >> I couldn't believe I was seeing that women are carrying cash in Djibouti and they are not out on the street, man. And they are not scared. >> No. >> Is Ethiopian money. Oh, wow. Okay. Guys, a dollar? >> Dollar. Euro. >> Euro? Ghana? No. >> No. Dollar I take. >> Hey, Ghana. >> Ghana? No. Kenya. >> Kenya? Oh, so she got all these different currencies. OH, WOW. HOW ABOUT THIS? THIS is insane, man. 10? More like an exchange bureau right on the street. >> How was it like living here? >> It's very peaceful and what people don't know is like it's also very safe because we're surrounded by tumultuous regions and countries like in Ethiopia and Somalia. But like as a woman myself, I can roam around at night and I'll feel very safe and that's something like it's not spoken about enough. Like there are things that I can do here that I'm not able to do Yani abroad and that's already like a huge plus like the security aspect is a big plus and I love I love living here. It's a family so >> But hey, why is it so expensive in Djibouti? My room [music] is as small as the capital city of this country, Djibouti City because the city is so small just like my room but I don't know why such a small room I'm paying $75 which makes this city one of the most expensive cities that I I've ever been to because literally like that is it. This is the bed. They give you another bed which I don't know what you have to use this bed for and a table and a wardrobe plus a bathroom. That's it. But I think it's got to do with um the [snorts] AC and the fan at the same time because this country is one of the most expensive countries to buy electricity from and it because it's so hot, your AC has to be on almost every single day and I guess that is the reason why the rooms are very expensive for real. This is all you got. This that this and your bathroom. Period and that will cost you $75. I mean [music] even food is not cheap. Whenever you are coming to Djibouti, make sure you bring more money because it's absolutely expensive out here, man. Definitely, this is one of the most expensive countries that I've ever been. To the extent that the food we ate today, what you saw on the table was 12,000 100 Djiboutian franc. I've never paid that amount of money for food in my whole life. You know, and just the boat in and out is costing us like $200 just to go see the island and get back. This is the taxi that we're taking home. It's just like 5 minutes from our house and we're saying that it's 1,000 franc. Come with more money cuz Djibouti is expensive. >> [music] >> It's my first day out here in Djibouti and I'm definitely in love with the life at the beach. You know why? Because when I landed, it was extremely hot and I felt the need to come to the beach just to enjoy the breeze out here. But I mean, life at the beach is incredible because I see people swimming, others are playing volleyball. People are just playing soccer out here. I mean, I feel like it's super lively out here in Djibouti. It's just that it feels like cuz it's a Muslim country, almost all the ladies at the beach are wearing trousers. I mean, fully dressed whilst at the beach. >> [music] >> But the sunset is really giving a very golden sunset. It's absolutely beautiful and I love it. >> [music] >> I just can't [music] wait to explore more of this beautiful country and also get to see what Djibouti got to offer, man. Welcome to Djibouti City, the largest and the capital city of the country Djibouti. This country got the same name as its capital city. I mean, just like Singapore and Singapore City. It's a very small city, but half of the entire population actually lives in this city. First impression, I just want to tell you that it's super hot and above all, it's kind of like an old city. Most of the infrastructure that you see in the downtown was literally built in the colonial time, but hey, it's so beautiful, but I feel like this is a melting pot. Because I'm here for the first time and I'm seeing almost everybody in here. Africans are here, Europeans are here, Asians are here, the Arabs are also living in here. And they kind of have a mixed culture in terms of the food that they eat. It's a coastal city and it's absolutely hot. Trust me or not, this will be one of the hottest countries that I've ever been. I mean, what else do I have to tell you? Djibouti is a Muslim nation. Here's the reason why you're seeing this beautiful gigantic mosque right behind me, where the beautiful people of this beautiful country come and praise Allah. And in in here we say, "Masha'Allah, man." So, today is Sunday. >> Yes, it's Sunday. >> And it feels like today is Monday. >> No, but in Djibouti the weekend is only Friday and Saturday. Saturday we go we we go work, so this is why we have a lot of traffic and people living in downtown. >> It It's quite different from where I'm coming from because our weekend is Saturday and Sunday. So, which means that Sunday is more like a Monday in Djibouti, man. >> And Djibouti is a Yes, it's a Muslim country. >> Oh, okay. >> So, Friday we have the prayer. So, this is why Friday is the the weekend. >> Oh, okay. So, which means that on Friday you don't go to work. >> It's like a Sunday. You have church, yeah? >> Yeah, we have church on Sunday. >> It's like Sunday. Friday it we have religious things uh today. >> Yes. >> So, it's a It's like in the of Djibouti. >> [music] >> Oh, wow. So, in Djibouti you can actually withdraw both in dollars and Djiboutian franc, man. Hence the reason why it's so expensive in this country, but I need Djiboutian franc, so I think I need to go for this. But, I don't even know the currency. It's uh Um Do you know how much franc I think I need a thousand. I don't know, man. We'll just take 10,000. How much is 10,000? Djiboutian franc. >> What? >> This one? No way. >> [laughter] >> I was expecting more cash. Welcome to Djibouti. >> Oh, hey. Wow. >> Everybody knows you. >> I know, right? It's crazy. OF COURSE, WHY NOT? >> SO, HOW'S EVERYTHING? >> Everything is fine. Thank you. Wow, look at You follow my page. Good to see you. Hey. You know recently I I saw your video when you eat injera in Djibouti. >> Injera in Ethiopia? >> I am I am happy to see you. >> Thank you so much. >> I I follow him in his page. >> Oh, wow. Thank you. >> Yeah, I am your fan. >> Appreciate it. >> [music] >> I made one of biggest mistake by requesting to come to the beach on Sunday thinking that I was in Ghana or somewhere in West Africa. Let me tell you, this is a Muslim country and in a Muslim country their weekend start on Tuesday and Friday. So, Sunday is more like a normal day a normal Monday for them. So, I came to the beach and literally there's no one because almost everyone almost everyone is at work. So, I got the whole island to myself. >> [music] [music] >> Woo! I got a whole beach to myself, you know. Yes. Look at that. What a beautiful island, man. Wow! I love what I'm seeing, man. Definitely this is the most cleanest beach I've ever been in this country. The sand is extremely white. I mean, yeah. It's a white sand beach. But, it's so quiet and peaceful. It looks as if no one lives out here because, you know what? I see others, but I see no one. Literally, I'm here all by myself. If I was to be Mr. Beast, I'll be like, I just BOUGHT A NEW ISLAND FOR $1 MILLION. HAHA. >> [laughter] >> BUT, I'M NOT MR. BEAST, SO I'M HERE, ENJOY, and go home. The water out here is crystal clear to the extent that you could see the fish swimming beneath the water. Incredible views out here, man. Wow. Once again, this is Djibouti. I saw this small [music] boat. I even though we saw our boat cannot come here and I saw this small boat and I'm like, "You know what? I want to see more of the island. Since I'm here all by myself, let me just explore that." I have to see and admire the beauty of the mangroves. Admire the beauty of the beach and it's absolutely beautiful, man. Like I'm I'm I'm so glad I'm doing this, man. What a beauty. I thought like Djibouti is so pretty. I mean, people don't talk about Djibouti a lot because I never saw this part of Djibouti anywhere. And I'm so glad I came myself to see the beauty, to share to the rest of the world. So, I'm here to let you all know that it's time to visit Djibouti, man. It's time, man. >> [music] >> We are on our way to another city in Djibouti called Tadjoura. So, we're here to use the ferry. Yeah. I I don't like ferries, but it is what it is, man. We just have to use it. >> It is what it is. It is what it is. >> Yeah. >> It is what it is. >> So, we're just entering the ferry with our car. Woo. Hey, The stress that we go through to get you content is absolutely insane. [music] I mean, trying to showcase the beauty of Africa, we have to cross rivers, cross oceans, [music] cross the seas, cross the gulfs just to get the beauty of our continent to you all. >> Welcome to Tadjoura, guys. >> Oh, we here already? Wow, we finally made it to Tadjoura. Where are we right now? >> [music] >> I found myself in Tadjoura, which is the land of the Afar people. But, let me tell you one thing that you don't know. If you go to Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti, we got the Afar people. But, what stands out for me the fact that almost all the three places that I went to, the land topography looks exactly the same. You know why? What I see It's so dry and hot in all Afar regions. And also like it feels like you're living on a desert. I mean, when I went to Eritrea and Ethiopia, it was exactly the same. But, what really stands out or the difference between the Afar in Ethiopia and Afar in Djibouti is the sea. This is where I'll be staying tonight, and it's absolutely gorgeous, man. What really stands out for me is the white color and the fact that you got the ocean and the pool beautifying it. But, the best thing that has ever happened to this hotel for me is the pool because it's extremely hot out here in Tadjoura, and having the pool to cool down would definitely be something that will save you when you find yourself in here. I mean, just look at this. Tell me this is not beautiful. This is Djibouti. This is Tadjoura, and this is Africa. What a beautiful minimalist luxurious room, man. This is classic, man, because everything is simple, but what class. This is my bed. And there are little bit of pieces in here. For me, the best part of this room is the view that you get. Do you think this view worth $120? Hell no. I know Djibouti is expensive, but definitely this is going to be the most affordable place I've ever stayed because you get value for your money. Because listen, I got the view of the pool and the ocean. For $120? No way. And everything in here is so clean and nice. This is so heavy, man. Like when you find yourself in a coastal country, know that fresh fish will never be a problem. The fact that the sea is right here, early morning, the fisherman go into the sea, go catch this fish, and bring it and sell it along the coast. Wow. Look at that. Djibouti, man. Djibouti. >> [music] >> We are on our way to the lowest point of Africa, Lake Assal, one of the most beautiful places to ever see when you find yourself in Djibouti. But as we are on our way to the place, I saw this incredible view, and I'm like, I just have to stop, man. >> You see the view? Naz Mia, the view. This is my country, guys. You saw how it's beautiful. You know, there we have a shark white shark in this sea. There is so many white shark. Okay. Yeah. >> You have sharks in there? >> Yeah. That's why some many people comes spend night here on the sea not outside on the sea on a boat to fishy. >> Fish? >> To fish to catch a fish fish and see a the white shark. You can't swim here. >> You can't? >> You can. >> [music] >> This is more like a volcanic rock and it's so dark in color, but the view that you get together with the volcanic rock and the ocean is absolutely breathtaking, man. My goodness. Wow, look at that. That's That's That's like a a volcanic rock, man. Definitely this is the volcanic rock that actually stopped the sea from going back hands the formation of Lac Assal. This is gorgeous, bro. Look at that. >> And the name of this island you you will see after that is the Devil uh >> Island. >> Island, yeah. >> Why Why is it called Devil Island? >> I don't know, but so many people say that there's a so many devil devil here. >> [laughter] >> Yeah. Um it's it's happened so many story. >> Okay. >> Yeah. They stop you. They look like human. >> Okay. >> And they go with you and they it told you stop here. Stop the car here and >> They disappear. >> disappear yeah >> [music] >> You you you mean the drone cannot get island? It's not moving. >> No, it won't. >> Wow, look at that. Is that Is that devil the devil island, man? >> This is magnetic some magnetic activity. >> I'm so confused. >> It's not devil. >> Welcome to THE DEVIL ISLAND. >> [laughter] >> BRO, LIKE WE TRYING TO GET a a drone shot of the devil island and the drone is not moving. The drone is not moving. Like look at that. The drone literally stopped. Can you try again? >> No no no, man. >> No, try again. No, but just just He's scared. >> Yeah, I I'm scared. >> [music] >> Ah, because no flying here because too many devils. So man >> It's our devils. >> Yeah? Plane don't uh fly here. >> Planes don't fly here? >> No. They they they make your turn. They can't fly. Here. >> I see the drone, but I cannot control it. It's out of the my control. I don't know why. >> I swear to God. >> He lost his mind. >> Yo. >> He said stop. >> That's the That's the devil island over there. >> I swear to God. >> You broke. >> You >> You have it. >> That's insane, man. >> Going to be fissured. >> Oh, divided into two? >> Yeah, divided into one part of Djibouti. Yeah, one part of Djibouti going to be with Arabi Saoudi with Saoudia. with Saoudia >> So, it means that like you're saying that Djibouti is going to divide into two? >> Yeah, from here. >> From here, yeah. Oh, the whole of Africa. This is the Rift Valley. Yeah. >> See all the colorful stones that they get around here. So, this is more like a business for the people of Afar where they move around, pick different rocks, sometimes even go into the sea just to pick different Afar just to sell, man. >> This is traditional Afar. >> Traditional Afar. Kind of It's a black, shiny rock, man. Ooh, this is beautiful, man. I would love to buy this. I feel like the camera cannot even do justice to what my naked eye is seeing. This is absolutely beautiful, man. Like you see the ocean. You know, and >> Welcome to Lake Assal, the lowest point in Africa. >> This is rainwater, and very soon the water will evaporate because the sun that shines in here is really extreme. And if it evaporates, you'll see a shiny white salt cover the entire land, and it's so beautiful, man. You got to come see this for yourself, man. Ooh. Like every rock that you see, every piece that you pick from here is actually salt. Let me just pick a rock, and you see. See, look at that. See? This is salt, man. Every piece [music] of rock you find here is salt. Is it salty? >> [music] >> Lake Assal is the second biggest salt flat in the entire world, and I don't know why you've never been here. I mean, Bolivia is the biggest salt flat in the entire world. You've been to Bolivia, but you've never been here. What are you waiting for? And the fact that even when it rains, you can still have a pool of salt water where you can float is incredible. And when the sun is shining, believe me or not, this shines like a white gold. And I'm so happy to see both of them at the same time. I love you all, and I just want to ask you, please visit Djibouti, and if you make it to Djibouti, make sure you come see Lake Assal. Brothers and sisters, walk out to Lake Assal. The best sunset ever, but I just want to tell you that this is one of the most scenic views that I've ever seen in my whole travels, and it's absolutely breathtaking. This is Arta, right? >> Yes, this is Arta. >> But it it it's cooler up here. >> Yeah, it's on mountain. >> Yeah? >> I've just seen all these house building up in mountain. >> On the mountains? >> Yeah. >> It it it's so beautiful. Look at that house sitting right on top of that beautiful mountain. >> so crazy. >> [laughter] >> Would you ever stay in a on a mountain like that? >> Uh >> No? >> If I if I I was suicidal, yeah. >> Oh, yeah. I'm so glad I made it here. >> Yeah. >> And I would definitely be back, man. Listen, if you have never been to Djibouti, this is Djibouti. No. >> It's not boo. It's booty or You guys stop pronouncing Djibouti like Djibouti. We don't pronounce the T. No, it's Djibouti, not booty. There's no booty TO SEE HERE. >> [laughter] >> YOU ARE SCARING ME, GUYS. You are scaring