The camel, king of the desert
In the past, the dromedary was the most precious possession of nomadic peoples, their sign of wealth. They were undemanding and extremely useful. They provided transport, milk and even meat in times of extreme hunger. Despite the sedentarization of the population, and the gradual disappearance of salt caravans, replaced by more profitable trucks, the dromedary is still very much present. Every year, after the rainy season (during which it may not rain at all), the dromedaries rush to the freshly grown leaves and plants. The well-fed male dromedaries enter into a spectacular rut. Their obsession is unique: to impregnate as many females as possible. They devote themselves exclusively to this quest, sometimes forgetting to eat for two months! To calm their ardor, shepherds must either tie them up or load them to the maximum to "channel" their energy.
No large wild mammals
Long gone are the days when locals would carve the silhouettes of giraffes, lions, elephants and other large mammals so representative of Africa in the European imagination. Yet stories from the late 19thcentury still extol the richness of the local fauna. Although hunting is no longer practiced, the climate has changed and the aridity has forced many of these species to move to other areas. Djibouti nevertheless boasts some very interesting species, easy to approach (if they are diurnal) as they have not been hunted for a long time. Although not shy, these animals are quite discreet, especially during the day when it's very hot. Hyenas (striped or spotted), jackals (common or black-backed) and small fennecs are the most important predators. They can be found almost everywhere, on the Grand Bara and around Lake Abbe for example. They feed on rodents, gazelles and warthogs. Cheetahs and panthers, once numerous around Moussa Ali in the Mablas, have disappeared.
Birds of a feather
More than 340 species live in or pass through Djibouti. A few passerines, turtle-doves or running birds can be spotted on walks and hikes in the semi-desert areas. Birds are even more numerous in the forests and gardens of the north of the country (Goda, Mablas, le Day). You'll see many birds of prey, colorful passerines, weaverbirds and noisy hornbills. And let's not forget the poetic names of the Bruce's pigeon, the paradise flycatcher, the yellow-sided zosterops, the cardinal woodpecker, the Arabian bustard, the black-headed barbican, the gonolek... The few wetlands are popular meeting points. The richest area is undoubtedly the Doda plain to the north. Its pastures meet the dietary needs of a large number of species. Djibouti is also a transit point for the migratory birds that join Eurasia and Africa every year. Last but not least, two endemic bird species have noble names: the Djibouti francolin and the Djibouti beaumarquet. The former is a forest species also known as the Day chicken, or Day francolin, which has become a national symbol since it adorns 250 franc coins. The Afars call it koukaéyta. The francolin lives in the Day and Mablas forests. However, the species is highly threatened by the disappearance of vegetation cover, making it vulnerable to predators such as the caracal, the eagle and the varan, which is fond of its eggs. Another bird name unique to Djibouti: the Djibouti beaumarquet, also known as the beaumarquet melba, is a passerine of the estridae family. It is found in the Mablas mountains in particular.
Desert areas: thorns and opportunism
"What are thorns for?" asked the Little Prince. The lost pilot, too busy, replied at first: "Thorns, they're useless, it's pure nastiness on the part of the flowers." The Little Prince didn't believe him, and he was right. "I don't believe you! Flowers are weak. They're naive. They reassure themselves as best they can. They think they're terrible with their thorns...".(The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 1943).
Living conditions here are extreme, and flora, like animals and people, must adapt to them. Because of the heat, plants defend themselves against the evaporation of scarce water resources. Leaves are replaced by thorns, which have a smaller surface area. This is one of their weapons. Mimosaceae, which make up a large proportion of Djibouti's trees, defend themselves in this way, with thorns of all sizes, tiny or long, varnished or rough. Acacia, mimosa and gum are the country's main thorn trees. The acacia, a true symbol of this extreme environment, can be found all over the country. Its shape (which varies from species to species), its thorns and its "alliance" with insects and bacteria, which are said to protect it from herbivores, bear witness to its adaptability. Grasses grow in the same stony areas as thorny plants. Tamarisk, euphorbia, ricinus and a unique and very rare species of orchid can also be found in the Ali Sabieh region. Djibouti is also characterized by areas where vegetation is totally absent: the salt of Lake Assal, the clay of Grand Bara. On the other hand, other seemingly desert-like areas are waiting to be planted, with many plants living as seeds, waiting for the slightest rain or dew to germinate.
The Day, an exceptional forest
The Day is a primary forest (also known as a "fossil" forest) that allows us to imagine the flora that covered the region, as well as the mountains of Arabia and the Sahara... 4,000 years ago. More than 360 species of the most varied plants have been recorded here, thriving on the cool, moist conditions retained by the relief. Admittedly, we're not talking about an equatorial forest here, but a verdant landscape in stark contrast to the rest of the country. Here, jujube trees, ficus, wild olive trees, giant junipers (the Day juniper), strangler fig trees and distinctive dragon trees (also found around Mount Arrey near Ali Sabieh) abound. The rare Bankoualé palm(Livistona carinensis), visible at the bottom of the wadis that wind around this village in the Goda Mountains, is as rare as it is spectacular. Strolling through this area, you won't be able to miss this 20 m tall tree, straight as an i, with a slender trunk, and topped only by a tuft of ruffled leaves. It was only found in three locations worldwide: El Mintaq in Hadramaout (Yemen), Carin (Northern Somalia) and Bankoualé. Now that it has disappeared from the first two sites, the Goda Mountains are its last refuge. There are several hundred specimens.
Oasis of life
The marshy areas around Lake Abbe, the Kalo marsh, the Allols and the Doda plain are oases of life for wildlife (birds in large numbers) and livestock. These areas are flooded for varying lengths of time, and serve as pastures for herds of goats and dromedaries. The Allols are home to the Hyphaena thebaica (doum palm) shrub, used to make toukoul (nomad huts) and palm wine.
In the country's cultivated areas, you'll admire plants whose names are the stuff of European dreams. Bananas, papayas, mangoes, tomatoes, chillies, limes and palms grow in the gardens of the small oases of the Goda Mountains. Ambouli, on the outskirts of Djibouti-City, is the capital's market-gardening area. The flowers (jasmine, khadi, hibiscus...) are colorful and fragrant. Fruit and vegetables grow in squares under palm trees.
Don't expect vast palm groves in Djibouti, as in Tunisia or Yemen. But you can enjoy the shade of palm trees in Dikhil (a very old palm grove) or Loyada (by the sea). Half of the country's total arable land lies to the east and north of Obock, in a region that is unfortunately difficult to access and poorly developed.
Mangroves, fragile areas
Mangroves are a group of mainly woody plants that grow in the tidal zone of the low-lying coasts of tropical regions. The four main mangrove areas in Djibouti are located west of Djibouti-Ville, along the coast, around the Musha islands, in Godoria (25 km north of Obock), considered the most beautiful, in Khor Angar and Ras Siyan (between Obock and the Eritrean border). These half-aerial, half-amphibious forests are essential for underwater and island wildlife (birds, crabs, rats, insects). The intertwining roots of the various mangrove species are an inexhaustible source of food, and a prized habitat and breeding ground. It is vital to protect these fragile areas, as they (and the coral reefs) are home to many of the world's underwater species.
Marine biodiversity: a treasure to be protected
With almost 890 animal species and 17 plant species, the seabed is exceptionally rich. But Djibouti, although relatively unaffected compared to other regions of the world, is not immune to the general trend. Some 40% of the world's oceans and seas are directly impacted by human or human-induced activities (coral bleaching, ocean warming and acidification, depletion of marine resources, pollution, etc.). Aware of the richness of its marine waters, the Djibouti government has been working for several years with development partners (notably the UNDP) to implement policies and programs to protect its marine biodiversity.
