Djibouti is a small country located in the Horn of Africa along the Gulf of Aden. It borders Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Djibouti has a hot desert climate and parts of the country are covered by lava fields. The country’s capital and largest city is Djibouti City. Some key facts about Djibouti:
- Population: Around 1 million
- Size: About 23,200 sq km (9,000 sq miles)
- Language: French and Arabic
- Religion: Mainly Muslim
- Currency: Djibouti Franc
- Life expectancy: Around 63 years
- Main exports: Livestock and salt
Let’s now get into 37 riddles about Djibouti along with their answers!
Riddles about Djibouti – Geography
1) I’m an inland body of water in Djibouti. Flamingos like to visit me as part of their migration path. What am I?
Answer: Lake Abbe
2) We are two bodies of water joined by the Gulf of Tadjoura. The capital city lies between us. What are we?
Answer: Gulf of Aden and Lake Assal
3) I’m a volcano located in Djibouti with the lowest point of elevation in Africa. What am I?
Answer: Lake Assal
4) I’m a peninsula that forms the south side of the Gulf of Tadjoura. What am I?
Answer: Ras Doumeira
5) I’m a desert that covers parts of Djibouti. My landscape contains black lava flows. What desert am I?
Answer: Danakil Desert
Riddles about Djibouti – History & Culture
6) I’m a palace in Djibouti City built when the country was still named French Somaliland. What am I?
Answer: Kempinski Palace
7) I’m a Djibouti national monument built in the early 20th century. I resemble an Egyptian obelisk. What am I?
Answer: Hamoudi Mosque
8) I’m a language spoken as the official language in Djibouti, particularly in business and education. What language am I?
Answer: French
9) I’m a popular traditional dance performed by Djibouti’s Afar people using sticks and synchronised movements. What dance am I?
Answer: Dhaanto
10) I’m a strait that separates Djibouti from Yemen. I’m a geopolitically significant channel for international shipping. What strait am I?
Answer: Bab-el-Mandeb
Riddles about Djibouti – People & Society
11) I’m an ethnic group making up around 60% of Djibouti’s population. Our language is Somali. Who are we?
Answer: The Issa
12) I’m an ethnic group making up around 35% of Djibouti’s population. Our language sounds similar to Arabic. Who are we?
Answer: The Afar
13) I’m the current president of Djibouti, in office since 1999. Who am I?
Answer: Ismaïl Omar Guelleh
14) I’m the largest city and capital of Djibouti. I’m also the country’s chief port. What city am I?
Answer: Djibouti City
15) I’m a common traditional dish eaten in Djibouti made from spiced rice, vegetables, and meat. What dish am I?
Answer: Skoudehkaris
Riddles about Djibouti – Economy
16) I’m a heavily-used shipping route passing along Djibouti’s coastline. Strategic control of me has been important geopolitically. What shipping route am I?
Answer: The Bab-el-Mandeb strait
17) We are neighbouring countries that rely on Djibouti’s ports for imports and exports. Who are we?
Answer: Ethiopia and Somalia
18) I’m a Chinese-run free trade zone in Djibouti expected to be Africa’s largest when completed. What am I?
Answer: Doraleh Multipurpose Port
19) I’m a railway that links Djibouti to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. China funded my construction. What railway am I?
Answer: Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway
20) I’m a strategically significant port terminal located northwest of Djibouti City operated by a UAE company. What am I?
Answer: Doraleh Container Terminal
Riddles about Djibouti – Wildlife
21) I’m a strange-looking creature found in Djibouti with eyes on stalks and a paddle-shaped tail. What animal am I?
Answer: terrestrial chameleon
22) I’m one of the few trees that grows in Djibouti’s desert climate. My wood is dense and used for building and fuel. What tree am I?
Answer: Juniperus tree
23) I’m a critically endangered species of antelope found in parts of Djibouti. I have striking black and white markings. What antelope am I?
Answer: beira antelope
24) Flamingos will often flock to my salty waters on migration journeys. Lake Abbe or Lake Assal in Djibouti host thousands of flamingos seasonally. What birds am I describing?
Answer: Flamingos
25) We are venomous snakes found across Djibouti, mostly in desert and semi-arid areas. What types of snakes are we?
Answer: horned vipers
Riddles about Djibouti – Tourism
26) I’m a diving site near the Djibouti airport known for old shipwrecks and vibrant coral reefs. What am I?
Answer: The Red Sea wrecks
27) I’m a national park spanning coastal desert north of Tadjoura with forested Dry River valley containing rare plants and animals. What park am I?
Answer: Forêt du Day
28) Tourists sometimes visit me to see Djibouti’s lowest point and scattered pink flamingos. I’m an inhospitable area with extreme heat. What place am I?
Answer: Lake Assal
29) We are oddly shaped geological formations near Balho resembling mushrooms and forest animals. Tourists enjoy getting photos at our rock formations. What are we?
Answer: Arta Plage mushroom rocks
30) I’m a mountainous desert area spanning into Eritrea. In Djibouti, tourists may hike over my striking black lava fields. What desert area am I?
Answer: Danakil Desert
Riddles about Djibouti – Miscellaneous
31) Djibouti has strategic significance due to foreign military presence at what facility located near Obock?
Answer: Camp Lemonnier
32) Coffee consumed in Djibouti is imported from which neighbouring country?
Answer: Ethiopia
33) What body of water borders Djibouti to the north?
Answer: Red Sea
34) French interests governed the area during the 19th century when Djibouti was called by what name?
Answer: French Somaliland
35) Which Middle Eastern country lies just 30km across the Bab-el-Mandeb strait from Djibouti?
Answer: Yemen
36) Djibouti has few natural resources but has remained economically significant due to what industry?
Answer: Port services and trade logistics hub
37) Which country leased and upgraded existing port facilities at Doraleh Container Terminal in Djibouti beginning in 2013?
Answer: China
Conclusion
I’ve covered 37 riddles spanning various topics related to Djibouti including its geography, history, culture, economy, wildlife and tourism. Djibouti may be small but it occupies an important strategic position along globally significant trade routes. The country punches above its weight geopolitically as various world powers have established military bases there. Tourism is a growing industry with the country’s striking desert landscapes, coral reefs and geological oddities attracting adventurous travelers. I hope you’ve enjoyed testing your Djibouti knowledge against these riddles! Let me know if you have any other questions.
