Quick Review: Day Forest Camp (I was freezing in Djibouti)
We stayed at the Day Forest Camp (Campement Touristique de la Foret Du Day) for two nights during 4-night Djibouti tour with a guide (as part of our larger 12 day Djibouti itinerary). We visited in late December, and it was actually freezing… A very strange experience to feel cold in one of the hottest countries in the world! This area is the coldest in Djibouti and that alone makes it a unique camp visit.
Day Forest is pronounced “Die” Forest (which is ironic because the forest is literally dying ahhh).
Day Forest Camp is located near a surprisingly large town (where the president even has a palace), so it seems like a place you could just show up to without a guide if you’re traveling around yourself (but don’t count on any public transportation). However, we found the people we interacted with at the camp didn’t speak any French or Arabic, only Afar.
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Day Forest Camp Facilities
The rooms were very spacious and included a mosquito net. The beds were all singles. Wilhelm and I were so cold that we actually tried to smush together on one single bed; it was uncomfortable, but it was the only way to stay warm! Just a heads-up: the air is quite damp here, so our belongings felt a bit moist by morning.
The bathrooms were actually the nicest we experienced during our camping trip. There was running water in the sink, which was a luxury, and even light bulb. That said, I didn’t dare try to shower during our two nights. I was so cold I didn’t think I’d ever warm up again!
You will need to bring your own sheets and towels. The sheets were organized with our guide, but we brought our own quick dry towel. I also would have liked some of these body wipes because I was too cold to shower.
The food portions were huge (as was usual throughout the camping experiences in Djibouti) and it was well prepared. We had fish both nights. Breakfast was the typical friend bread and tea/coffee.
There was a charger in dining area that worked so we could charge our devices easily.
Wilhelm charging his phone
What to do around the camp
We stayed here as part of our four-night tour with Massiago Travel. It serves as a mid-way base for visiting the Abourma Rock Art site, which features over 900 depictions of humans and animals dating back to 6000 BC. It stretches over three kilometers and is an absolute must-see. The drive took about 2.5 hours (with a stop for a flat tire change) to get from Day Forest Camp to the Abourma Rock Art site.
There is a campsite directly at the rock art, but since we were coming from Lake Ghoubet (after our whale shark attempt), driving all the way there in one day would have been too much.
Freezing in the morning hehe
The Landscape
The road to the camp is incredibly rough. Throughout the journey, I was constantly surprised that our driver even knew where he was going. Most of the time it looked like there was no road at all!
Your guide will likely stop at several viewpoints.
Sadly, the Day Forest itself is dying. Our guide mentioned that people used to get lost in the thick trees just a few years ago, but an unknown cause has killed off much of the forest. It’s quite sad to see, but the viewpoints are still beautiful; you almost forget you’re in a desert country.
My Suggestion
If we were to do it again, I would stick to just one night at Day Forest Camp. When following my itinerary, you’ll be coming from Lake Ghoubet Camp and searching for whale sharks during the day before driving up to Day Forest Camp. Spend the night here.
The next morning, I suggest driving to the Day Forest viewpoint and then on to the Abourma cave paintings. After exploring the site, spend the night around the town of Randa instead of doubling back to Day Forest Camp. We drove by Hôtel Leele the next day and it looked really nice!
Note: We originally wanted to stay at Campement touristique DITTILOU, but we were told it was closed. This could be another options for you to spend the night.