Ali Sabieh

Ali Sabieh is the main town of Djibouti's south, sitting among hills of red and ochre rock that give the country's driest corner some colour, and it grew on the railway that ran from the port up to Addis Ababa. The old station and track remain. The Grand Bara plain is north and the hills around the town are used for walking and for the views over the Ethiopian border country. The railway carried most of Ethiopia's foreign trade for decades, and its replacement now runs on a new alignment nearby.

Background

The second-largest city in Djibouti lies about 98 kilometres southwest of Djibouti City and 10 kilometres north of the Ethiopian border, on National Highway 5. The town spreads across a wide basin ringed by granitic mountains, with Ali Sabieh mountain close by, at 756 metres above sea level. The railway arrived on 14 July 1900 and turned it into an administrative and commercial centre. The 2024 census counted 44,782 people. Its mild climate draws visitors from elsewhere in Djibouti: summer highs run from 32 to 37 °C, there are two rainy seasons, and annual rainfall is around 205 mm. The record high is 40 °C, set on July 13, 2008.

Source: Wikipedia, "Ali Sabieh"

What you'll find

• The red hills - the coloured rock formations around the town.
• The old railway - the station and line of the route to Addis Ababa.
• The border country - the view toward Ethiopia from the surrounding hills.
• The southern setting - the main town of Djibouti's driest region.

When to go

November to March is the cool season. Summer heat here is extreme. Market days bring the town to life.

Good to know

There is little arranged for visitors and facilities are minimal. The old railway is derelict rather than operating. Summer heat is severe.

Nearby

Grand Bara is north, and Dikhil is northwest.

Key facts