Although Djibouti is located in the dry Horn of Africa, there are a few National parks and protected areas to visit on any safari tour to Djibouti. There are more than 820 species of plants including olive trees and boxwood, 40 reptiles, 455 species of fish, 360 different birds and more than 60 species of mammals.
Birding in Djibouti
There are more than 360 birds in Djibouti with some of them listed as critically endangered species and others residents in the different eco-regions of Djibouti such as the Day forest national park, Djibouti National park and on the forested hill slopes of Goda and Marbla mountains
The Djibouti Francolin is the only endemic species in the country found in Goda Mountains and in Day forest National Park. Other birds in Djibouti include raptors: steppe Buzzards and steppe eagles, endangered species like Egyptian vulture, Saker Falcon, Atlantic Petrel, Pallid Harrier, red footed Falcon, Lesser flamingo, sooty falcon, European roller, Euroasian curlew and corn cake among others.
Day forest National Park
Day Forest National Park is located along the Al Sabieh road to Djibouti city in northern part of the country. It is one of the lush region of a largely dry country covering an estimated 3.5sq km on a high altitude zone with scenic rocks like Mt Goda (1783m) .
Some of the attractions in this park include several species of exotic plants like Euphrobia, ficus tress and ziziphus. They are the relics of an ancient era, when the Sahara was covered in flowers and gramineaes. The Bankoualé waterfall, half way between Randa and the Day Forest, is home to a beautiful palm tree forest. Some of the endemic birds in Day Forest National Park include the Djibouti francolin while mammals include grevy’s zebra, baboon, hunter’s antelope, gazelle, warthog and many others.
Other national parks and reserves in Djibouti include Djibouti National park and Yoboki National Park.
