If you’re planning a trip to Djibouti, one of the most unique and unforgettable places you can visit is Lake Assal, the lowest point in Africa and the third-lowest point on Earth. Located more than 150 meters below sea level, this otherworldly crater lake is unlike anything else on the continent. The scenery feels surreal — a shimmering turquoise lake framed by salt flats and black volcanic rock, creating a stark but stunning contrast.
I like to call it the “Dead Sea of Africa.” Of course, Lake Assal isn’t actually a sea, but a lake. Still, just like the Dead Sea, its water is extremely salty, making it possible to float effortlessly. For anyone traveling to Djibouti, visiting Lake Assal is truly a must!
It’s also one of the top attractions in Djibouti and a highlight for travelers interested in unusual natural wonders and extreme landscapes. Whether you’re chasing bucket-list destinations or simply want to experience one of the most unique places in Africa, Lake Assal deserves a spot on your itinerary.
In this Lake Assal Djibouti travel guide, I’ll share everything you need to know: how to get there, the costs (yes, Djibouti is surprisingly expensive), the best time to visit, what to expect when you arrive, and where to stay in Djibouti City. This post is based on my own experience during my Cape Town to Cairo trip, when I made it to Djibouti in the hottest time of the year and braved the extreme desert heat to see Lake Assal.
So, if you’re wondering what it’s really like to visit the lowest point in Africa, keep reading — this post covers all the essentials and tips you’ll need for planning your own trip.
How to Visit Lake Assal in Djibouti
Visiting Lake Assal is an incredible experience — but getting there doesn’t come cheap. Djibouti is one of the most expensive countries in Africa to travel, with food, transportation, and accommodation all priced much higher than in its neighboring countries. A day trip to Lake Assal can be surprisingly costly if booked through a tour operator. Many companies quote very high prices for what’s essentially just a short excursion from Djibouti City.
The cheaper option is to arrange a taxi. Before my trip, I read plenty of warnings online saying that you should only go with a 4WD, but in my experience, that’s not necessary. I took an old, basic taxi and it managed just fine. By “cheap,” I mean cheap for Djibouti standards.
I arranged my ride the night before so that we could leave early in the morning. At first, the driver quoted me a whopping $200 (which, believe it or not, was still less than the tours). After negotiating, I got the price down to $140. If you’re traveling with friends, this works out to about $35 per person if you can fill the car with four people. That’s pretty reasonable for Djibouti. Unfortunately, I was traveling solo — and just like in Somaliland, there weren’t any other tourists around to split the cost with. In the end, I sucked it up and paid, because honestly, what are the chances I’d ever be back in Djibouti?
👉 Tip: If you’re traveling on a budget, try to connect with other travelers at your hotel to share the cost of a taxi. Solo, it’s expensive, but with a group it becomes a lot more affordable.
When to Visit Lake Assal
The best time to visit Lake Assal in Djibouti is during the cooler months, roughly November to February. Temperatures are far more manageable then, making it possible to enjoy the scenery, walk around the lake, and even go for a float in the salty waters without suffering in extreme heat.
I visited Djibouti in the middle of summer as part of my Cape Town to Cairo trip, so the timing wasn’t really planned around the best season. It turned out to be one of the hottest places I’ve ever experienced. With temperatures hitting 50 °C (122 °F), it was almost impossible to stay outside for long. The country is mostly desert, and during this time of year, the heat is absolutely unbearable.
For my trip to Lake Assal, I even bought a “beach dress” from a local market foolishly thinking I could swim there, but in reality, the water was so hot it was impossible. Even dipping my feet in burned, and with no shade around the lake, I felt like my brain was melting. A hat would have been a lifesaver.
👉 Travel tip: If you visit in winter, the water is much cooler, and that’s when you can actually float in Lake Assal just like in the Dead Sea. No matter the season, bring plenty of drinking water with you, as there are no shops or facilities anywhere near the lake.
Visiting Lake Assal
The drive from Djibouti City to Lake Assal takes about two hours each way, so it’s best to leave early in the morning to avoid the brutal midday sun. Be sure to carry plenty of water with you — not just for drinking but also for rinsing off if you go swimming or even just dip your feet. The water is incredibly salty, and it burns if it’s not rinsed off quickly. I only got my feet wet, yet I could still feel the sting of the salt water long afterward.
On the way to the lake, you’ll pass through remote villages where people live in extremely harsh conditions. At one point, we stopped when we saw a little girl waving at us on the side of the road. Thankfully, both my taxi driver and I had some extra food and water to give her. Moments like this really put things into perspective — it’s hard to imagine living in such extreme heat, in the middle of the desert, with so little access to water or food.
Just before reaching Lake Assal, there’s a viewpoint worth stopping at. From here, you can admire a dramatic canyon and the nearby sea — a beautiful preview of what’s to come.
Once you arrive at the lake itself, you’re completely free to explore. There are no crowds, no facilities, and often no other people at all, so you can easily have the whole place to yourself. The silence and emptiness make it feel otherworldly.
That said, I couldn’t stay outside for too long because the heat was absolutely overwhelming. With no shade anywhere, I quickly regretted not bringing a hat — I could practically feel my brain melting under the sun. I’ve traveled in many hot places, but never in my life had I experienced heat quite like this.
If you visit Lake Assal during the cooler ‘winter’ months, you can actually go swimming and experience floating in the salty water, much like in the Dead Sea. I had even come prepared with a swimsuit under my dress, but since I was visiting in the peak of summer, the water was far too hot to swim in. On the way back, my taxi driver tried to find alternative swimming spots by the nearby sea, but none of them looked particularly inviting, so I decided to skip it altogether.
Where to Stay in Djibouti
As I mentioned earlier, Djibouti is not a budget-friendly destination. The cheapest hotel I could find in Djibouti City was Hotel Horseed, where I paid nearly $40 for a very basic room with a shared bathroom. The facilities left a lot to be desired — the bathroom was small and dirty, there was no toilet paper, and the shower only had hot water. Honestly, it was probably the first time in my life I wished for a cold shower, because with outside temperatures nearing 50 °C (122 °F), that’s all I wanted. On the positive side, the room did have air-conditioning, and the wifi worked (slowly, but it worked). Unfortunately, you can’t book Hotel Horseed online, so your only option is to turn up and hope they have availability.
If you’re looking for a more comfortable stay, I highly recommend either Djibouti Palace Kempinski or Sheraton Djibouti. These are the two best luxury hotels in the city and, importantly, the only reliable places where you’ll find a swimming pool — a true lifesaver in Djibouti’s extreme heat. After my failed swimming attempt at Lake Assal, I visited Kempinski just to use their pool — and the hotel looked fantastic.
👉 Check prices and availability for Djibouti Palace Kempinski here.
👉 Check prices and availability for Sheraton Djibouti here.
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3 comments
Wow, it seems like Lake Assal is a beautiful place, in spite of it being not too pleasant due to the weather. Thanks for sharing your experience there. Maybe someday you’ll be back in winter and can go swimming! 😉
Wonderful photos! What an amazing adventure, though expensive. But sometimes it can be worth it. I was melting just reading about the heat. Thanks for bringing this hidden gem to everyone’s attention.
love the contrast of this place vs the dead sea. and the fact you were there at the height of summer too! love it.