Djibouti - Post Report Question and Answers
What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
4x4. Recommend Toyota, as getting replacement parts for any other type of vehicle is difficult - May 2022
4x4. Toyota dealership in town makes it easy for basic repair/maintenance. - Sep 2020
Any Toyota 4x4. There is a Toyota dealership in Djibouti. - Apr 2018
We bought a 2009 silver 4Runner and it's been fantastic. I probably would have brought something even older, like a 2004 because Djibouti is rough on vehicles. SUV's are needed when driving out to the regions especially. The terrain is quite rugged. I wouldn't bring anything that you're afraid to get beat up. There's a local Toyota dealership that also does servicing, but personally I am not convinced of their quality of work. We started using Roberto Garage and they are well-run, organized, and fast. - Jun 2016
4wd is the way to go. And bring parts from the U.S. The Toyota dealer here doesn't honor new car Toyota warranties if they didn't sell it. - Aug 2015
A high-clearance SUV is best if you plan to drive to the beach or anywhere else interesting out of town. Bring a diesel vehicle if possible. - Feb 2013
Bring an SUV. If you can bring spare tires, do so. Tires are really expensive here. Throw some oil and air filters in, too. You could get them here, but the money you'll save! There was a recent crackdown on window tinting. We were told that if it was factory made, it was fine, but these rules change like the wind, and really a lot of it is misinformation. - Apr 2010
Bring something rugged. Many Asian dealerships (Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Nissan) are reprented in Djibouti. But you might find as we did that your American-model still has different parts than what the local retailers carry (we could not get parts for our American-model Toyota engine).An SUV is a good idea not only if you want to get out of town (the road to the beach required a 4x4), but also for the occasional flooding. A good rain shower will put many of the roads 2 feet or more under water for days. However, you will see some regular Toyota Corrolas or the equivalent driving around, so it's possible to get by in the city with a smaller car. Unleaded fuel is availabe in the city ONLY, so once you get out of town, you will only find diesel, and only VERY limited diesel at that. We carried gas cans whenever we ventured out of town and always traveled in groups of two cars or more. Not because of a security threat but because if you break down out there, it's tough. There are no tow trucks in Djibouti. - Aug 2008
4x4, bring extra tires. - Apr 2008
