Doraleh
Doraleh, a bustling
port city located 5 km west of Djibouti City, serves as the country's gateway
to the world. Strategically situated on the Bab el Mandeb Strait, it connects
the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Doraleh Multipurpose Port
(DMP) handles a variety of cargo, including oil, bulk goods,
containers, and even livestock. Notably, the port has a dedicated berth for the
Chinese Navy, which maintains its first overseas military base adjacent to the
port.
The DMP offers 15 berths along a 4-km long quay and
boasts direct rail access to the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway, a vital
transport link for landlocked Ethiopia. While Doraleh itself might not have
many specific attractions, its proximity to Lake Assal, the Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti City, Lac Abbé, and Day Forest National Park makes it a convenient base for exploring the diverse wonders of
Djibouti. The city's modern port facilities, including the Livestock Terminal
and the Container Terminal (SGTD), play a crucial role in the country's
economy.
