Annual visitors: 53,000
How to get there: Most people change at Ethiopia for flights to Djibouti, but international airlines also operate from Paris, Dubai, Doha and Istanbuk.
Tucked between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia on the Horn of Africa, Djibouti is an often-forgotten gem with one of the coolest – or strangest – landscapes in the world, which you are likely to have all to yourself.
Home to the lowest point in Africa and the third lowest point in the world, the saltwater body of water Lac Assal is fascinating to visit. There’s also volcanoes, hot springs, and rock canyons to be discovered, plus the chance to spot whale sharks. For a more urban side, head to the capital of Djibouti City.