'I visited all 197 countries in the world - this one was the worst'

A YouTuber who has visited all 197 countries in the world has named his least favourite country, where he felt "unsafe". Drew Binsky, a vlogger from the US, has built a massive profile on the platform talking fans through his experiences as he travels to some of the world's least-visited destinations.

Drew is a passionate proponent of people seeing as much of the world as they can. But in a video posted back in April 2022, he opened up about five countries that didn't quite match up to his other trips, and were his least favourite. Topping the list was Djibouti, a small country on the Horn of Africa in East Africa, known for its dry tropical climate and high year-round temperatures, as per World Bank.

Drew said the country, which is bordered by Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and the Red Sea, was "one of the first stops on a three-month Africa trip that I did back in 2018, and I can't say I loved it". Mr Binsky explained he encountered issues with his money when he arrived at the country to get his visa. 

"One I was in, walking around Djibouti, there was not a lot going on," he said. Due to the presence of various military bases in the strategically significant country, there was "a lot of security".

Drew said that, while the locals were friendly, it felt "really unsafe" when he walked down certain streets, and acknowledged that it wasn't helped by him not exploring with a local friend.

He also said Djibouti city was "obnoxiously expensive", noting the high price of produce, and that the cheapest hotel he could find there was $105 (£82.20) per night.

Drew concluded that it was a difficult place for him to grasp and become immersed in, though we would "absolutely" give it a second chance.

However, fellow expert traveller and adventure lover Mark Harrison had a completely different response after visiting the country, and was taken aback by its beauty.

He shared a video on his Youtube Channel in which he shared incredible images of his adventures, including encounters with dolphins, whale sharks, volcanic landscapes and white-sand beaches

The country boasts dramatic beauty, with dormant volcanoes and fields of black lava, and turquiose waters.

It's also home to Lake Abbé, on the border with Ethiopia, and famous for its awe-inspiring landscape dotted with jagged limestone chimneys.

Mark says the country is massively underrated and "beautiful".

"Since all there is, is bad press, no one has documented the beautiful side to Djibouti, it has had a really bad rap," he argued.

"I really hope this video on this tiny country in the Horn of Africa has changed your perspective, and perhaps one day you'll even give it a chance."

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) currently advises against all travel to parts of Djibouti, citing the risk of clashes between Djibouti and Eritrea, the military presence on the border with Somaliland, landmines in border areas, and road blocks on Roads north of Tadjoura.

It also warns of terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Djibouti.

You can find the latest travel advice here.