Somaliland isn’t a place that features on most travellers’ itineraries. For those who do find themselves there, that’s often the point.
I always find it interesting to visit disputed territories. And Somaliland is one of the most interesting.
This self-declared republic in the Horn of Africa feels a million miles away from the chaos and dangers of Somalia. Yet, most other countries don’t recognize it, for fear of further destabilising its neighbor.
For the people of Somaliland, this is a tragedy. The fact that the country doesn’t officially exist (in an international legal sense) means that it can’t access the international financial system, which hampers its development in a big way.
Somaliland isn’t the easiest place to visit. There are very few international flights (I entered overland from Ethiopia), and public transport is somewhat lacking. There isn’t much information available about it (this blog aside :)), and there’s quite a lot of red tape when it comes to permits.
But for those who persevere, this is an incredibly rewarding destination. One that reveals its secrets slowly but steadily, layer by layer.
The Laas Geel rock paintings are the closest thing Somaliland has to a tourist attraction. They are some of the oldest, best-preserved, and most significant in Africa.
The colours are incredibly vibrant, the scenes of cattle herding and daily life so extraordinary – anywhere else, this place would be packed. But I think my friend and I were the only two foreign visitors there all day.
I found Somalilanders to be incredibly warm and welcoming people. I would regularly be stopped in the street by someone and told that I was very welcome in their country. It seemed they were as curious about me as I was about their home.
Conversations often went something like this:
“Thank you for coming to Somaliland. Please tell everybody in your country about us. We would love for them to visit here too. May I buy you a tea? What about lunch?”
Visiting Somaliland will challenge your preconceptions and open your eyes to new perspectives. If you’re looking for an adventurous alternative travel destination, far off the beaten path, I can definitely recommend it.
Here are some of my favorite photos of Somaliland to help you decide.
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Other Posts About Visiting Somaliland
- Backpacking In Somaliland: Something A Bit Different
- Basic Somali Phrases For Travel