City Tourism Somaliland: wonderful adventures in an independent but unrecognized country Somaliland tortoise In the final frontier of undiscovered Africa Somaliland is a must- see for intrepid travelers in search of the exotic. The country is not officially recognized but it is truly independent and ready to welcome the visitors who take the trouble to visit this open air museum. Initially a British protectorate, along major roads, blast marks Somaliland gained its from artillery along hillsides, and a independence in 1960 and entered few bombed-out buildings or ruins voluntarily into a union with the remaining in cities. former Italian Somaliland five days After 1991, Somaliland began the later. Before long, struggles painstaking process of separating erupted, but the country remained itself. By 2010 it had its own free lashed together under the dictator and fair parliamentary and Mohammad Siad Barre until a presidential elections, with the vicious civil war broke out in 1988. presidential elections notable in By its conclusion in 1991, particular for unseating the Somaliland was bombed to the incumbent in a very close race. A ground. It is still recovering today: remarkably peaceful transition of travelers will see shells of tanks power followed. Camels also enjoy the beach Erivago Today the country is independent also allegedly available from the but unrecognized by the Somaliland representation in international community. Violence Djibouti. The unofficial Somaliland is rare, and there is an active police "embassy" in London will also force to ensure that laws are issue a visa. The whole process is respected. Visitors who will have a refreshingly unbureaucratic and unique adventure with plenty of can be handled by post, which attractions a long way from the makes London the most convenient political debates and struggles of place to get a visa for travellers the rest of Somalia. who live in Europe and/or want to So how do you get there? You obtain a visa before travelling to need a Somaliland visa to enter. the region. Somali visas are not accepted. There is an international airport in Most travellers get a visa in Addis Hargeisa with flights to and from Ababa or the Somaliland Mission Dubai, Djibouti City, and many in London. A Somaliland visa is other cities and towns across the Zeilla runins Zeilla in days goneby Horn of Africa and the Somaliland there? Travel information about region. There is also an the country is scarce but Afrol international airport at Berbera News (Africa online service) with many international flights, provides some interesting details most notably to Dubai. about the main tourist attractions. It is possible to enter Somaliland The capital, Hargeisa, has a from Ethiopia by road.. However, if provincial museum. There is also you plan to leave Somaliland by a menagerie that includes lions, road it is advisable to make leopards, antelopes, birds, and Ethiopian Visa arrangements reptiles. Outside of Hargeisa, is (multiple entry) before traveling to the Laas Gaal, a complex of caves Somaliland as the process of and rock shelters that contain getting an Ethiopian Visa in some of the earliest known art on Hargeisa can be quite cumbersome the African continent, dating back and time consuming. to 9,000 B.C. So what do you when you get The cuisine is interesting: For Hargeisa Provincial Museum Las Geel rock paintings breakfast, Somalis eat a flat bread Somalis eat xalwo, a jelly-like called laxoox and cereal or sweet made with water, sugar, and porridge made of millet or honey, though peanuts are cornmeal. They also eat rice or sometimes added. Dates are also noodles with sauce or meat for popular. lunch. Pasta became very popular Somaliland's third largest city, under Italian rule. Bananas are Berbera, is a lot smaller than the common in the south of the region. capital. This port town has a more A traditional soup called maraq is comfortable climate, fantastic made of vegetables, meat and beaches and a charming beans and is usually eaten with architecture. Located about 150 flat bread or pitta bread. Beans kilometres north-east of Hargeisa are usually eaten for dessert. and easily and safely reached by Though not commonly served, bus, bushtaxi or air from the capital. reefs and ancient towns and ruins Kilometres of lush sandy beaches – all the ingredients of an stretch out from Berbera. It used international tourist destination in to be a Soviet and later US military future. base, and locals still remember From Berbera, the first major what a good time the foreigners settlement is Lughaya. Camels had on the beach. They livened up graze on the beach, the reef is the city and left a popular legacy of unspoilt and it is the ideal place to restaurants which offer visitors meet the rural locals, mostly cattle delicious seafood and other Somali nomads and farmers, and learn and international dishes. about the other non-urban lifestyle Beyond Berbera, its time for real that still dominates the country. adventures not for the faint hearted Further west, the landscape who do not like roughing it. The culminates in scenic cliffs, bays westernmost coastline, in Awdal and beaches. The islands off the province, is among Africa's most coast, for example Saad-Din spectacular land and seascapes. Island, provide the best coral reefs Rugged, green cliffs, tropical and spectacular dives. beach bays, unexploited coral The coastline takes you to Zeilla Lughaya beach Somali cuisine The old and the new in Berbera colonial times, it was Nomad woman overshadowed by Djibouti port in French Somaliland and the British port in Berbera and today the town is a shadow of its former self. The seaside is a great place for swimming, snorkeling, fishing and scuba-diving. Small-scale framing and semi-nomadic pastrolism is what the country is all about as its people struggle to make a living an ancient port city on the Gulf of Aden coast which dates back to the 7th century. The town , of 25,000 inhabitants, is known for the Arabic, Persian and Ottoman influence on its architectural buildings. It was once the capital of the Sultanate of Adal a major power in the 9th and 10 century. Zeila again flourished as a city state and a trade and learning hub from the 14th to the 19th century. During Somaliland in a challenging climate. that has its sights on the eastern The Las Geel (Meaning "camel parts of Somaliland. watering hold") is a cave painting Erivago is the entrance to the site situated in the countryside highest mountains in the region, near Hargeisa. It was discovered reaching over 2400 metres with by a French archaeological team spectacular views and interesting in 2002. The cave paintings are little villages. With the height, the thought to be the oldest and best climate improves, the vegetation preserved in Africa dating back to increase and juniper forests can 9,000 B.C The government keeps be found in some of the valleys. the cave paintings safe and only a The scenic mountain landscape restricted number of tourists are and its many trails are an open allowed. invitation to trekkers looking for Security is a problem in the the unusual. In addition to some enchanting Erigavo mountain area breathtaking landscapes, wildlife - which is close to Puntland a region while rapidly declining - is Ottoman architecture in Berbera Rural scene interesting and includes jackals, would be a good time. gazelles and baboons. Somaliland is famous for its extensive and exotic birdlife, with over 600 species. Travelers should consider Somaliland's tough climate as a key to travel timing. There are two rainy seasons - March to June and October to November - and unlike other travel destinations, this is the time to go. Avoid the dry season from July to September, as temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius make travelling exhausting. Awdal Province Anytime from December to June .