Somaliland Travel Tips & QA

[Copy.&.Paste]

Salam,


Somaliland Travel Tips & Q A

Lets make a thread providing advice on traveling to Somaliland. Post a tip that you think would be useful for those who have never been to Somaliland and for those who have already have visited but would like to learn something new.You can give tips and explain the do's and don't of traveling and what to expect when you get there.

The purpose of this thread is for people to have the best experience that they can in Somaliland. You can even ask questions about Somaliland in this thread and hopefully someone can answer.

Everyone should try to contribute to this thread because it might increase tourism to Somaliland and help the economy.
Here's hoping

Let's please have this thread in English for those who are Somali illiterate.

[Copy.&.Paste]

Here is my contribution to this thread. I bookmarked some threads over the years that I thought that might be useful. You might have to read quite a bit through the conversations to find what is useful.

Greetings from hargeisa
viewtopic.php?t=309906&p=3722553#p3722553


What are the Dos and Don't Traveling to Africa?
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=305703

Waryaa
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=307913


Malaria in Somaliland?
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=308308

[Copy.&.Paste]

I will kick start the thread. You guys could try answering some or all of the the following:

What places would you recommend to avoid in Hargeisa?
Good places you enjoyed eating at?
Good places to shop?
Explain your airport and traveling experience.

[HermitINHargeisa]

Simply the only true nomadic civilisation left

[ZubeirAwal]

I will kick start the thread. You guys could try answering some or all of the the following:

What places would you recommend to avoid in Hargeisa?

The 'New Hargeisa' district, that has a politician who keeps wild lions at bay

Good places you enjoyed eating at?

For Somali cuisine: Xaraf/Haraf/7araf, they are famously known for their pasta but also serve other meals aswell.

For a modern taste in Hargeisa, Mansoor Hotel.

For Fast Food, Summer time, although there are many new fast food restauraunts that are popping out since alot of Somali youth from abroad come to visit.


Good places to shop?

I would say the new mall that is on the brink of completion labelled the 'Dahabshiil Mall', the largest building in Hargeisa and probably would have restauraunts, shops, wedding halls and alot more.

Explain your airport and traveling experience.

In my time in Hargeisa the airport was not all bad, i was quite impressed with the interior, but as the Somaliland president layed the brick that symbolized the beginning of a construction project costing $5.5 million dollars that would extend the terminal and modernise it's interiors within 15 months, so much of Somalis travelling to Somaliland land in the desert-boiling hot city of Berbera, which also has built a temporary airport that is not at all bad, although they are awaiting a constuction company to buy a construction project that would cost $4.5 million which would modernise and extend Berbera's terminal.

[Copy.&.Paste]

^Thanks AbuukarSubeer

If more people can answer the above questions as well that would be great. I will go ahead and post more questions.




Questions

Is it safe to bring technology with you? Such as camera and Laptop?

What are highlighted hot spots to visit in Somaliland?

Should you be wary of what you consume when you visit? Some people get sick when they travel and don't drink and eat the local food.

Should you travel light and buy the local clothes when you get there?

Should you carry cash on you at all times? And how much?

[MujahidAishah]

I will kick start the thread. You guys could try answering some or all of the the following:

What places would you recommend to avoid in Hargeisa?
Just the old xafaads at night i.e goljano .. Fuckinka .. Geed gobley

Good places you enjoyed eating at?
Cadaani.. Xaraf.. Summertime ... Maka al mukarama .. Somaliland ..

Good places to shop?
Suuqa xoose or gobanimo dont bother with the shopping malls they are overpriced clothes from china

Explain your airport and traveling experience.

Airport is fine just need to make sure u hve money to give to the baggage handlers and landing tax ... Travelling within city the best way is by bus cheap and the locals entertain u :up:

[MujahidAishah]

^Thanks AbuukarSubeer


Questions

Is it safe to bring technology with you? Such as camera and Laptop?
Yh technology is safe but i wouldnt display it outside by myself especially if your a girl ...

What are highlighted hot spots to visit in Somaliland?
Arabsiyo .. Berbera ..

Should you be wary of what you consume when you visit? Some people get sick when they travel and don't drink and eat the local food.

Eat the local food if u do get bit of upset stomach it means ur wadani dhab ah

Should you travel light and buy the local clothes when you get there?

For a girl yh apart from a few dresses and shoes you can sheets in hrg 6 packs of sheets cost u $20 and just stock up from there

Should you carry cash on you at all times? And how much?

About $10 to $20 dollars if u r going sightseeing around the city apart from bus fares u should open a zaad account easier than carrying bundles of the sl shilling

[Copy.&.Paste]

Thanks AishahWaqooyi

Should you travel light and buy the local clothes when you get there?

For a girl yh apart from a few dresses and shoes you can sheets in hrg 6 packs of sheets cost u $20 and just stock up from there

I am not sure I understand this part. So you mean bring a few dress with you and buy your hijab sheets in Hargesia?

Also what type of shoes do you recommend . I know that Somaliland needs to construct more roads and sidewalks so maybe wearing proper shoes might be a good idea.

[rich-boy]

copy and paste yes its safe to bring laptops and cameras ive brought mine and i still have them


you should visit las geel , berbera , sheikh ,the country side go see the camels and drink some canoogeel

you should buy the local clothes you dont want to stand out it better to blend in

and yes zaad is the shit u dont even need to carry cash

[rich-boy]

[quote="AishahWaqooyi"][quote="Copy.&.Paste"]I will kick start the thread. You guys could try answering some or all of the the following:

What places would you recommend to avoid in Hargeisa?
Just the old xafaads at night i.e goljano .. Fuckinka .. Geed gobley


aisha why would you say avoid geed gobley dont talk about my area like my mother was born there is the best area ever

[Methylamine]

I will kick start the thread. You guys could try answering some or all of the the following:

What places would you recommend to avoid in Hargeisa?

Good places you enjoyed eating at?
Star restaurant, Ambassador, Maansoor, miyiga (seriously, this place had the best food). People say Cadaani's is good but I found it disgusting.
Good places to shop?
Depends what you're looking for. If u want typical Somali stuff, go to the markets in Suuqa Hoose, the stores under the orange tents. If you want typical Western stuff, places like Sacadadiin Supermarket and Dollar Store will have some stuff, though I don't really recommend Dollar Store cause it's ironically one of the most expensive stores in Hargeisa
Explain your airport and traveling experience.
I landed in Berbera cause Hargeisa's Airport was/is closed for renovations. When landing, I didn't really have an experience cause I was put in some VIP room and all I did was sip Coca-Cola while the AC was buzzing. There was a driver who took my family to Hargeisa and I actually thought I was gonna die . One the way my family decided to take a bus just so we can get the experience everyone else was having. It was a longer, but safer bus ride. At the airport, you're gonna have to bribe your way through. That means paying the employees like $10 US to get ur bags moved to the front and to cut everyone lol. Going through immigration and customs is ridiculous; you have to pay a bunch of money (I forgot how much) for things like security check and other random stuff. These people are tuugs. But at least the terminal had free wifi
Is it safe to bring technology with you? Such as camera and Laptop?
I brought my iPhone, digital camera and HD camcorder. My cousin also brought his laptop. Nothing happened. Just make sure you know where your stuff is at all times. It was a fun experience teaching the kids in miyiga how to play Temple Run
What are highlighted hot spots to visit in Somaliland?
Batalaale (the beach in Berbera), Summertime (where you meet girls from other countries but don't buy anything there cause the food sucks) and miyiga for a really good experience
Should you be wary of what you consume when you visit? Some people get sick when they travel and don't drink and eat the local food.
Just don't drink the tap water there and you'll be fine. If it's your first time, caano geel will get u sick
Should you travel light and buy the local clothes when you get there?
Travel heavy. You're gonna end up giving away half of your clothes to family there and the clothes there are expensive and blatantly fake
Should you carry cash on you at all times? And how much?
Like someone said, open a zaad account. In Somaliland, most things are in dollars, but you will receive change in cash (ie. SL shillings). It's a pain in the <bleep> to carry around thousands of shillings in your pockets.

[CaynabaX]

Bariis at Berbera airport they charged me $34 due my European passport, waa scammers wallee.

[Methylamine]

Bariis at Berbera airport they charged me $34 due my European passport, waa scammers wallee.

at one point in the process, they charged me and my mom $60. Then some guy beside us is like, "students don't get charged if you show your student ID". I take out my ID and the lady working the cash is like "too late I already wrote the receipt". Even during Ramadan these people will rip you off

[KimJongIllest]

Bariis at Berbera airport they charged me $34 due my European passport, waa scammers wallee.

at one point in the process, they charged me and my mom $60. Then some guy beside us is like, "students don't get charged if you show your student ID". I take out my ID and the lady working the cash is like "too late I already wrote the receipt". Even during Ramadan these people will rip you off

I'll make sure I get out my student ID when I reach Berbera airport in September before they write out the receipt.