Djibouti, Somaliland, and Somalia are some of the most fascinating places in the Horn of Africa: Somaliland, a country that does not exist, and Djibouti, one of the smallest countries on the continent of Africa. As for Somalia (Mogadishu), this country has been a no-go zone for travelers for the past 20 years.
Take a trip back to the beginning of civilization. Three of these countries can rightfully be considered the last true frontiers of Africa. Enjoy some of the most exceptional rock paintings in Las Geel, experience the pulse of the fast growing capital Hargeisa, explore deserted beaches, visit bustling market towns, and experience the jaw-droppingly impressive Lac Abbe – the geological wonder with limestone chimneys and juxtaposing lush greenery and waterfalls in the Day Forest.
The Somaliland, Djibouti, and Somalia areas are located on the shores of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden opposite the Arabian Peninsula. They are influenced by African, Arabic, and Indian Ocean cultures. The people you meet will also leave a lasting impression – proud of their countries with a legendary sense of hospitality.
Last but not least, we will visit Mogadishu, the capital and largest city of Somalia. Mogadishu was considered one of the top ten cities in the world in the 1970s and 1980s, before the civil war broke out in 1991. Mogadishu was once hailed as the jewel of East Africa because of its beaches and classical architecture. The strategic location of Mogadishu’s seaport along a coastline of over 3000 kilometers made it a key transport hub between Africa and Asia.
Upon arrival in Djibouti City, a small country located in the Horn of Africa. You will be transferred to your hotel, where you can relax and unwind after your journey. Depending on your arrival time, you may want to explore the city and its vibrant markets and cafes. Overnight in Djibouti at Ras Dika hotel or similar.
After breakfast, we then drive to Lake Assal, the lowest point in Africa. On our way, we also visited the Panoramic view of Canyon Adaleh and the Panoramic view of Goubet. In Lake Assal, the big salt field makes you feel like walking in nowhere land. The water has bright colours that change from time to time because of the sun’s reflection. The trip ends with a drive back to Djibouti City. Overnight Ras Dika hotel or similar.
When you arrive in Hargeisa at noon from Djibouti city, you will be taken to your hotel. At16:30 we will conduct a walking tour of the Hargeisa city center and you will also witness how locals conduct business and how money is exchanged in Hargeisa. Overnight in Hargeisa at Damal hotel or similar.
A highlight of the journey is the visit to the caves of Laas Geel, where rock art dating back more than 5,000 years has been found – one of the most well-preserved examples of rock art in Africa. The site was discovered in 2002 by a French team led by Xavier Gutherz during their study of the origins of pastoralism in the Horn of Africa. In addition to the paintings, lithic tools have also been found scattered throughout the site, and several tombs have been marked with stelae and mounds.
There are approximately 20 rock shelters with paintings, the largest measuring approximately 10 meters in length. The majority of them appear to be humpless cows with curving horns and marked udders (sometimes with reddish tips). After visiting the site, we will return to Hargeisa city and visit the nearby camel farm. Overnight in Hargeisa at Damal hotel or similar.
Pick up at the airport and our guide will assist you with obtaining your visa on arrival and take you to your Shamo hotel for a briefing. Afterward, you will go on an orientation then time to relax and to swim at Lido beach, come back to the hotel and overnight at Shamo hotel.
Start the day with a visit to the fish market after breakfast. Mogadishu’s fish market is one of the most photogenic places in the city. During the morning hours it comes alive with activity. Take a look at the old harbor. It is the oldest port in Somalia. Visit Mogadishu’s iconic lighthouse, which was reconstructed during the Italian colonial era. While it is no longer operational, it remains an important symbol of Mogadishu’s maritime heritage. While the staircases were deliberately damaged during the Civil War, if you are brave enough to climb to the top, the view over the bay is definitely worth it.
Lunch at a local Somali restaurant. You will have the opportunity to taste some traditional Somali cuisine. You will visit bazaars and malls called Mogdishu Mall. Take a stroll through the shopping areas to gain an understanding of everyday life in Somalia. The SYL Monument is also worth visiting. SYL (Somali Youth League) was the first political party in Somalia. In the 1940s, it played a key role in bringing the nation to independence. From the 1950s till the 1960s. Every year in Somalia, the Somali Youth League commemorates its founding on May 15, 1943.
Monument at Dhagaxtuur. The monument symbolizes the struggle for independence from colonial rule. You can visit the Union Mosque. This is one of the largest religious sites in the Horn of Africa, with a capacity of over 10,000 people, and is also known as the mosque of Islamic solidarity and peace. Dinner and overnight at Shamo hotel.
Transfer to the airport and the tour ends.
This tour is priced per person.
1 person: $2600
2 people travelling together: $1850 per person
3 up to 12 people travelling together: $1700 per person
The deposit required to confirm your booking is 10% advance payment.
Bookings can be made at any time of the year.
Our custom tours are tailor-made itineraries designed for individual travellers, families, or a small group.
We can arrange an itinerary around your interests, dates, and special requests, all our tours include private drivers, private touring, unique accommodations, and exclusive experiences.
First, we encourage you to view our published itineraries and if it is not fit your interest then contact us and let us design a customized itinerary for you.
We always advise booking in advance. For confirmation of the tours, we require a 10% deposit payment in advance. This can be done via an online to our Business Bank account in USD. The remaining can be paid upon arrival in cash USD.
However, you can choose to pay the full amount in advance via our Somaliland Business bank transfer. We will always send the invoice with all the banking details.
IMPORTANT: All wiring fees need to be paid by the customer. Visit Horn of Africa cannot be held responsible for the failure of booking due to delay in payment.
If you wish to cancel your booking, the following conditions apply. A deposit payment has to be made to Visit Horn of Africa 30 days before the scheduled departure/beginning of the Tour.
IMPORTANT: The cancellation policy stated above does not apply if a prior agreement has been made with Somaliland Travel Agency.
Visit Horn of Africa tries to follow the agreed tour program with its clients as much
as possible. However, under certain circumstance, we might need to change the program
due to: Road conditions, safety, adverse weather conditions, civil war, strike, cancellation
or delay of domestic flights, high-level government meeting.
In the case where Visit Horn of Africa does not provide one of the services
mentioned in the program, we will provide a refund for the services not rendered, except
in the following cases:
A delay or cancellation of scheduled flights is not the responsibility of Visit Horn of Africa. We will, however, provide all the necessary assistance to our customers in such circumstances. All airfares are subject to availability at time of booking. Please also note that fares are subject to change without notice and are not guaranteed until purchased.
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
cookielawinfo-checbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |