My Favourite Photos of Somaliland to Inspire Your Next Adventure

ByAlex Tiffany Posted on Updated on

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 recognise it, for fear of further destabilising its neighbour.

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 favourite photos of Somaliland to help you decide.

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A brightly colored yellow and red fuel pump in front of a large, blue cargo truck at a roadside station in Somaliland.

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The chrome front of a Toyota Land Cruiser with a green Somaliland license plate and a mounted spotlight on the bumper.
A hand holds a thick bundle of Somaliland currency notes, predominantly 500 Somaliland shilling bills, against a dark background.
A monument in Hargeisa, Somaliland, displaying a decommissioned fighter jet mounted on a pedestal with murals depicting scenes from the struggle for independence.
A wide-angle shot of a rocky, desert-like terrain with sparse acacia trees under a bright blue sky, typical of the Somaliland landscape.
Rock art depicting a stylized animal figure with intricate patterns, painted in red and black, on the wall of a cave in Somaliland.
A security guard and local guide wearing a uniform points out ancient rock art paintings on the ceiling of the Laas Geel caves in Somaliland.
A scenic view from within a cave, looking out over a rugged landscape of rocky terrain and sparse vegetation under a partly cloudy sky.
A sandy beach with a few old, rusting shipwrecks in the water and a small green boat on the shore in Somaliland.
Two men stand beside an old white sedan on a rough dirt road in Somaliland, with fields stretching out in the background.
A close-up shot of a white car with a muddy front and a Somaliland license plate, two men standing beside it.
Expansive view of a dry, rugged landscape in Somaliland, with distant mountain ranges under a clear blue sky.
Wide sandy beach with gentle waves lapping at the shore, under a clear blue sky in Somaliland.
Industrial structures, including tall towers and storage tanks, set against a barren mountainous landscape in Somaliland.
A large tortoise with a textured, dome-shaped shell crawls slowly over a rocky and grassy terrain in Somaliland, near a small green bush.
A scenic sunset over a mountainous landscape in Somaliland, with the sun low on the horizon casting a warm glow.
A camel standing on a sandy path, slightly blurred, with a background of greenery in Somaliland.
A bustling street market in a city in Somaliland, filled with vendors, vehicles, and people under bright awnings.
A green cactus plant with sharp spines growing from a rocky surface against a backdrop of a vast, arid landscape in Somaliland.
A pile of colorful clothes, including shirts and trousers, are drying on large leafy bushes, surrounded by scattered debris and a makeshift structure in the background.
A mural painted on a yellow wall celebrating the 22nd Anniversary of Somaliland Independence on May 18th, with the Somaliland flag and people passing by below.

Other Posts About Visiting Somaliland

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Alex is a former lawyer and an expert in off-the-beaten-path travel. Originally from the UK, Alex has explored over 70 countries independently, from hitchhiking in East Africa and Central Asia to road-tripping across Europe and the USA. He loves hiking, camping, and discovering lesser-known destinations.

Alex's writing and photography have been featured in many leading travel publications. He's passionate about sharing his travel expertise with others and encouraging people to step out of their comfort zones and travel more adventurously.