{"id":267136,"date":"2020-06-04T23:36:17","date_gmt":"2020-06-05T04:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/tips-and-how-to-travel-to-somaliland-in-2020"},"modified":"2020-06-04T23:36:47","modified_gmt":"2020-06-05T04:36:47","slug":"tips-and-how-to-travel-to-somaliland-in-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/tips-and-how-to-travel-to-somaliland-in-2020","title":{"rendered":"Tips and how one can journey to Somaliland in 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Somaliland<\/p>\n

Everybody knows about Somalia, but not many know about Somaliland, a country within Somali frontiers that testified self-independence in 1991 but, since nobody in the international community recognized it as such, it became one of those self-administered spirit countries.<\/p>\n

Legally, it belongs to Somalia but, from a tourism point of view, traveling to Somalia is like visiting a brand-new country, a particularly plotting and mysterious one.<\/p>\n

Camel markets, Medieval mosques and ancient stone art drew by some of the oldest pastoralist civilizations, Somaliland is a truly off the beaten path- and very safe- end which you can’t miss in your trip to the Horn of Africa<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I spent 10 days backpacking in Somaliland and the present guidelines contains tips and everything you need to know to travel there, from visa tips-off to transcend know-hows, approximate budget and more.<\/p>\n

This is the most up-to-date Somaliland travel blog available on the internet but also, don’t forget to read my tips-off for traveling to Eritrea<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\"travel<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

In this expedition navigate to Somaliland you will find: <\/p>\n

Visa<\/a> Getting in<\/a> Best time<\/a> Travel insurance<\/a> Top events<\/a> Somalia& Somaliland<\/a> Somali beings<\/a> Language<\/a> Food<\/a> Safety<\/a> Solo female travelling<\/a> Police bodyguards<\/a> Currency and credit cards<\/a> Prices<\/a> Moving around<\/a> Accommodation<\/a> Internet& SIM Card<\/a> Books about Somaliland<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

How to get a visa for Somaliland <\/p>\n

The first thing you need to know is that, despite being legally bound to Somalia, Somaliland acts like an independent country, so different immigration rules apply, similar to what happens between Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan( predicted my travel guide to Iraqi Kurdistan<\/a> ). <\/p>\n

This means that a legitimate sightseer visa for Somaliland doesn’t allow you to travel to Somalia, and a legitimate visa for Somalia doesn’t allow you to travel to Somaliland.<\/p>\n

Therefore, in order to get your visa, you can’t apply at the Embassy of Somalia, but you need to find a particular Somaliland Mission.<\/p>\n

However, since Somaliland isn’t an official country, this draws things particularly challenging, as they don’t have more than a few goals around the world.<\/p>\n

\"somalilandThe Mission in Djibouti, where I applied for my Somaliland visa <\/p>\n

Getting a Somaliland visa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia <\/p>\n

Most travelers travel to Somaliland as one of the purposes of a multi-country trip around the Horn of Africa<\/a>, so get a visa at the Embassy in Addis Ababa seemed to be the most frequent choice.<\/p>\n

According to travelers, these are the requirements \ud83d\ude1b TAGEND<\/p>\n

It expenditure $100, and they are acquired USD 2 passports photos, 1 passport reproduce You get it on the same day<\/p>\n

Here you can find more information about the process<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Getting a Somaliland visa in Djibouti City, Djibouti <\/p>\n

This is where I went mine. Very easy and cheaper than in Addis.<\/p>\n

Since Djibouti is rather a small city, getting to the Mission was fairly quick and the issue is the reporting requirements \ud83d\ude1b TAGEND<\/p>\n

It expense $60, paid after regional currency 2 passport photos, 1 passport follow, 1 Djibouti visa emulate You pick it up 24 hours later<\/p>\n

Getting a Somaliland visa in another country <\/p>\n

If you aren’t traveling in the Horn of Africa, you may as well get the visa in your home country or any other where you find a Somaliland Mission.<\/p>\n

Here you can see an updated list of Somaliland representative offices<\/a> but I am not sure if you can get a visa in all of them, you will have to figure it out by yourself.<\/p>\n

As far as I know, nonetheless, anyone can apply at the Mission in London and in Washington D.C and, apparently, getting one in London expenditures PS30. <\/p>\n

Somaliland Visa on Arrival <\/p>\n

If you are flying in, you can also get a VOA if previously ordered with your hotel in Hargeisa.<\/p>\n

Hotels that can arrange your VOA \ud83d\ude1b TAGEND<\/p>\n

Oriental Hotel<\/a>( Budget) Damal Hotel<\/a>( Mid-range) Ambassador Hotel<\/a>( Luxury)<\/p>\n

However, only citizens of the EU, USA, Canada, China, and a few other Asian countries can apply for a VOA, but I recommend you contact the hotel to know all requirements, as well as their fees.<\/p>\n

Typically, a VOA expenditure $60, plus possible inn fees.<\/p>\n

\"visaMy visa for traveling to Somaliland <\/p>\n

How to get into Somaliland Tips on how to travel to Somaliland by aura <\/p>\n

Hargeisa has an International Airport with flights from Addis Ababa, Djibouti, and even Dubai<\/a> and Jeddah.<\/p>\n

I recommend you check on Ethiopian Airline, Daallo Airline, Fly Dubai and Air Djibouti.<\/p>\n

You can also check immediately on Skyscanner.<\/p>\n

Gratuity on how to travel to Somaliland by land<\/p>\n

How to travel to Somaliland from Djibouti- I employed this alternative and it was easy. In Djibouti City, there is a departure point for 4×4 heading to Somaliland and I am specifying 4×4 because, formerly you cross the border, there are no arteries until Borama- nearly 300 km after- but only desert and sand. It was quite an adventure. How to travel to Somaliland from Ethiopia- Very easy. I used it to get out of Somaliland. The closest, most famous city is Harar, but you are not able find direct transportation to the border, but you should go first to Jijiga, the capital of Ethiopian Somalia. How to travel to Somaliland from Oman- That’s right. You can enter Somaliland via Berbera from Salalah( Oman) by boat, and it’s completely legal and doable. I actually met a tourist couple who did it, on a merchandise ship, but they had to wait in Salalah for nearly next three weeks for the ship to depart. Read my Oman travel guide<\/a>. How to travel to Somaliland from Somalia- This border is closed to strangers.<\/p>\n

\"howThe Dijibouti-Somaliland border, and the Air France truck <\/p>\n

Best time to visit Somaliland <\/p>\n

I don’t know how can you handle the heat, but I can’t and, as you may imagine, Somaliland can get somewhat sizzling in summer, specially the coastal part, with temperatures averaging 45 oC.<\/p>\n

Hargeisa sits at an altitude of 1300 m, so the brave might be somewhat cool there, but still, time isn’t a great time to go. <\/p>\n

Therefore, the best time to visit Somaliland is from November until March.<\/p>\n

I called it at the end of January and the weather was great, especially in Hargeisa, where the temperature never reached above 25 oC, and we even had some rain one day.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Travel policy for Somaliland <\/p>\n

Somaliland belongs to Somalia so, as you may imagine, most governments consider it a conflict zone and therefore, most travel insurance companies won’t cover for this trip, unfortunately.<\/p>\n

However, I did some research and there are two insurance companies that do cover \ud83d\ude1b TAGEND IATI Coverage <\/p>\n

Budget travel insurance that spreads Somalia and valid for any type of trip and nationality.<\/p>\n

They have many different contrives and readers of this blog can get an exclusive 5% discount.<\/p>\n

GET IT THROUGH THIS LINK TO GET YOUR DISCOUNT<\/a><\/p>\n

True Traveller <\/p>\n

Great travel insurance for backpackers likewise valid for Somalia but exclusively Europeans can purchase it.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO GET A QUOTE<\/a><\/p>\n

If you want to know more about insurance predicted how to find the liberty backpacking traveling policy for your errand<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

5 Top events in Somaliland Getting high on khat <\/p>\n

Khat is a drug, literally, a flower with amphetaminic effects frequently devoured in the Horn of Africa and Yemen, and extremely popular across all Somalia.<\/p>\n

If you are traveling in Somaliland, you must spend at least one afternoon eating khat with locals.<\/p>\n

If you get to taste good quality one, it can get quite an experience.<\/p>\n

Read my post: Fear& loathing in Somaliland<\/a><\/p>\n

\"canTypical khat stall <\/p>\n

Feeding gazelles <\/p>\n

What was the highlighting of your excursion to Somaliland? Some parties asked me.<\/p>\n

Difficult to say, my errand was overall great, but what astounded me the most was going for breakfast to a random cafe in Berbera and unexpectedly being surrounded by gazelles.<\/p>\n

I won’t enter into the ethical issue of having wild swine in your garden-variety, but various cafes have gazelles wandering around freely in their plot and if you get some needles from a tree, they won’t hesitate to approach you.<\/p>\n

\"northeasternFeeding gazelles, somewhere in Berbera <\/p>\n

Visiting livestock markets <\/p>\n

Somaliland is a particularly traditional country and livestock markets abound, and I strongly recommend you see the one in Hargeisa, which takes plaza every single day.<\/p>\n

\"visitCamel market of Hargeisa <\/p>\n

Meeting Somalis <\/p>\n

Backpacking in Somaliland is one of those journeys where, candidly, there isn’t much to do, but the foreground is meeting new people.<\/p>\n

Expect consignments of smiles, beings asking you for photos and endless chewing-khat requests, like this funny Somali dancing \ud83d\ude1b TAGEND <\/p>\n