Somaliland - how to get here

By Air

There is an international airport in Hargeisa, Burao and Berbera with flights to/from Addis Abab, Ethiopia, Dubai-UAE, Djibouti and Somalia.

By Land

You can enter Somaliland from Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti by road. Despite government efforts, the roads are not great and there may still be some mines on the roads

By Sea

The port of Berbera is one of Africa favourite ports of call for cruise liners on international missions. Immigration can be processed at port facilities

Somaliland – how to get around

Buses

There is a bus network service in place that interconnects Somaliland cities and villages. The Network covers over 50 routes serving the main residential and commercial areas. Buses run at regular intervals from 6am to around 9pm

Taxis

Taxis are the most common way of getting around and it 's relatively cheap and very comfortable. Taxis are easy to get and you rarely have to stand at a road for more than a few minutes before a taxi comes along

Travel to other cities

The Bus network interconnects different routes within Somaliland and as well as neighbouring countries. The buses are comfortable, characterized with low cost and convenient for the residents, visitors and tourists

Car Hire

Self-drive cars are available from car rental companies for visitors who have an international driving license. Renters must produce their passport along with a valid driving license.

Chauffeur services

Chauffeur driven cars are available on daily basis. However, it is best to check before hand and get quotes from varies companies before making your final decision

Somaliland - Visa & Customs

If you are planning to travel to Somaliland you will need a visa to enter into the country. No visas will be issued at the airport and you will need to sort out the visa before you travel. All international travellers coming to Somaliland require a visa except all ethnic Somali's regardless of their current citizenship or international travel documents they are using during their trip. You will need a passport which is valid minimum 6 months, two passport size photos and a visa fee.

Please do note that Somali visas are not accepted. For more you can check the Somaliland
Government

There are restrictions on what you can bring into the Republic of Somaliland.

These restrictions apply even if you are citizen of Somaliland who is returning from a trip abroad

There are heavy penalties for smuggling, therefore:

1. Never carry any dangerous items

2. Never bring banned goods into the Republic of Somaliland. Your items will be seized and destroyed leading to possible prosecution

3. If you are driving, make sure that everyone travelling with you knows which goods are banned or restricted to avoid authorities seizing the car

4. Alcohol, drugs and pornographic items are all prohibited

5. Finally be safe, not sorry

Personal safety & security

Somaliland is relatively safer compared to Somalia. Knowing a little of the local language or having an interpreter can go along way in gaining information from the local population, which is a valuable tool if you wish to explore and learn about the country.

The Republic of Somaliland is not yet internationally recognized by any government. As result if you run into legal problems you are on your own, as there are no Consulates to turn to for help. Learning of local customs and laws is very important if you wish to minimize the chances of conflict with authorities.