The best 5 places outside Hargeisa

1. Zeyla

Located on the Gulf of Aden coast near the Djibouti border, the town sits on a sandy spit surrounded by the sea. It is known for its coral reef, mangroves and offshore islands, which include the Sa’ad ad-Din archipelago named after the Somali Sultan Sa’ad ad-Din II of the Sultanate of Ifat. Landward, the terrain is unbroken desert for some fifty miles. Berbera lies 170 miles (270 km) southeast of Zeila, while the city of Harar in Ethiopia is 200 miles (320 km) to the west. Zaila is a port city in the western Awdal region of Somaliland. The town evolved into an early Islamic centre with the arrival of Muslims shortly after the Hijra. By the 9th century, Zeila was the capital of the early Adal Kingdom and Ifat Sultanate in the 13th century, and also a capital for its successor state the Adal Sultanate, it would attain its height of prosperity a few centuries later in the 16th century. The city subsequently came under Ottoman and British protection in the 18th century.

2. Maydh

Maydh is an ancient port city in the northern region of Somaliland. It is one of the most beautiful places in the Horn of Africa with it’s stretched forest and ever-green vegetation. Maydh is also blessed with stunning costal line with beaches that stretch far and wide. The view is absolutely breath taking and the locals are the most hospital and happiest people you are likely to see anywhere.

Maydh represent an early centre of dispersal of the Somali people. National genealogies assert that many clan patriarchs are buried in or nearby Maydh.

The city of Maydh was home to Sheikh Isaaq Bin Ahmed Al Hashimi (Sheekh Isaxaaq), who, according to tradition, moved to Somaliland from the Arabian Peninsula in the 12th or 13th century CE.

Somaliland in general is home to numerous such archaeological sites, with similar edifices found at Haylaan, Qa’ableh, Qombo’ul and El Ayo.

With a stunning beachfront Maydh is somewhat a secluded town with serenity and tranquility. It holds spectacular view with its mountainous backdrop being particularly pretty in the soft light of the morning and late afternoon. With its relaxed atmosphere and friendly locals, there is plenty to do and see in the town including swimming in the sea or just hanging out and taking the fresh air in.

3. Berbera Beach

Berbera is situated amidst the beautiful beaches and deserts of the Gulf of Aden’s southern shore. Home to around 230,000 residents its position has resulted in an eventful and colourful history and given it an utterly distinct character.

Berbera also known as “Beach City,” has a privileged location on the coast of Somaliland, right in the Gulf of Aden. Crystal clear blue waters and soft sands make most of the shoreline, and it is the perfect place to enjoy the sunset and to wind down.

This coastal city has a semi-arid landscape and ample beaches of soft sands; rocky promontories are rather unusual. The most famous beaches are Bathela and Batalaale, which remain incredibly immaculate and pristine. Beyond the calm and silence of the shore, the ocean is full of life.

Many schools of fish and even dolphins and other cetaceans are easily seen through the crystal clear waters. They are especially amazing if you look for deeper reefs. Taking the time to explore deeper coral reefs will also give you the opportunity to watch even more marine life.

Fish, sea sponges and algae of varied colors fill the waters of Berbera. Apart from water activities, you will be able to see some camels walking next to you. In fact, camels are in any town alley or main street, stopping traffic or eating from a branch close by.

4. Sheikh

The small town of Sheikh lies at a relatively lofty altitude of 1,470m in the Golis Range, a mountainous escarpment that separates the coastal plain from the main Somali Plateau. The town straddles the 120Km surfaced road that runs southeast from Berbera to Burao, and lies exactly halfway between these two larger towns. The ascent here from Berbera along the Sheikh pass folllows one of the most dramatic roads in Somaliland, starting from the village of Hudisa at the base of the Golis Range, then climbing some 700m over a 10km series of switchbacks that offer fantastic views of the plains below.

Sheikh is relatively well watered and the surrounding hillsides are often thrillingly green after the rains, although they tend to look somewhat arid in the dry season. An alluring excursion from Sheikh, particularly for birdwatchers, is a day trip to Mount Wagar, the highest point in the Golis Range. This is only really practical, however, in a private 4 x 4.

5. Daallo Forest & Mountains

This is one of Somaliland’s most beautiful natural attractions. The Daallo forest lies in the stunning Al Mado Range, a high limestone and gypsum escarpment that rises spectacularly from the low-lying coastal plain between Maydh and Bosaso. This hidden spectacle is yet to be explored by most tourists.