Everybody knows about Somalia, but not many know about Somaliland, a territory within Somali boundaries that declared self-independence in 1991 but, since nobody in the international community recognized it as such, it became one of those self-administered ghost countries.
Legally, it belongs to Somalia but, from a tourism point of view, traveling to Somalia is like visiting a new country, a very intriguing and weird one.
Camel markets, medieval mosques and ancient rock art painted by some of the oldest pastoralist societies, Somaliland is a truly off the beaten path – and very safe – destination which you can’t miss in your trip to the Horn of Africa.
I spent 10 days backpacking in Somaliland and this guide contains tips and everything you need to know to travel there, from visa tips to top experiences, approximate budget and more.
COVID-19 travel restrictions for Somaliland
Travelers visiting Somaliland are required to have either a vaccine certificate or negative PCR test (72 hours).
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And not only this, but it’s one of the few insurance providers that gives coverage for traveling to Somaliland.
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How to get a visa for Somaliland
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 with Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan (read my travel guide to Iraqi Kurdistan).
This means that a valid tourist visa for Somaliland doesn’t allow you to travel to Somalia, and a valid visa for Somalia doesn’t allow you to travel to Somaliland.
Therefore, in order to get your visa, you can’t apply at a Somalia Embassy, but you need to find a specific Somaliland Mission.
However, since Somaliland isn’t an official country, this makes things particularly challenging, as they don’t have more than a few missions around the world.
How to get a visa for Somaliland via the mission
If you are entering Somaliland overland from either Ethiopia or Djibouti, you must arrange your visa in…
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