Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Berbera, Somalia, North Africa, Africa
Berbera is a city situated in the Berbera District in Somalia, on the northern coastline of the country. It comes under the Woqooyi Galbeed province, is situated around 150 km northwest of the city Hargeisa and 1500 km north of the national capital, Mogadishu. Berbera is a tourist favor city, mainly noted for its striking beaches that offer different water sport activities, scuba diving, snorkeling and surfing.
Located around 10 feet above sea level, Berbera is geographically positioned between 10°26′08″ N latitude and 045°00′59″ E longitude. Berbera experiences a hot desert climate with an average annual rainfall of 50 millimeters annually. Historically, Berbera was one of the important cities of Somalia as it catered as the capital of the British Somaliland protectorate during the colonial period between 1884 and 1941.
How to reach Berbera?
Berbera Airport is one of the important airports of Somalia, served by African Express Airways (Dubai, Galkayo, Mogadishu, Nairobi, Sharjah, Wajir, Aden and Bosaso) and Daallo Airlines (Djibouti, Dubai and Mogadishu). The airport is situated around 10 km away from the city centre, which can be crossed by bus or airport taxi.
The bus transportation of Berbera extends to the historical city, Hargeisa, costing around $5. Minibuses are the primary option to get around Berbera and taxis are also gettable.
Culture, Shopping and Food in Berbera:
People belonging to the Somali ethnic group forms the greater percentage of Berbera’s population. Being a tourist destination, Berbera houses many nice restaurants and shops that are mainly located on the beach line.
What to do in Berbera?
- Scuba diving
- Snorkeling
- Surfing
- Boat tours
Must see in Berbera:
Beaches in Berbera:
Beaches are the focal point of Berbera’s tourism that are pristine beaches, offering a wide range of enjoyable scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing and many other memorable waters port activities. Among Berbera’s beaches, the Baathela Beach is the most famous one, situated around 4 km away from the heart of the city.
Port of Berbera:
The Port of Berbera is the centre of the economy of Berbera. Originally it was used as a naval and missile base and now it is emerging as an exportation point of local goods. Better, exploring port with the aid of locals.
NASA Runway:
The NASA Runway in Berbera was constructed in the 1980s and used as a landing site for space shuttles during emergency cases. This huge runway can be reached by a rental vehicle from the city centre.
Hargeisa:
Hargeisa is a city, situated around 150 km away from Berbera. The city holds a mix of modern and historic tourist attractions like cave paintings at Laas Gaal complex, the MiG monument, a large traditional market and many typical traditional restaurants. Minibuses generally ply between these cities.
List of other places to see in Berbera and Mogadishu include:
- Berbera Airport
- Arba’a Rukun Mosque
- Mogadishu Cathedral
- The Governor’s Palace of Mogadishu
- Villa Somalia
- National Museum of Somalia
- Mosque of Islamic Solidarity
- The National Theatre of Somalia
- The National Library of Somalia
- Mosque of Islamic Solidarity
- The Somali National University
- Mogadishu Stadium
When to visit Berbera?
From December to February is the best time to visit Berbera, when the weather remains dry and supportive for outdoor activities.
Where to stay in Berbera?
Al Madiina is the major accommodation centre in Berbera, situated near the city centre. This hotel offers different types of rooms, of which many adapted AC facility. Price ranges from US$3 – 20 depending on visitors’ choice. Visitors can also find hotels in Hargeisa (around 150 km) for more comfort that are listed below:
- Hadhwanaag Hotel
- Ambassador Hotel Hargeisa
- Maan-Soor Hotel
- Oriental Hotel
- Safari Hotel
- Deero Hotel