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Places to Visit in Burao, Somalia, East Africa, Africa

Places to Visit in Burao, Somalia, East Africa, Africa

Burao is a Somali city, situated in the Burao district in the northwestern part of the country, at an altitude of 1037 meters. It is the administrative centre of the Togdheer province belonging to the autonomous region of the country, Somaliland. Geographically, Burao features a grassland savannah, which attracts a larger number of migrating animals, including wild boars, zebras, warthogs, antelopes, the Somali Wild Ass and wild goats. Burao is located at 09°31′27″ N 045°32′13″ E, around 210 km east of the country’s 2^nd largest city Hargeisa and 1250 km north of Mogadishu, the capital and largest city of Somalia.

History of Burao:

Burao is one of the oldest settlements of Somalia and witnessed the declaration of the formation the autonomous Somaliland region on May 18, 1991. Burao has been seen substantial growth of population in recent years with the relocation of people from rural areas to the city.

How to get Burao?

Burao holds an airport but flights are limited, only from Hargeisa, Addis Ababa and San’a. So international tourists are needed to reach Hargeisa International Airport first and afterwards they can board flight or bus or hire taxi at the airport to reach Burao. This airport is situated around 240 km west of Burao and handles flights to Bosaso, Djibouti, Dubai, Jeddah, Mogadishu, Nairobi and Sharjah.

Burao has a local bus transportation system and the city is also served by rental vehicles like cars and bikes.

Food and Shopping in Burao:

The historic part of Burao is the site for traditional shopping in Burao, where visitors can bag carpets, handicraft products and spices at reasonable prices. The city also houses many nice restaurants, of which many are located in downtown area.

What to do in Burao?

Village tours
Hiking
Cycling

What to see in Burao?

Surroundings of Burao:

Burao is blessed with fertile land and greeneries, due to this, Burao draws a large number of wild animals seasonally to breed or to graze like kudus, wild boars, zebras, warthogs, antelopes, wild goats and camels. Burao is also famous among visitors as a bird watching destination.

Burao Airport:

Located at an altitude of 1,100 meters, the Burao Airport is a well constructed modern airport, situated within the city premise. It would be a half day trip for visitors to explore airport and its surroundings.

Downtown Burao:

The downtown of Burao is packed with dozens of boutiques, cafes and restaurants and many entertainment centres as well. There is a large shopping mall in the centre that attracts visitors not only for shopping but also for its grand and stylish construction.

Hargeisa:

Hargeisa is the second largest city of Somalia, situated around 240 km away from Burao. Being a historical city, Hargeisa holds a wide range of tourist attractions like Naasa-Hablood hills, Hargeisa Museum, a rock paintings complex Laas Gaal and a war monument MiGJet. Buses generally ply between Burao and Hargeisa.

Other places of interest in and around Burao include:

Port of Bosaso
Beaches of Bosaso
Amoud University in Borama
The city of Hargeisa
Borama International Airport
Beaches in Berbera
Port of Berbera
The Governor’s Palace of Mogadishu
National Museum of Somalia in Mogadishu
NASA Runway in Berbera
National Museum of Somalia in Mogadishu

When to visit Burao?

Except April–May and October–November (rainy season), the rest of the year is ideal to visit Burao.

Where to stay in Burao?

Burao houses limited number of standard hotels, it is advised for visitors to reach the cities of Hargeisa or Borama to find more options. In below list, the first 6 hotels are in Hargeisa (around 240 km from Burao) and the last 3 hotels are in Borama (around 330 km from Burao):

Hadhwanaag Hotel
Ambassador Hotel Hargeisa
Maan-Soor Hotel
Oriental Hotel
Safari Hotel
Deero Hotel
Rays Hotel Borama
Hotel Nasimo
Hotel Cape Town

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Bosaso, Bari, Somalia, East Africa, Africa

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Bosaso, Bari, Somalia, East Africa, Africa

Bosaso is a city belonging to the Bari region of the eastern African country, Somalia. Located on the coastline of the Gulf of Aden in the northeastern part of the country, Bosaso is the commercial centre of the autonomous state of Puntland, located around 1400 km northeast of the national capital, Mogadishu. In terms of population, Bosaso is the 3^rd largest city of Somalia, following Mogadishu and Hargeisa, with around 700,000 residents (as of the 2013 census). Bosaso offers both manmade and natural attractions for visitors, like white sandy beaches, lakes, grasslands and mosques. The geographical coordinates of Bosaso are 11°17′05″ N 049°10′57″ E, whilst its elevation measures 15 meters.

History of Bosaso:

Formerly called Bandar Qasim, Bosaso may be derived its current name from the favorite camel (Boosaas) of a Somali trader, Bandar Qasim, who was the first settler of what is today’s Bosaso. Bosaso saw the rule of the Majeerteen Sultanate from the middle of the 18^th century to the early 20^th century.

How to get Bosaso?

Bosaso is catered by Bender Qassim International Airport, located 4 km away from the city centre. The airport receives flights from Aden, Berbera, Galkayo, Mogadishu, Nairobi, Wajir and Hargeisa, served by African Express Airways and Jubba Airways.

By bus, Bosaso connects all the major cities in northern Somalia, including Galkayo, Garowe, Qardho and Hargeisa.

Buses are generally available for local travel in Bosaso and in addition, visitors can also hire car or taxi for comfortable travel.

Culture, Shopping and Food in Bosaso:

Like the rest of Somalia, Muslims dominate the population of Bosaso, who cover more than 90% of the total population of the city. Culturally, Bosaso is a noted city as the city is home to around 70 primary schools, many technical colleges and the campus of the East Africa University.

There are all sorts of shops ranging from cloth stores to retail outlets to handicraft stores with both local and modern specialties. Bosaso also houses numerous coffee shops and restaurants that are frequented by both locals and visitors.

What to do in Bosaso?

Visiting internet cafes and coffee shops
Walking
Visiting port and colleges

Must see in Bosaso:

Beaches of Bosaso:

Beaches are the first preference of tourists visiting Bosaso occasionally. Beaches are white sandy, offering different water sports and that are also well served by restaurants and cafes with both Somali and international menus.

East Africa University:

Bosaso is one of the cities of Puntland of Somalia holding the campus of East Africa University. Bosaso’s campus is very large, established in a large site and visitors are allowed to know the local culture and tradition at university with a prior permission.

Bender Qassim International Airport:

The Bender Qassim International Airport is one of the important landmarks of Bosaso. The airport is located around 4 km away from the city centre and draws visitors, other than airport travelers, for its grand construction and pleasant and clear surroundings.

Port of Bosaso:

The Port of Bosaso was first established in the 1980s and upgraded many times with upgraded features. It is a great gathering point for locals and also draws visitors as it is very well maintained and offering enthralling views of blue waters.

List of other places to see in and around Bosaso include:

Bosaso College
Amoud University in Borama
The city of Hargeisa
Beaches in Berbera
Borama International Airport
Port of Berbera
NASA Runway in Berbera
National Museum of Somalia in Mogadishu
The Governor’s Palace of Mogadishu
National Museum of Somalia in Mogadishu

When to visit Bosaso?

Bosaso experiences a hot arid climate with relatively hot weather year round and the best time to visit Bosaso is during the beginning months of the year.

Where to stay in Bosaso?

Being a beach town, Bosaso houses all sorts of tourist favor hotels with different upgraded facilities and services to provide memorable hospitality services to all types of travelers. Some recommended hotels in Bosaso are as follows:

Hotel Huruuse
Hotel Juba
The Tropical
The International Village Hotel

Tourist Places to Visit in Borama, Awdal, Somalia, West Africa, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Borama, Awdal, Somalia, West Africa, Africa

Borama, also called Borame, is the capital city of the Awdal region in the northwestern part of Somalia, situated around 120 km northwest of the city of Hargeisa and 1600 km northwest of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. It is located close to the Ethiopian border between 9°55′59″ N latitude and 43°10′54″ E longitude. Due to its position in the mountainous region, Borama is blessed with green meadows and fields that attract both wildlife and tourists in a larger proportion year round. Borama is home to the renowned Amoud University. The climate of Borama is classified as local steppe climate and the geographical coordinates of Borama are 9°55′59″ N 43°10′54″ E.

History of Borama:

The history of Borama is very long and grand, covering almost 800 years, highlighted by the rule of the Adal Sultanate during the Middle Ages. In the beginning of the 20^th century, Borama fell under the British reign as a part the British Somaliland protectorate. For a short period, during the World War II, Borama once had become a part of the Italians and but came back under the British rule following the war and finally got emancipation on 26 June 1960.

How to reach Borama?

The Borama Airport is the airport serving Borama city with a less number of scheduled flights. It would be better if visitors first reach Hargeisa International Airport and then they can choose taxi or wait until the arrival of bus to Borama. The Hargeisa International Airport is the second largest airport of Somalia, following the Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu and is situated around 150 km southeast of Borama, operating flights from/to Djibouti, Dubai, Mogadishu, Nairobi, Sharjah, Addis Ababa, Bosaso, Jeddah and Berbera.

The local transportation of Borama is catered by bus, taxis and rental cars.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Borama:

Borama houses a higher learning centre, Amoud University and especially, there is a school for deaf children in Borama that is first of its kind in Somalia.

Food practiced in Borama is relatively similar to other parts of Somaliland and the varieties are laxoox, cereal and soup called maraq. Borama is home to both modern and traditional shops.

Things to do in Borama:

Hiking
City tours
Traditional shopping

What to see in Borama?

Scenic spots of Borama:

Borama is the site of full of greeneries that covers city area also. This typical feature of Borama attracts a large number of birds and animals like gazelle and camels throughout the year, which resulted into the growth of tourists coming to the city in recent years.

Rays Hotel in Borama:

The Rays Hotel in Borama is the first modern hotel of the city. Apart from its amenities, the hotel is famous among visitors for its eye-catching construction and lavishly landscaped surroundings.

Amoud University:

The Amoud University is a recognized university established in the year 1997. It is the first higher educational institution to be founded after the civil war of Somalia. The university is not only improved as providing quality education but also holds reputation in blending the different cultures and communities in the region.

Hargeisa:

Hargeisa is the most important city of the Somaliland region, housing nearly an equal number of manmade and natural tourist attractions that are spread up all around the city and even in the outskirts. Some famous attractions in Hargeisa include MiGJet (war monument), Naasa-Hablood hills, the University of Hargeisa, a provincial museum, a menagerie and a cave and rock paintings complex, Laas Gaal.

Other places of interest in Borama include:

Borama International Airport
Port of Berbera
Beaches in Berbera
NASA Runway in Berbera
National Museum of Somalia in Mogadishu
National Museum of Somalia in Mogadishu
The Governor’s Palace of Mogadishu

When to visit Borama?

Borama generally experiences a dry climate year round and the best months to visit Borama are January, February, June and August.

Where to stay in Borama?

Borama houses some nice modernized hotels, of which recommendable options are Rays Hotel Borama, Hotel Nasimo and Hotel Cape Town. For more options, visitors can also find hotels in Hargeisa (around 120 km from Borama) that are listed below:

Rays Hotel Borama
Hotel Nasimo
Hotel Cape Town
Hadhwanaag Hotel
Ambassador Hotel Hargeisa
Maan-Soor Hotel
Oriental Hotel
Safari Hotel
Deero Hotel

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Berbera, Somalia, Mogadishu, North Africa, Africa

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: