SOMALILAND REPORT TRAVEL.

 

Once you have obtained the Ethiopian exit stamp in your passport, you have to walk for 200 meters. until you reach the Somaliland border post.

In Somaliland, when summer time is in force in Italy, there is a 1 hour time zone, compared to Italy, when solar time is 2 hours.

Somaliland is an independent state, not recognized by the international community.

To enter Somaliland an entry visa is required, both for tourism and for work.

The same, for tourist reasons, can easily be obtained at the headquarters of the permanent diplomatic mission of Somaliland in Addis Ababa, located in a side street of Bole Road, next to the IOM, in the same Street of the Embassies of Mozambique and Malawi and the Ambassador Hotel, 2 km from the International Airport. Officially the visa office is open from 9.00 to 15.30 from Monday to Friday, but if you show up at 8.30 you have a good chance of entering. The documents to be presented are: passport, passport photocopy, completed and signed form (the form is provided by the staff) and $ 100 in cash (other currencies are not accepted). Usually the clerk or assistant tells you to come at 13.00 to collect the passport with the visa but generally if you show up at 11.30 it is ready. The tourist visa is valid for 30 days.

With the visa in order, it is a formality to obtain the Somaliland entry stamp at the land border post of Wajaale.

To enter Somaliland, only for those coming from countries where Yellow Fever is endemic, it is mandatory to be in possession of a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate which is generally not asked of you at the land border post of Wajaale.

Please note that under Ethiopian legislation it is illegal to export more than 100 Birr.

After obtaining the Somaliland entry stamp at the Wajaale land border post, it is possible to exchange money for black. There are several money changers. Keep in mind that in Somaliland you can use 2 currencies: the US Dollar, you use it to pay for anything: Excursions, Hotels, Restaurants, Supermarkets, Markets, ect. , while the Somaliland Shilling can be used in markets, restaurants, supermarkets, ect. Keep in mind that $ 1 = 10,000 Somaliland Shillings. Also when sometimes when you pay in Dollars in restaurants, markets, ect., They give you change in Somaliland Shillings. However, the change at the Wajaale border post is terribly disadvantageous: 34.20 Birr = 1 $ instead of 28 Birr = 1 $. Perhaps something better can be achieved in Hargeisa.

In Somaliland almost 100% of the people are of Muslim religion and therefore Friday is the feast day when all businesses are closed, some even on Saturdays.

In Somaliland some people speak English and all the road and tourist signs are also in English.

From the land border post of Wajaale, there are collective taxis to the center of the capital Hargeisa. Departure when all 5 seats are occupied. Cost of the ride: $ 5 .. Duration of the trip: scarce 2 hours. There are several checkpoints along the way

Keep in mind that foreigners in Somaliland can move without an armed escort only on the route between Ethiopia and Hargeisa, in Hargeisa and in other unspecified areas west of the capital. An armed escort is mandatory to go to Las Geel and Berbera, although Berbera can be attempted to reach it, without an armed escort by taking a minibus from the center of Hargeisa and lowering one's head at all the numerous checkpoints that are already on the road between the Capital and Berber. However, if the military find you, they will drop you off and send you back to Hargeisa.

One of the cheapest accommodations in Hargeisa to spend the night is the Geed Debbh Hotel, located on Abdirahman Tur Road, a few hundred meters west of the prison and close to the Maka Al Mukarama Restaurant. Cost for a room with double bed and shared bathroom: $ 6 per night. Wifi not present. Breakfast not included. However, keep in mind that the staff of this Hotel cannot help you organize a Tour to Las Geel and Berbera and therefore if you are interested in obtaining this you must spend the night at the Oriental Hotel located in the center, with very clean and comfortable rooms . Cost for a room with double bed and ensuite bathroom with hot shower: $ 15 per night. Wifi available only in the common areas. Breakfast included in the price. This is the best place to organize a tour in Somaliland, as the owner of the facility who speaks excellent English thinks of getting you (within half an hour) the off-road vehicle with driver, the obligatory armed escort and all the necessary permits. He also issues you the receipt. There is also a price list where you can ask for a 10% discount, summarized below:

1. Las Geel in half a day: $ 110 plus $ 25 to be paid locally for entry to the site;

2. Las Geel and Berbera in one day: $ 189 plus $ 25 to be paid locally for admission to the Las Geel site;

3. Las Geel and Berbera in two days, including an overnight stay in a Hotel in Berbera: $ 250 plus $ 25 to be paid locally for entry to the Las Geel site;

4. Las Geel, Berbera and Sheikh in two days, including an overnight stay in a Hotel in Berbera: $ 298 plus $ 25 to be paid locally for admission to the Las Geel site;

5. Las Geel, Berbera, Burao, Erigavo and Zeila in 5 days, including 4 overnight stays in the Hotel: 360 $ for each day;

6. Dhagah Kuure, Gabiley and Surrounding: $ 175

7. Gabiley and Borama in one day: $ 189

The above prices are inclusive of car rental with driver, fuel, 1 armed soldier supplied by the Government.

For your safety, keep in mind that the armed soldier will follow wherever you go.

Hargesia, the capital, is a city that apparently does not offer much to tourists from the market.

Las Geel, on the other hand, is the most important site in Africa with regard to rock carvings. It is located 50 km north - east of the capital (the last 6 dirt roads).

Berbera is a decadent city that has a lovely fishing port, a fantastic sea and beautiful beaches.

Hargesia Airport is located 6 km south of the city center. The Oriental Hotel organized my transport to the same with a private car at the price of 11 $.

There are 3 security checks at Hargeisa Airport. The first with the metal detector to enter the airport, the second again with the metal detector to enter the Gate Area and the third hand luggage before boarding where your hand luggage is opened and checked. It was during this last check that 6 stylo batteries for my camera were stolen and thrown away, stating that they cannot be taken on the plane. I still had 4 but the assistant didn't find them for me.

There are only 2 companies that have direct flights to Djibouti: Daallo Airlines and Jubba Airways. Both have more or less the same fixed rates: $ 140 one way and $ 145.50 round trip.

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2018/06/viaggio-in-etiopia-addis-abeba-gondar.html