Africa
Somalia
One of Africa's longest coastlines, ancient trading cities and vast desert horizons, a rarely-visited frontier for the most seasoned traveller.
- Currency
- Somali Shilling (SOS)
- Language
- Arabic, Somali
- Best time
- August – September & December – March
- Visa
- Visa required: eVisa before you fly to Mogadishu (FCDO reports an ongoing data breach affecting the eVisa system); single-entry visa on arrival at Hargeisa. The FCDO advises against all travel to Somalia, including Somaliland, except Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil, where it advises against all but essential travel
FCDO advises against all travel to Somalia, including Somaliland, except for the regions of Awdal, Maroodijeh, and Sahil
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the regions of Awdal, Maroodijeh, and Sahil
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — the definitive source. Check it close to your travel dates.
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Why Somalia
One of Africa's longest coastlines, ancient trading cities and vast desert horizons, a rarely-visited frontier for the most seasoned traveller.
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Somalia is among the least-visited places on earth, a Horn of Africa nation of endless Indian Ocean coastline, ancient port cities and deep nomadic heritage. This is frontier travel in its purest form, for the intrepid few rather than the many.
The country's assets are real: turquoise seas and empty white-sand beaches, historic trading towns like Berbera and the old quarters of Mogadishu, and the striking rock art of Laas Geel, some of the best-preserved in Africa, in the self-declared region of Somaliland.
A serious word of caution: the FCDO advises against all travel to Somalia, including Somaliland, except the regions of Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil, where it advises against all but essential travel. Travelling against FCDO advice can invalidate your travel insurance. This entry is a portrait of the destination, not an endorsement to travel, always check the latest official advice first.
Somalia in pictures
Weather & timing in Somalia RIGHT NOW 30°C mostly clear
Best Jan–Feb, Sep · Shoulder Mar, Aug, Dec
Units
Next 7 days
Forecast · Met Office · updated 13 Nov · Powered by Met Office data
Typical · climate data
Best time to visit
August – September & December – March
Units
Spring (Mar–May)
What to expect — Daytime highs average about 31°C with overnight lows near 25°C.
What's best — Dry season, then Wet season.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
What to expect — Daytime highs average about 28°C with overnight lows near 24°C.
What's best — Shoulder season, then Wet season.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
What to expect — Daytime highs average about 29°C with overnight lows near 24°C.
What's best — Shoulder season, then Wet season.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
What to expect — Daytime highs average about 31°C with overnight lows near 24°C, and it stays largely dry.
What's best — Dry season.
- Somali National Meteorological Agency (via IGAD ICPAC) · National service
Know before you go
The practical back-matter — safety, drones and the essentials, in one place.
Safety
Official UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office guidance is the definitive source — check it close to your travel dates.