Top Things to do in Hargeysa
Top 7 Things to do in Hargeysa, Somalia
Discover the best top things to do in Hargeysa, Somalia including Laas Geel, Livestock Market, MiG Jet, Saryan Museum, Dahabshiil Business Centre, Independence Monument, Guul Goals.
Restaurants in Hargeysa
1. Laas Geel
Overall Ratings
5 based on 39 reviews
Reviewed By bobinathens - Nokomis, Florida
The rock paintings at Las Geel are THE reason to visit Somaliland. We saw the rock paintings in May 2016 when 2 of us bussed overland from Harar, Ethiopia, to Hargeisa, Somaliland.
Las Geel is about 100km from Hargeisa but the only way to get there is by hired car. That costs about $100 for the car and driver and gas regardless of the number of people. We included it in a longer onward 3 day 2 night trip to Berbere, on the blisteringly hot coast, and to Shaikh, up in the cool Mountains.
The trip is easy,on paved roads, though the last 6 kilometers or so are off-road over rough track. The site itself is on a rock outcropping that requires minor negotiations with boulders. There are stairs most of the way up. The paintings are inside overhangs and protected from both sun and rain. This accounts for their astonishing level of preservation and clarity after 5 to 7 thousand years. The images of cattle are especially stunning, abstracted to blocky bodies and soaring horns. There are many, many images, often superimposed one atop the others. It’s the largest number of such ancient images so far found in any one place anywhere in Africa. The only ones I have seen like them in quality, state of preservation and beauty are in remote regions of Chad.
At the site you’ll play $25 to the guard. He’ll walk you up, down, and through the site and point out the major paintings. His English is minimal, mostly animal names. He may speak languages other than Somali, but all we had to try was some French, and Chinese, so we left it at his English. Photography is permitted. One to two hours should be plenty of time, even allowing for photos.
It was brain roasting hot at noon at Las Geel. Try to leave Hargeisa as early in the day as you can. Bring plenty of water and a hat.
2. Livestock Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Steven P - Pueblo, Colorado
A fun outing to the camel market with goats also on offer! A man tried to sell me a camel but I refused explaining I wanted a female so I could start building my own caravan! Many friendly, good-natured people which is pretty much the norm for Hargeisa, you were as much an attraction to them as they to you.
3. MiG Jet
Overall Ratings
4 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Steven P - Pueblo, Colorado
A small park featuring a Somali MIG17 that attacked Hargeisa during the civil war turned into a monument to the Somaliland resistance! There is very good street food available from several vendors located here.
4. Saryan Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Robert C
I was the only person there, so the owner showed me around and explained things for me. It cost $3 to get in. Should take 30 minutes to see it all. I'm glad I stopped in. I learned a lot.
5. Dahabshiil Business Centre
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 5 reviews
The brand new and relatively ultramodern building here is much more than just a bank building. It will also house the first truly modern Business mall in Hargeisa, which is substantial in size, Dahabshiil Business Centre is the tallest building in Somaliland
Reviewed By Ahmed D
Dahabshiil Business Centre is the tallest building and the biggest shopping mall in Somaliland. If you are in Hargeisa or visit it's a must see place, it has Banks, restaurants, hotels, GYM, swimming pool, shopping centers and all most everything else in modern Malls.
6. Independence Monument
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Robert C
The monument suffers from neglect and graffiti. Some men came out from a nearby shop to tell me not to take pictures. It took intervention from some passers-by to diffuse the situation.
