Travora
/ Somalia
Horn of Africa, Indian Ocean beaches — but an active conflict zone
Somalia sits at the tip of the Horn of Africa, with the longest coastline on the African mainland along the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, white-sand beaches and a rich history of trading cities. On paper, the country offers dramatic landscapes and a proud, nomadic, poetic Somali culture. In reality, Somalia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world: ongoing armed conflict, frequent attacks by the Al-Shabaab group including in Mogadishu, and an extreme risk of kidnapping for foreigners. Nearly every government formally advises against all travel. This guide exists for information only: ordinary tourist travel is neither realistic nor advisable under current conditions.
The visa, step by step
How to apply
Since 1 September 2025, the Federal Government of Somalia requires a mandatory e-visa / electronic travel authorisation (eTAS) BEFORE departure, applied for online on the official portal. You complete the form, upload documents and pay by card. For tourism/business/family visits you must select an approved sponsor organisation and provide a Letter of Guarantee ("Warqad Dammaanad"). Important: visas issued by Mogadishu are NOT valid for Somaliland (Hargeisa), which runs its own policy (visa on arrival) and is a separate authority.
Required documents
- Passport valid at least 6 months
- Recent digital passport photo
- Completed online e-visa form
- Letter of Guarantee / sponsor from an approved organisation
- Proof of accommodation and travel itinerary
- Bank card for online payment
Good to know
- •EXTREME DANGER: nearly every government formally advises against all travel to Somalia ("do not travel" level). Getting a visa does not mean the trip is safe.
- •Ongoing armed conflict and frequent Al-Shabaab attacks, including in Mogadishu; the international airport has closed without warning after mortar fire.
- •Very high kidnapping risk: foreigners are prime targets for ransom across the country.
- •Somaliland (Hargeisa, Berbera) is a breakaway region that is comparatively calmer but still high-risk, with a separate authority and visa; an armed escort is often required outside the cities.
- •A Somali visa (Mogadishu) is not recognised for entering Somaliland, and vice versa.
- •No standard travel insurance covers a war zone; on-the-ground consular services are almost non-existent.
A one-week budget
Round-trip flight from Douala / Yaoundé
510 000 FCFA–900 000 FCFANo direct flights from Douala or Yaoundé. Reaching Mogadishu requires a layover, most often via Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines) or Nairobi (Kenya Airways), sometimes with a second stop. Allow roughly 12 to 20 hours total. Connections are irregular and Mogadishu airport can close without warning for security reasons.
Indicative round-trip price: it varies widely by season, layover and how early you book.
Where the money goes (backpacker estimate)
Budget simulator
What to do there
Indian Ocean coastline (for reference)
Somalia has the longest coastline in mainland Africa, with white-sand beaches such as Lido in Mogadishu. Stunning on paper, but access is dangerous: attacks, kidnappings and security restrictions make tourist swimming unthinkable right now.
Mogadishu old town and cathedral
The capital retains Italian colonial architecture, the ruined cathedral and the lighthouse — relics of a prosperous merchant past. These sites now sit in a very high-risk area and are recurring targets of attacks.
Hargeisa and Somaliland
Capital of the breakaway Somaliland region, Hargeisa is comparatively calmer, with a lively market and a memorial. It is the most visited part of the territory, but remains high-risk and falls under a separate authority.
Laas Geel rock art
Near Hargeisa, the Laas Geel caves hold some of Africa's best-preserved Neolithic rock paintings, thousands of years old. An archaeological treasure, visited in Somaliland with a mandatory armed escort.
Berbera and the Gulf of Aden coast
A historic Somaliland port on the Gulf of Aden, Berbera has long beaches and Ottoman-era architecture. Access is subject to the same security constraints and Somaliland authority.
Nomadic culture and Somali poetry
Somalia is renowned for its oral tradition, poetry and pastoral nomadic culture. This intangible heritage is one of the country's riches, but it is best appreciated from afar given the impossibility of free travel.
One week, day by day
- D1
Note: indicative itinerary — travel is formally advised against
- D2
Hargeisa (Somaliland): market, memorial and security logistics
- D3
Day trip to Laas Geel with a mandatory armed escort
- D4
Road to Berbera: Gulf of Aden coast
- D5
Berbera: historic port and beaches (under restrictions)
- D6
Return to Hargeisa, buffer time (irregular flights)
- D7
Departure flight — check whether the airport is open
Travel checklist
A printable list (or save as PDF) so you forget nothing.
Travel checklist — Somalie
Before you leave
What to pack
Indicative data (June 2026), reliability moyenne. Visa rules, prices and timelines change: always confirm with official sources before booking.
Already been to Somalia?
Your feedback helps future travellers plan their trip better. It only takes a few minutes.