Somaliland travel guide

The Somali port city of Berbera used to be something really special. Back in the days of colonization, the natural port was abuzz with shipping and fishing. The town thrived. This is evident by the beautiful period architecture in the colonial buildings which line the quite streets. However, years and even decades of war and instability have taken their toll on the town. The building lie in virtual ruins, crumbling back to the ground from which they sprang. The port is now littered with more shipwrecks than moving cargo ships. And the mood is much more somber than that of the regional capital, Hargeisa. But all is not lost. Berbera has a shockingly pristine beach which stretch far beyond what you can see. And the water is clean. One resort has banked on the success of the hidden treasure, and scuba diving is even available. So perhaps all is not lost for this phoenix rising from the ashes.

Part of the fun of travelling is using the local currency. Different colours, different sizes and different materials almost make it feel as though it's a life-sized game of Monopoly. However, when travelling through the semi-autonomous region of Somaliland, there's entirely different entertainment value. With not much of a functioning banking system, locals have little alternative but to exchange money with vendors in their ramshackle street-side shacks. But the real kicker in the whole transaction is the large denomination bill of the Somaliland Schilling is 500. This is equivalent to a few cents!!! Changing $100 equals about 1,000 local currency notes. Better pack a wheelbarrow to carry your money around.

It is no secret to those who have watch a news broadcast or read a newspaper that Somalia has been rife to turmoil and upheaval since seemingly forever. And there are reminders of the troubled past everywhere. But what the sensationalism does not prepare you for is the peace and stability (relatively speaking) of the self-declared independent region of Somaliland. Here, there are no bombings. There are no kidnappings. Just normal everyday folks going about their daily business. And it's capital, Hargeisa, is a laid-back, easy-going town. For the traveller, there aren't any real "sights" of note. But what you get is a genuine welcome. Locals don't see you as a tourist or an invader, but as a visiting friend. The honest nature makes a stay here shockingly easy. One of the last places like it on Earth.