Tourism in Somaliland is regulated by the Somaliland's Ministry of Tourism.

History

The history of tourism in Somaliland was linked to that of

Somalia Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...

, which decreased rapidly during the Somali Civil War. Since the declaration of Somaliland's independence and the establishment of a ''de facto'' legal government, stability has returned to all but the easternmost part of the country. Many tourists go to Somaliland to visit the archaeological and historical sites close to the capital,

Hargeisa Hargeisa (; so, Hargeysa, ar, هرجيسا) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Somaliland. It is located in the Maroodi Jeex region of the Horn of Africa. It succeeded Burco as the capital of the British Somaliland Protector ...

, and other settlements like Zeila. Natural wonders like the beaches of Berbera or the Cal Madow mountains; or for adventure tourism of being in a country that doesn't legally exist, is still technically in civil war as part of Somalia, or to say that they've been to Somalia, albeit without much of the danger found in Somalia. Most of the travelers to Somaliland enter through Djibouti or Ethiopia, as entering via sea or Somalia are not viable options due to the Somali Civil War/ Puntland-Somaliland Conflict.

Historical sites

Dhambalin Dhambalin ("half, vertically cut mountain") is an archaeological site in the central Sahil province of Somaliland. The sandstone rock shelter contains rock art depicting various animals such as horned cattle and goats, as well as giraffes, an ani ...

– Archaeological site in Sahil region, with rock art in the Ethiopian-Arabian style showing early evidence of animal domestication. The National Archives UK - CO 1069-8-36

* Haylaan – Site of numerous ancient ruins and buildings. Includes the tombs of Sheikh

Darod The Darod ( so, Daarood, ar, دارود) is a Somali clan. The forefather of this clan was Sheikh Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti, more commonly known as ''Darood''. The clan primarily settles the apex of the Horn of Africa and its peripheries ...

and his wife

Dobira Dombiro ( ar, دُومبِرَ بِنت دَغَالَ), was a Somali historical figure, known for being the wife of the progenitor of the Darod clan, Sheikh Abdulrahman al-Jabarti. Biography Dombiro was the daughter of Dagale (Dikalla), the Di ...

. * Laas Gaal – Complex of caves in northwestern Somaliland containing some of the earliest known rock art in the region. Its cave paintings have been estimated to date back between 9,000-3,000 BCE. *

Maydh Maydh (also transliterated as Mait or Meit) (, ) is an ancient port city in the eastern Sanaag region of Somaliland. History Antiquity According to Augustus Henry Keane, Maydh represents an early center of dispersal of the Somali people. Nationa ...

– Site of an ancient port city in the Sanaag region of Somaliland. Includes the tomb of Sheikh Isaaq. * Qa’ableh – Old town with a number of ancient burial structures. Believed to harbor the tombs of former kings from early periods of Somali history. Includes the tomb of Sheikh

Harti Harti ( so, Harti, ar, هرتي), meaning "strong man", is a Somali clan family that is part of the Darod clan. The major sub-clans include the Majeerteen, Dhulbahante, Warsangali, Tinle, Maganlabe and Dishiishe, while other minor sub-clans ...

. *

Qombo'ul Qombo'ul ( so, Qumbucul) is a very old and historical town in the eastern Sanaag region of Somaliland. Overview Qombo'ul lies approximately 40 km east of Badhan, on the road to Bosaso and west of the town of Mindigale. An old settlement t ...

– Historic town in the Sanaag region. Sites include ancient ruins, buildings and structures. *

Taleh Taleh ( so, Taleex, ar, تليح) is a historical town in the eastern Sool region of Somaliland. As of September 2015, both Puntland and Somaliland had nominal influence or control in Taleh and it's vicinity. The town served as the capital ...

– Former capital of the

Dervish State The Dervish Movement ( so, Dhaqdhaqaaqa Daraawiish) was a popular movement between 1899 and 1920, which was led by the Salihiyya Sufi Muslim poet and militant leader Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, also known as Sayyid Mohamed, who called for independe ...

. Features a large fortress complex. *

Zeila Zeila ( so, Saylac, ar, زيلع, Zayla), also known as Zaila or Zayla, is a historical port town in the western Awdal region of Somaliland. In the Middle Ages, the Jewish traveller Benjamin of Tudela identified Zeila (or Hawilah) with the Bibl ...

– The commercial port of Avalites in antiquity, and the first capital of the medieval

Adal Sultanate The Adal Sultanate, or the Adal Empire or the ʿAdal or the Bar Saʿad dīn (alt. spelling ''Adel Sultanate, ''Adal ''Sultanate'') () was a medieval Sunni Muslim Empire which was located in the Horn of Africa. It was founded by Sabr ad-Din II ...

Beaches

*Baathela –

Berbera Berbera (; so, Barbara, ar, بربرة) is the capital of the Sahil region of Somaliland and is the main sea port of the country. Berbera is a coastal city and was the former capital of the British Somaliland protectorate before Hargeisa. It ...

Waterfalls

* Lamadaya

Mountain ranges

Cal Madow Cal Madow (also Calmadow, Al Madow, Al Medu, or Al Mado; so, Buuraha Calmadow; ar, عَلَمْدُو, ʿAlamdū) is a mountain range in Somaliland. It stretches across an area between the east of Erigavo, Somaliland, to the Bari region of So ...

Golis Mountains The Golis Mountains are a mountain range in Somaliland. Also known as ''Qar Golis'', they cut through the Togdheer region, and end near the Gan Libah. Jerato Pass This range has a mountain pass known as the "Jerrato Pass". See also * Cal Ma ...

Ogo Mountains The Ogo Mountains, also known as the Galgodon Highlands, (, ) are a mountain range in Somaliland. They cross the Sanaag and Togdheer regions. With a mean peak height of , the ecology of this landform is semi-desert. Ecology Due to the Ogo ...

National parks

* Daallo Mountain *

Hargeisa National Park Hargeisa National Park (HNP) is a national park in Hargeisa, Somaliland. Located outside the city of Hargeisa in the north. See also *Daallo Mountain Notes References

* National parks of Somaliland Hargeisa {{Somaliland-geo-stub ...