There is a lot that Africa has for wanderlusts and it includes the best places to visit in Somalia. Although known for civil strife, Somalia is exceptionally beautiful.
Also known as the horn of Africa has been in civil war for decades until The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) soldiers intervened in 2007.
Military troops from Kenya, Uganda, Eritrea and Burundi have since worked effortlessly in restoring peace in the Horn of Africa.
Since then, the country has been healing and growing economically significantly boosting local and international tourism.
Here are the 5 best places to visit in Somalia.
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Saryan Museum
Saryan Museum after reconstruction [Photo/Wikimedia Commons]
According to a report released by Saryan Museum; this masterpiece has been receiving visitors around the world with 29 per cent and 21 per cent of the visitors from Norway and the United Kingdom respectively.
Somalia has a rich culture exhibited in the museum by well-trained historians. In addition, the facilities offer a clear history of the public figures in Somalia including fighters, heroes and heroines despite the early discrimination against women.
One of the many outstanding features is the magical stone that was discovered with the exact shape of the Map of Somaliland and the history behind it.
Lido Beach
A football game in Lido beach in Mogadishu, Somalia. Photo/Abdi Latif Dahir
Located in northern Mogadishu, the beach was developed in the 1930s purposely for the Italian colonists. It is the best beach in the city with thousands of people, both local and foreigners, flocking to enjoy the waters.
Visitors stay at Lido Beach way past dusk to watch the beautiful night skyline and the deep blue ocean. This is a perfect scene to get the fresh image of the new Somalia.
The beach has several world-class resorts that offer delicious seafood and numerous activities to spice up your love for Somalia. Remember Somalia has the longest coastline in Africa with 3100 km along the Indian Ocean
Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers
The tomb of the unknown soldiers in Somalia [Photo/travel2unlimited]
It’s popularly known as Daljirka Dawson, and it is an important landmark in Mogadishu. The tomb is located at the centre of the capital and has a huge pillar standing high on a ‘grace’, along with the country’s flag.
Union Mosque, Mogadishu
This is one of the oldest buildings in Somalia and the biggest mosques in the Horn of Africa. It was constructed in 1987 with financial support from the Saudi Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Foundation. With the majority of the citizens being Muslims, the mosque is an iconic structure with a capacity of 10,000 in one sitting.
The mosque’s doors were closed during the civil war that began in the early 1990s, and it remained closed for 16 years, but reopened again in 2006 and later renovated in 2012–2013, under the funding of Turkiye Diyanet Foundation, a non-profit, non-governmental Turkish organization.
The mosque has one white minaret, which is some 35 meters tall and located on the right side of the main entrance. Union Mosque symbolizes unity and mutual respect between Somali citizens.
Mogadishu Cathedral
The Old Mogadishu Cathedral. Photo/Pinterest
The Mogadishu Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Mogadishu, Somalia and was built in 1928 by the Italian colonialists. It served as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mogadiscio before it was bombed in 1990 and was later completely brought down in 2008 by Islam rebels.
After the war, in 2013, the church was used as a refugee camp for internally displaced citizens. However, in 2017, the Cathedral church started its reconstruction. The church gives a good site for both local and foreign visitors to enjoy history as a new Somalia wakes up again.
The Somali Republic has regained its peace and there is no need to skip her during your tours around Africa.
