A country · 24 places · 4 regions

Somalia, all of it.

24 curated places across 4 regions — photographed, mapped, and noted with the season each is best in.

Berbera · via Wikimedia Commons

Somalia reads below in 4 chapters — Banaadir, Lower Shebelle, Bari and Ra'as Aseir — in any order you like.

Chapter I · Banaadir · 7 places

Banaadir

Standing on the shore of the old town, this lighthouse has long guided vessels approaching the historic harbour of Mogadishu, one of the great trading ports of the medieval Indian Ocean world. Its weathered tower rises near the coral-stone buildings of the Hamar Weyne district, a reminder of the city's centuries as a hub linking Africa, Arabia and Asia. Battered by years of conflict, the structure remains a recognisable coastal landmark. It marks the edge of a shoreline steeped in maritime history.

Mogadishu Lighthouse

Banaadir, Somalia

✦ December–February · $

Fakr ad-Din Mosque

Banaadir, Somalia

✦ December–February · $

Liido Beach

Banaadir, Somalia

✦ December–February · $

All 7 places in Banaadir →

via Wikimedia Commons

Chapter II · Lower Shebelle · 2 places

Lower Shebelle

An ancient Swahili-Somali port town famed for its old mosques, tombs and unique Bravanese Islamic culture. Its coral-stone architecture recalls centuries of Indian Ocean trade.

Meet Barawa All 2 places in Lower Shebelle →

Chapter III · Bari · 1 place

Bari

This sandy peninsula forms the easternmost point of continental Africa, projecting into the Indian Ocean. Its remote dunes and ancient trade history give it deep geographic significance along the Horn of Africa.

Ras Hafun

Bari, Somalia

All 1 place in Bari →

via Wikimedia Commons

Chapter IV · Ra'as Aseir · 1 place

Ra'as Aseir

Standing at the tip of the Horn of Africa, this star-shaped monument marks one of the most strategic capes on the Indian Ocean. It overlooks waters long known for shipwrecks and strong currents.

✦ November to February

Meet Cape Guardafui Lighthouse All 1 place in Ra'as Aseir →