Somalia is an unstable and troubled country, but it hasn’t always been that way. The country was once much more accessible, with tour operators taking groups of intrepid travellers on Somalia safaris and cultural holidays.
During the 1980s, Somalia’s government actively encouraged tourism. As well as building hotels, they began to establish game reserves and national parks, and encourage the development of a Somalia safari industry. The government is beginning to encourage tourism again, but most of the country is still not considered safe.
That’s a shame, because Somalia’s wildlife is certainly worth seeing. We’re hoping that the country can get back on its feet and become Africa’s next big safari destination. Somalia has a diverse geography, making it a place with lots of potential for wildlife tours and safaris. It has a long coastline on the Indian Ocean, areas of highlands and mountains, and large areas of arid desert plains. The national parks set up by the government in the 1980s still exist, but they have become increasingly difficult to protect. Despite this, Somalia still retains a rich variety of wildlife.
All the big African animals you’d expect to see in neighbouring Kenya and the rest of East Africa are there: giraffe, lions, elephants, zebra, antelope, wildebeest and more. The largest area of Somalia is made up of the kind of dry grassland these animals need. In the mountains, there are several species of primates.
A Somalia safari might not be practical right now, but we hope that the country can recover from conflict and develop a safari industry, just as Rwanda has done. Until it does, take a look at either Tanzania, Rwanda or Kenya for an East African safari experience.
