Travel to Somalia to backpack, study, intern, volunteer, work,

or live as a digital nomad, expat or emigrant?

Somalia: table of content

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Intro

Somalia is like an episode of Game of Thrones: rugged, unpredictable and full of surprises. The country is not the first choice of the average tourist and that is not without reason since the country is suffering from wars and instability. If you do find a moment to go, embrace the chaos, the adventure and enjoy the variety and landscapes that the country has to offer.
Spotting activities: swim, surf and relax on Mogadishu Beach; climb hills and admire ancient rock paintings in Laas Geel; experience the relaxed atmosphere of Berbera; smell money at the Money Market in Hargeisa; visit the Somaliland Heritage Museum; dive in the Gulf of Aden; take a camel ride; attend cultural festivals and discover hidden desert caves.
Spotting animals: chameleons (but hard to find), gazelles, Arabian oryx, ostriches, hyenas, wild donkeys, African wild dog, rock hyraxes.
Food spotting: sambusa, canjeero, bariis ishkukaris, muqmad, halwa, malawah.

With limited resources and infrastructure, it is not the most obvious country to study. If you still want to take on the challenge, there are several universities and programs to choose from! For example, it can be interesting to follow Islamic studies or study medicine, technology or local history.
Study cities: Mogadishu, Hargeysa.
Language: Somali, English and here and there Arabic.

It is not easy to find an internship, but you have the best chance via the diplomatic route, with NGOs or international aid organizations.
Competencies: dealing with conflict situations, responsibility, cultural awareness, cooperation, Somali and English skills.

There is a demand for humanitarian, healthcare, education and technology workers. You can also search through your national diplomatic departments.

Few people choose to move to Somalia, but those who do can experience a warm welcome and a somewhat chaotic life.
Why yes, why not? The hospitality, authentic culture and the opportunities to make a difference in development cooperation are certainly attractions, but... there are also security challenges, infrastructure problems and few facilities and conveniences.
Education: limited opportunities.
Expat community: small and often concentrated around NGOs and international organisations.
Safety: improved, but still a challenge.
Climate: hot summers and mild winters.
Health insurance: facilities are limited, so it is advisable to have your own comprehensive health insurance.

Supporting content:

Somalia Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips

Side Roads: JoHo.org

ACTIVITIES

Help kinderen in nood op het gebied van gezondheid, onderwijs en opvang

Maak een groepsrondreis of individuele tour met veel aandacht voor cultuur, ontmoeting, erfgoed onder leiding van een ervaren lokale gids

Afhankelijk van je vaardigheden kun je bijdragen aan verschillende activiteiten gericht op natuurbehoud om zo het jachtluipaard te beschermen

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Activities abroad: home bundle

STORIES

Travel in Somalia

Somalia has been involved in many wars and is therefore known as an unstable country. The landscape is mostly flat and dry and has a number of mountain ranges such as the Karkaar Mountains. In addition, there...

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