Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
er with elastic bands. Most hotels also change money and don't take commission. Somali-
land is a strictly cash economy - forget about travellers cheques and credit cards. One
ATM had just been introduced at the time of research (in the same street as Oriental
Hotel) but it didn't accept foreign cards - check while you're there. Money transfers from
a number of countries (
Click here
)
are possible.
Post & Telephone
There's no post office in Hargeisa. You'll have to use courier services, such as DHL (hotel
staff can assist with this).
Making phone calls is easy and cheap. You can also bring your mobile phone and buy a
local SIM card from
Telesom
(Independence Rd)
or any other mobile phone company.
Tourist Information
Hotel owners (especially at the Ambassador and the Oriental Hotel, among others) are the
best sources for travel information and can also help with visa matters, escorts and car
rentals. You can also head to the
Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Tourism
(
440148, 4014801; south of Independence Rd;
7am-noon Sat-Thu)
, which is in the vi-
cinity of the Imperial Hotel.
Getting There & Away
Air
See
Click here
f
or details on flights to/from Somaliland.
Sagal Travel Agency
(
2514480; Independence Rd)
sells air tickets.
The
airport
(Airport Rd)
is about 5km south of the centre.
Land
Regular shared taxis travel between Hargeisa, Berbera, Sheekh, Burao, and Tog Wajaale
at the Ethiopian border. They leave from various departure points (north of town for
Borama, Tog Wajaale and Djibouti; three blocks east from the Oriental Hotel for Berbera;
and near the Municipality building for Sheekh and Burao). They cost from US$6 to
US$12 depending on the destination. There are also daily services to Djibouti (
Click here
).
