Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The name alone sounds impossibly exotic, conjuring images of tropical ports, spices and
palm oil. If the reality is a little more prosaic, Berbera is a real gem that oozes ambience
and soul and should definitely be on your itinerary. It's hard to believe when you see it,
but Berbera was once a busy town. Lying on the Gulf of Aden opposite Yemen, it has
been a centre of maritime trade since ancient times. Today this shady town consists mostly
of crumbling buildings and mud-and-thatch houses. Various restorations schemes are un-
der investigation but nothing has been done yet.
Berbera's potential is immense, though, with superb beaches and a relaxed atmosphere.
If, one day, Somaliland appears on tourist brochures, Berbera will probably top the bill.
Meanwhile, it's a nice little earner for Somaliland thanks to land-locked Ethiopia's need
for a cheap, friendly port.
Sights
Berbera is one of those places where the real attraction is just the overall feel of the place
- it's shrouded with a palpable historical aura - and there actually aren't all that many
'sights' to tick off. Having said that, there is an array of pre-20th-century buildings dotted
around the historic centre. You'll see a few remarkable examples of
mansions
dating back
to the Ottoman era as well as venerable old
mosques
, though these fragile architectural
beauties are gradually disintegrating due to a lack of funds.
You can also delve into the small
market
area and soak up its atmosphere. Not far from
Al Xayaat Restaurant, the tiny
fishing harbour
deserves a few photo snaps (but ask per-
mission first).
Towards the commercial port, the
Ottoman Mosque
, with its balconied minaret, is
worth a peek. Forget about visiting the
port
if you don't have permission from the Muni-
cipality and the harbourmaster.
Berbera is also bound by sweeping beaches, about 3km from the centre, including
Baathela Beach
, just in front of Maan-soor Hotel. At dawn, dolphins can be seen frolick-
ing in the bay.
Sleeping
Yaxye Hotel $$
(
HOTEL
4410098, 740577; s with/without bathroom & fan US$10/7, d with air-con US$25;
)
The Yaxye feels a little more modern than its equivalents elsewhere in the centre.
