Somalia
Country · Africa, Eastern Africa
Somalia is a country in Eastern Africa, bordered by Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya. It covers 637,657 square kilometers and has a population of about 19.7 million, with Mogadishu serving as the capital.
Highlights
This guide covers 4 sights in Somalia. In the capital, Mogadishu, visitors can see the Mogadishu Cathedral, the Arba'a Rukun Mosque, and the National Museum of Somalia. Further afield is Daallo Mountain. Other locations of interest include Buur Heybe, Daljirka Dahsoon, the Fakhr al-Din Mosque, and Lag Badana National Park.
Food and drink
Local cuisine includes dishes like Maraq and Sabaayad.
When to go
The weather in Mogadishu is consistently warm, with daily highs ranging from 27 °C to 30 °C throughout the year. The months from January to March and September to December are typically drier. The period from April to July sees more frequent rain, particularly in July, which records about 14 rainy days.
Practical notes
The currency is the Somali shilling. The languages are Somali and Arabic. Travelers use plug type C with a voltage of 220 V. Driving is on the right side of the road. The time zone is UTC+03:00.
Cities
Food and drink to try in Somalia
- Maraq
- Sabaayad
Top sights in Somalia
Weather by month
The warmest month is March, with an average high of 30 °C. The wettest is June, with about 96 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 |
| Average low, °C | 24 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 |
| Rainfall, mm | 5 | 1 | 10 | 84 | 87 | 96 | 57 | 39 | 26 | 49 | 71 | 30 |
| Rainy days | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Mogadishu (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Buur Heybe
- Daljirka Dahsoon
- Fakhr al-Din Mosque
- Lag Badana National Park