Travelling to Hargeisa, Somaliland is a once in a lifetime adventure. Despite the fact that it is not a very famous tourist destination, with very few sites to visit all the seasoned backpackers who have traveled to this far land talk about the hospitality and warmth of the local people.
Somaliland has a long and disturbing history of war and most of its cities still are not considered secure for tourists. Although it is a self-declared state now and overall infrastructure situation is improving but finding a safe, cozy and budget friendly place there can be much harder than booking a cheap flight to Hargeisa. When you enter this African city you can be amazed to see quite a variety of places to stay there. Here are some best and tourist friendly places shortlisted which can help you stay in your trip to Hargeisa.
Damal Hotel:
Damal Hotel derives its name from the Somali word for acacia tree. In traditional stories this tree is often described as the ideal shade for herdsman on the move. So according to this hotel seeks to present an ideal shade for business and holiday travelers with a touch of comfort and warmth.
This hotel is located in the center of Hargeisa. It offers a nice view of freedom square and while having your dinner or drinks you can witness the splendid view of sunset from their restaurant. Its building is rather new and constructed on the basis of modern and international architectural design. With 105 spacious and clean rooms with options to choose from deluxe, super deluxe, family and suite categories. It doesn’t matter which category you choose to stay in, all the rooms are equipped with contemporary furniture and other basic facilities to serve both businessmen and seasoned travelers’ needs.
Wifi here is not so dependable, breakfast, parking and laundry services are provided free in this hotel and they also offer free pickup from the airport which is a big relief for a foreign traveler.
Here in Damal Hotel staff is very pleasant and accommodating they will do everything in their hand to make your trip wonderful and memorable and they can organize your tours in the country for you. The food here is also very good but a bit expensive but as it is centrally located you have the option of walking around and try other food places nearby.
Ambassador Hotel:
If you are looking for hospitality and ambience, Ambassador Hotel is one of the finest hotels in Hargeisa which can fully accommodate you in this matter. It is one of the best luxury hotels in Hargeisa. It is situated on the top of the hills overlooking the panoramic view of the capital city of Somaliland. The main city is not so far from this place just 4-5km. You can easily walk out to the main road which is by the end of the hotel area and get on a public bus to roam around the city.
If you are the person who doesn’t compromise on a good sound sleep and relaxing ambiance then this is surely the right place for you. Rooms are neat and very comfortable, with mosquito net over the beds. Wifi works excellent everywhere in the hotel even out in the garden where you can sit, order food and eat your breakfast lunch and dinner. Breakfast and airport pickup and drop off are complementary for the tourist.
Superior customer service is one of most standing features of this hotel. Their in-house staff is super helpful and welcoming and greets you with a big smile every time you enter the hotel which is enough to brighten anyone’s day.
Most unique feature of Ambassador Hotel is it offers an outdoor restaurant which will delight your taste buds with finest cuisines and exotic flavors. Their freshly made camel-stake is no doubt is one of the best dishes you can ever taste in your life. Their restaurant provides a good place for informal and formal business meetings. In short, Ambassador Hotel excels in every detail and you can have great value for your money staying there.
Orient Hotel:
Oriental Hotel is one of the famous hotels in Hargeisa and you can never meet a single person who ever travelled to Hargeisa and is not familiar with this hotel. It is super located in the heart of the city with easy walking distance to markets, banks and small restaurants. It is quite an old place but if you ask locals where to stay their only suggestion would be Oriental Hotel.
It has very simple but neat accommodation and it is as fairly budget friendly as you book a cheap flight to Hargeisa. Rooms are clean and airy; Wifi quality is not so good it’s kind of unreliable. Oriental Hotel provides excellent accommodation. They offer deluxe single and double rooms that are well furnished at a reasonable price for short and longer stay. All the rooms have satellite-TV, telephone, hot and cold water and they also provide ‘hit or miss’ kind of room-service.
They also have a restaurant with very good service. Food is also good at a reasonable price. They also provide excellent complimentary breakfast. Staff here in Oriental Hotel is kind and polite. They can also facilitate you by arranging trips outside Hargeisa and can help you join other tourists with similar interests.
Maan-Soor Hotel:
For a first timer coming to Somaliland surely will have doubts about where to stay. Once you reach Hargeisa there will be a lot of hotel signs flashing in front of your eyes. You may have not heard about Maan-Soor Hotel as it is not very famous, not so big, not much fancy but it contains certain warmth inside its building which makes you feel home. It is a small hotel that brings the best features of Hargeisa at your doorstep.
They have an on-site restaurant and offer you complimentary breakfast; quality of food is good with sufficient quantity and guests arriving by vehicles can park for free. As it is not far from the center of the city tourists can easily experience one or two famous landmarks of Hargeisa. The hotel staff is very welcoming and friendly and all of them can understand and speak very good English so communication with them is not a hurdle. It is kind of an oasis of peace with a secure environment with its own walking place and swimming pool. Maan-Soor Hotel is a surprisingly comfortable option with budget friendly features.
So, pack your bags, hit the road and have once-in-a-lifetime experience.
