Somalia

Do South Africans need a visa for Somalia?

Yes. Every visitor needs an approved electronic visa (eTAS) before starting the journey. Somaliland, in the north, runs its own entry system, so if you’re going there, check its requirements separately.

What the official advice covers

As we checked it on 19 September 2026, the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Somalia, including Somaliland, except the Somaliland regions of Awdal, Maroodijeh (which includes Hargeisa) and Sahil (which includes Berbera), where it advises against all but essential travel. Mogadishu and the south are under the all-travel warning. Read the current advice before you decide.

What it costs (in rand)

In Somaliland, budget around R500–850 a day for guesthouses, food and a guide. US dollars are widely used, and mobile money does much of the rest. Mogadishu is a different world: visitors typically need professional security, which costs far more.

When to go

The drier months — roughly December to March and July to September — are the usual windows. Coastal Berbera is extremely hot in mid-summer.

Getting around

Most visitors fly into Hargeisa, commonly via Addis Ababa or Dubai — compare flights. Somaliland has historically required foreigners travelling between towns to take an armed escort, which guesthouses and guides can arrange; check the current rule. Mainstream travel eSIMs don’t cover Somalia, so buy a local SIM on arrival.

What it’s known for

The Laas Geel cave paintings near Hargeisa — some of the best-preserved Neolithic rock art in Africa — and the old Ottoman-era port town and beaches of Berbera, both in regions under the all-but-essential warning. Mogadishu, with its Lido beach, is under the all-travel warning.

Honest take

Somaliland has a small but steady flow of adventurous visitors, drawn by Laas Geel and a place few people see, and the FCDO warning there is a level below the rest of the country. For South Africans, the paperwork is an e-visa, plus Somaliland’s own entry rules. Read the current advice, travel with a trusted local guide, and decide for yourself.