Harar to Somaliland and back, May 2016

Bob Francescone writes: We did this trip overland in May, 2016. It’s an easy trip to Somaliland, a time-consuming one back. Buses leave from Harar for Jijiga very frequently, but not until they are filled, double-filled, and triple-filled. Our bus had 25 seats and 45 people. Ditto for the bus from Jijiga to the border. …

Somaliland Embassy in Addis Ababa

According to this post (January 2016) on the Thorntree, the Somaliland Embassy in Addis Ababa has moved yet again - this time close to Edna Mall & Medhane Alem Church (Grid G5 on the map on p 158-9 on the Bradt 7th edition) https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/africa/somalia/current-somaliland-embassy-location-in-addis-ababa-58920b23-d001-4a26-a740-c7f1ad52c679?page=1#post_21941788

Ethiopia visas in Somaliland

Thanks to Pawel for the following important news (which I have expanded slightly) It is no longer possible to get an Ethiopian visa in Somaliland. The Ethiopian representative office in Hargeisa is not issuing them anymore. So if you plan on visiting Somaliland from Ethiopia, you either need a multiple-entry visa for Ethiopia, or you …

Jijiga & Tog Wajaale

Phil King writes: We stayed in Jijiga for a night on the way to Hargeisa and again on the way back. We stayed at the Bade (sometimes spelled Bada) on the way there. We found it to be unfriendly, gloomy, badly maintained, and very poor value at 250 birr. On the way back we stayed …

Bradt Guide to Somaliland

This is to alert readers of the Bradt Guide to Ethiopia that there is also now a Bradt Guide to Somaliland - click on the cover below for full details!

Addis Ababa updates

I spent a couple of days in Addis Ababa en route to Somaliland (where I was working on a new Bradt guide) and compiled an extensive list of updates: Exchange Rate: Currently around Birr 16 to US$1 Somaliland Embassy & Visas: The Somaliland Embassy is next to the Namibian Embassy about 200 metres north of, …

Ethiopia & Somaliland updates

Hello Philip Many thanks for your brilliant 'Ethiopia'. I thought that I'd share some observations I made on a recent trip to Ethiopia (E) and Somaliland (S) with you. Adigrat (E) - Hohoma Hotel was fantastic. We payed 100 birr for a double with great hot shower, comfortable beds with new linen and TV. The …