Somali Region

A Pastoral Heartland

Life here moves to the rhythm of the herds, with camels, goats and cattle at the centre of a proud pastoral culture. Somali hospitality is legendary, built around sweet spiced tea, poetry and long conversation in the shade. Rich oral traditions of verse and song give the region a soul that has endured for centuries.

Highland Jijiga

The regional capital, Jijiga, surprises many visitors by sitting high and cool on a green plateau, a world away from the hot lowlands below. It is a bustling commercial city where highland and lowland cultures meet and trade flows in from every direction. Camel markets, lively bazaars and a fast growing skyline capture a region on the move.

Rivers and Wildlife

Down in the south, the Shebelle and Genale rivers bring ribbons of green to the dry country, sustaining farms and wildlife alike. Remote reserves shelter gazelle, hyena and a wealth of birdlife for the truly intrepid traveller. For those drawn to wide horizons and living traditions, few places feel so vast and untamed.