Senior travel: Hargeisa
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
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Pace for a day
About 3 stops a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 41 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- Freedom ArchStep-free: yes · about 15 minRoadside; no facilities.
- Hargeisa War MemorialStep-free: yes · about 25 minAn open street-side memorial with a paved plinth area; no toilets on site.
- Money-changers' streetStep-free: no (check before you go) · about 25 minCrowded, uneven street; not suitable for wheelchairs.
- Hargeisa Cultural CentreStep-free: check (check before you go) · about 60 minGround-floor library and exhibition space; ask on arrival about other levels.
- Hargeisa livestock marketStep-free: no (check before you go) · about 60 minOpen ground: dust, mud in the rains, animals and vehicles; not suitable for wheelchairs.
- Waheen marketStep-free: no (check before you go) · about 60 minCrowded, uneven lanes; not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
Getting around in Hargeisa
Hargeisa is hard going on wheels: rough or missing pavements, dust and few ramps. Plan door-to-door car rides and choose a hotel with a lift.
- Pavements:
- Rough, unpaved or missing; roads are dusty and busy.
- Getting around:
- A hired car with a driver is the step-free option; minibuses and three-wheelers are not.
- Hotels:
- Larger hotels may have lifts and ground-floor rooms: ask before you book.
- Toilets:
- Western-style toilets in hotels; squat toilets elsewhere.
Medicines and health on the ground
The Somaliland guide lists no medicine paperwork. Check the official customs page for your medicines.
- Malaria and dengue:
- Possible: take advice from a travel clinic, use repellent and sleep under a net or with screens.
- Water and food:
- Bottled water only; eat hot, freshly cooked food; avoid salads washed in tap water.
- Altitude and sun:
- About 1,300 m: the sun is strong; wear a hat, use sunscreen and drink water.
- Vaccinations:
- Check routine and travel vaccines with a clinic several weeks ahead; a yellow-fever certificate may be needed if you come from an endemic country.
- Medical care:
- Limited: bring your own medicines and insurance with evacuation cover.
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.