-
Make a real difference...
-
to communities across Africa.
-
Share skills and knowledge...
-
and sponsor children...
-
to develop a better future
-
...and change lives forever!
Somalia is located in the Horn of Africa and is
bordered by Djibouti to its north-west, Kenya to its
south-west, the Gulf of Aden to its north, the
Indian Ocean to its east and Ethiopia to its west. Somalia itself is slightly smaller than the state of
Texas in the USA and features a coastline that
stretches for 1880 miles that not only served as a
basis for trading across the far east, but also
established fishing as a major feature of the
Somalia economy rather than agriculture. Somalia countryside consists of the Karkaar Mountains in the far north, to highlands, plains and plateaus,
most of which are 600 feet above sea level, that are all subject to a hot, arid environment that limits agriculture to the south-west of the country where Somalia's rivers the Juba and Shebelle,
both originating in Ethiopia,
can be found as they flow into the Indian Ocean. Somalia's other
main rivers, the Daror and the Nugaaleed only flow
for part of the year.
As can be seen from the video (below) showing images of Somalia, vegetation is sparse, consisting mainly of thorny
bushes and plumes of grasses. The Somalia countryside is subject to little rainfall, and
what does occur, does so irregularly, leading to recurring
droughts familiar across the Horn of Africa together with high
temperatures and monsoon winds. Whilst
travel to Somalia is not currently recommended the country
does have some places worthy of a visit. The coastal village of Gendershe, some 45 miles south of Mogadishu, has one of the best
white sand beaches in Africa together with narrow streets and
quaint old houses together with a history stretching back
millennia.
Jasira Island, with its small mosque off the Somalia
coastline, again south of Mogadishu, is well worth a visit and,
if you enjoy the sea, a visit to Zeila, a port city in the north
west region of Awdal, should be undertaken not least for its
coral reefs and islands but sadly, not for its historical
buildings, most of which were destroyed in the civil war. Regretfully the beautiful beaches of Mogadishu are also currently
not safe to visit nor is taking a boat off the cost due to the
activities of Somali pirates who operate there especially around the Gulf of Aden.
Even the animals that inhabit Somalia's wildlife parks are not
considered safe being located in areas outside the Transitional
government's control where they are often hunted down for meat
(Somalia's preferred diet.) Other places of interest in Somalia are the
twin hills of Naasa Hablood on the outskirts of Hargeisa in the
north-east of the country, the earliest known rock art in the
Horn of Africa at Laas Gaal which has been dated to 3000 - 9000
years BCE and, of course, the spectacular views from the Sheikh
Mountains. Sadly its unlikely that you will ever visit the country so we hope this video of images of Somalia provides some
compensation!
Somalia Images: Volunteer in Somalia
|
Somalia Images: Somalia Map
|
Somalia Images: Sponsor Children in Somalia
|
Somalia Images: Somalia Country Profile
|
|
Details of current volunteer work
opportunities in each of the
countries of Africa.
Find how to sponsor a child in Africa
with our list of organisations,
charities, programs and projects.
Discover all about Africa, its tourist
attractions, history, people, culture
and daily life there.
