Africa > 🇸🇴 Somalia
The city by city Car or no Car advice for Somalia can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Somalia; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Somalia?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Somalia?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.🏙️ Main Cities in Somalia
| CITY | IATA | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Hargeisa | HGA | |
| Mogadishu | MGQ |
However, Somaliland, the self-declared independent region in the northwest, offers a very different picture. It’s comparatively stable, welcomes visitors, and has a growing tourism sector. So, the rental-car question depends entirely on where you hope to go.
🚗 Car Rental in Somalia Proper — Not Recommended
In Mogadishu and southern Somalia, car rental for tourists effectively doesn’t exist. Travellers who enter the country for official, humanitarian, or business purposes typically rely on:
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Armoured vehicles
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Pre-booked transport through organisations or hosts
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Security escorts
Driving independently is not advised, even within Mogadishu. Roads can be congested, checkpoints are common, and movement is carefully controlled. For these reasons, renting a car simply isn’t part of the travel landscape here.
🌄 Somaliland — Where Limited Tourism Is Possible
If you’re set on visiting the region, Somaliland is where normal travel becomes feasible. The capital Hargeisa is calm, friendly, and surprisingly walkable. Although the road network still has rough stretches, conditions are much more suitable for travellers.
Car hire in Somaliland
A handful of local companies in Hargeisa offer cars with drivers. Renting a self-drive car is extremely rare, because foreigners need:
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Local knowledge
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Permission for certain routes
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Guidance at police checkpoints
Most travellers hire a car and driver, which is reasonably priced and far more practical.
Where a hired vehicle helps
A car with a driver is useful for reaching:
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Laas Geel rock paintings
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Berbera, the Red Sea port with camel markets and empty beaches
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Sheikh Mountains, offering cooler air and highland scenery
Even so, distances are long and the roads vary from paved to rough gravel.
🚐 Public Transport — More Common Than Car Hire
In Somaliland, shared minibuses, local taxis, and inter-city buses run frequently along the main routes. They’re cheap, social, and often the simplest way to get around if you aren’t on a tight schedule.
Buses connect Hargeisa with:
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Berbera
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Burao
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Wajaale (Ethiopia border)
However, schedules aren’t strict, and buses leave when full.
✈️ Domestic Flights — Practical for Longer Distances
For anyone travelling beyond Somaliland, flights are the only realistic option. Domestic and regional airlines link:
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Hargeisa
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Mogadishu
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Garowe
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Bosaso
This is how locals and aid workers move safely around the country.
🧭 Summary — Should You Rent a Car in Somalia?
In short, you should not rent a car in Somalia unless you are visiting Somaliland, and even there you’ll almost certainly need a car with a driver, not a self-drive rental. For Mogadishu or southern Somalia, renting a car simply isn’t part of safe or practical travel.
If you do visit Somaliland, a vehicle with a driver can open up some remarkable places — from ancient rock art to Red Sea coastlines. Everywhere else, rely on organised transport, flights, or local public transport.
