Best Tourist Places to Visit in Bosaso, Bari, Somalia, East Africa, Africa
Bosaso is a city belonging to the Bari region of the eastern African country, Somalia. Located on the coastline of the Gulf of Aden in the northeastern part of the country, Bosaso is the commercial centre of the autonomous state of Puntland, located around 1400 km northeast of the national capital, Mogadishu. In terms of population, Bosaso is the 3rd largest city of Somalia, following Mogadishu and Hargeisa, with around 700,000 residents (as of the 2013 census). Bosaso offers both manmade and natural attractions for visitors, like white sandy beaches, lakes, grasslands and mosques. The geographical coordinates of Bosaso are 11°17′05″ N 049°10′57″ E, whilst its elevation measures 15 meters.
History of Bosaso:
Formerly called Bandar Qasim, Bosaso may be derived its current name from the favorite camel (Boosaas) of a Somali trader, Bandar Qasim, who was the first settler of what is today’s Bosaso. Bosaso saw the rule of the Majeerteen Sultanate from the middle of the 18th century to the early 20th century.
How to get Bosaso?
Bosaso is catered by Bender Qassim International Airport, located 4 km away from the city centre. The airport receives flights from Aden, Berbera, Galkayo, Mogadishu, Nairobi, Wajir and Hargeisa, served by African Express Airways and Jubba Airways.
By bus, Bosaso connects all the major cities in northern Somalia, including Galkayo, Garowe, Qardho and Hargeisa.
Buses are generally available for local travel in Bosaso and in addition, visitors can also hire car or taxi for comfortable travel.
Culture, Shopping and Food in Bosaso:
Like the rest of Somalia, Muslims dominate the population of Bosaso, who cover more than 90% of the total population of the city. Culturally, Bosaso is a noted city as the city is home to around 70 primary schools, many technical colleges and the campus of the East Africa University.
There are all sorts of shops ranging from cloth stores to retail outlets to handicraft stores with both local and modern specialties. Bosaso also houses numerous coffee shops and restaurants that are frequented by both locals and visitors.
What to do in Bosaso?
- Visiting internet cafes and coffee shops
- Walking
- Visiting port and colleges
Must see in Bosaso:
Beaches of Bosaso:
Beaches are the first preference of tourists visiting Bosaso occasionally. Beaches are white sandy, offering different water sports and that are also well served by restaurants and cafes with both Somali and international menus.
East Africa University:
Bosaso is one of the cities of Puntland of Somalia holding the campus of East Africa University. Bosaso’s campus is very large, established in a large site and visitors are allowed to know the local culture and tradition at university with a prior permission.
Bender Qassim International Airport:
The Bender Qassim International Airport is one of the important landmarks of Bosaso. The airport is located around 4 km away from the city centre and draws visitors, other than airport travelers, for its grand construction and pleasant and clear surroundings.
Port of Bosaso:
The Port of Bosaso was first established in the 1980s and upgraded many times with upgraded features. It is a great gathering point for locals and also draws visitors as it is very well maintained and offering enthralling views of blue waters.
List of other places to see in and around Bosaso include:
- Bosaso College
- Amoud University in Borama
- The city of Hargeisa
- Beaches in Berbera
- Borama International Airport
- Port of Berbera
- NASA Runway in Berbera
- National Museum of Somalia in Mogadishu
- The Governor’s Palace of Mogadishu
- National Museum of Somalia in Mogadishu
When to visit Bosaso?
Bosaso experiences a hot arid climate with relatively hot weather year round and the best time to visit Bosaso is during the beginning months of the year.
Where to stay in Bosaso?
Being a beach town, Bosaso houses all sorts of tourist favor hotels with different upgraded facilities and services to provide memorable hospitality services to all types of travelers. Some recommended hotels in Bosaso are as follows:
- Hotel Huruuse
- Hotel Juba
- The Tropical
- The International Village Hotel