Tourist Places to Visit in Galkayo (Galcaio), Mudug, North Africa, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Galkayo (Galcaio), Mudug, North Africa, Africa

Galkayo is the capital city of Mudug region of Somalia, located between 06°46′11″ N latitude and 047°25′51″ E longitude. It is in the north-central part of the country, around 700 km north of the national capital, Mogadishu. Galkayo features a hot arid climate with moderate hot weather year round. Galkayo is one of the thriving cities of Somalia, holding all the necessary facilities like banks, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, hotels, colleges and a stadium as well. Galkayo holds a blend of historic and modern tourist attractions.

History of Galkayo:

Galkayo came under the rule of many regional powers in its long and grand history, including by the Sultanate of Hobyo, who ruled Galkayo during the early modern age. Galkayo became a part of Italian Somaliland in the beginning of the 20^th century. After the independence of Somalia, Galkayo was promoted as the administrative centre of Galkayo District.

How to get Galkayo?

The Abdullahi Yusuf International Airport is the airport serving Galkayo with scheduled flights from/to Aden, Berbera, Bosaso, Mogadishu, Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta, Wajir and Mogadishu. The airport is situated around 3 km away from the heart of the city, can be reached by bus or airport taxi.

The bus transportation of Galkayo is extended to northern Somali cities such as Bosaso and Garowe. Minibuses are mainly used to get around Galkayo and in addition of buses, taxis are also used.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Galkayo:

Galkayo is well-known for its educational institutions like the Puntland State University, the campus of East Africa University, Mudug University and Puntland University of Science and Technology. Football is a very famous sport in Galkayo.

Galkayo houses dozens of boutiques as well many shopping centres, including Galkayo Shopping Mall. Restaurants are spread up all around Galkayo city.

What to do in Galkayo?

Visiting university
Visiting Internet cafes
City tours
Shopping

Must see in Galkayo:

Cawaale Stadium:

The Cawaale Stadium is a prominent sports ground and landmark of Galkayo city. It is manly used for football matches, home to RPS FC, Dowladda Hoose FC, Homboboro FC and many other soccer clubs in the city.

The Taar City Hotel:

Apart from accommodation services, The Taar City Hotel is famous among visitors for its domesticated ostriches that freely roam within the hotel premise from dawn to dusk.

Abdullahi Yusuf International Airport:

The Abdullahi Yusuf International Airport is a modern airport, situated around 3 km away from the midpoint of the city. Other than travelers, the airport receives visitors for its grand construction and pleasant surrounding environment.

Galkayo shopping Mall:

The Galkayo shopping Mall is one of the highlights of Galkayo, located in the centre of the city. The mall holds all kinds of shops ranging from electronics store to cloth shops. The construction of the shopping centre is also nice to see.

The campus of East Africa University:

Galkayo houses one of the campuses of the East Africa University. Other than offering various courses and providing quality education, the university also has great hand in showcasing the local culture to visitors.

List of other places to see in and around Galkayo include:

Port of Berbera
The Governor’s Palace of Mogadishu
National Museum of Somalia in Mogadishu
The city of Hargeisa
Beaches in Berbera
Borama International Airport
Beaches of Bosaso
Port of Bosaso
NASA Runway in Berbera
National Museum of Somalia in Mogadishu

When to visit Galkayo?

Probably the best time to visit Galkayo is from May to October when the weather remains pleasant and supportive for outdoor activities.

Where to stay in Galkayo?

Galkayo is home to several upgraded hotels with all latest facilities and services. Apart from amenities, visitors can also taste authentic Somali dishes at Galkayo’s hotels. In the below list, the first four hotels are in Galkayo and the rest of the hotels are in Mogadishu (around 700 km from Galkayo):