In April 2019 I was lucky enough to get an opportunity to visit the capital of Somalia, Mogadishu. I was there for 3 nights in a secure compound. Any time spent outside if the compound was in the company of a guide and 4 armed security guards…quite the experience. The reality is Mogadishu is just not safe to visit without the necessary precautions, especially as a westerner. The city suffers from regular attacks, and every few hundred metres there are security blockades and traffic everywhere. It’s a busy city.
The people I met were lovely, welcoming and keen to give me an idea of Somali customs, cuisine and hospitality. From trying the local tea, visiting the fish market (definitely not to be experienced on a full stomach), taking a boat ride to a floating cafe, trying camel meat and visiting Mogadishu’s one and only mall, it was a whirlwind 48 hours.
I managed to sketch the iconic lighthouse in the city below.
And a derelict bombed-out building I saw along the street.
And some kind of old gateway which I thought looked interesting….
If you are interested in taking a trip to Mogadishu speak to Untamed Borders (full disclosure: I work for them – but not on commission)!