Little known to the outside world, Somaliland has much to offer the truly intrepid traveller. This pioneering guidebook introduces one of the world's least chartered travel destinations. Author Philip Briggs covers everything from the low-key capital Hargeisa and mediaeval port of Berbera to peerless rock art sites such as Las Geel, and the scenery and wildlife of the Daallo Escarpment, towering 2,000m high above the pristine reefs of the Gulf of Aden. Somaliland's ruined cities and historical ports date back 5,000 years and have links with ancient Egypt and Axum in northern Ethiopia, as well as the Ottoman and British Empires. This guide offers background and practical information to every accessible corner of the country with the only real maps in existence of its capital and other large towns, and a section on wildlife.

Table of Contents:
(1) Introduction Part One General Information (2) Chapter 1 Background Information History, Government and politics, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Arts and music (3) Chapter 2 Natural History Lay of the land, Mammals, Reptiles and amphibians, Birds, Marine wildlife (4) Chapter 3 Practical Information When to visit, Suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Red tape, Getting there and away, Safety, Women travellers, Gay travellers, What to take, Money and budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and weekends, Shopping, Photography, Media and communications, Travelling positively (5) Chapter 4 Health Before you go, Medical facilities in Somaliland, Malaria, Other diseases, Dangerous animals Part two The guide (6) Chapter 5 Hargeisa History, Getting there and away, Orientation, Getting around, Tourist information, Tour operators, Where to stay, Where to eat, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see (7) Chapter 6 Las Geel and the Berbera road Aw-Barkadle, Las Geel, Ga'an Libah Reserve, Beira Hills, Xabaalo Tumaalood (8) Chapter 7 Berbera and surrounds History, Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat, Other practicalities, What to see, Around Berbera (9) Chapter 8 Sheikh and Burao Sheikh, Burao (10) Chapter 9 Sanaag Burao to Erigavo, Erigavo, Daalo Forest, Maydh (11) Chapter 10 West of Hargeisa Rock art sites on the Borama road, Tog Wajaale, Borama, Zeila, Giriyad Plains, Looyada (12) Chapter 11 Overland routes to Hargeisa from Addis Ababa Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Harar, Jijiga (13) Appendix 1 Language (14) Appendix 2 Further reading