Mogadishu Travel Guide

  Get Friendly in Mogadishu
by skepticscott
 
  • Get Friendly in Mogadishu
      Get Friendly in Mogadishu
    by skepticscott
  • Some of the many sites to see
      Some of the many sites to see
    by cyanover
  • The Mogadishu Cathedral
      The Mogadishu Cathedral
    by hankcheng
  • Armed Guards at Daynile Airstrip
      Armed Guards at Daynile Airstrip
    by hankcheng
  • The Al Aruba Hotel after the civil war.
      The Al Aruba Hotel after the civil war.
    by hankcheng
 

Explore Mogadishu

Things to Do  

Mogadishu Press Conference

Mogadishu Press Conference, Mogadishu

 cyanover Says:  This is Mogadishu's version of a campaign speech 

Mogadishu press conference

Mogadishu press conference, Mogadishu

 cyanover Says:

Must do when ariving

Must do when ariving, Mogadishu

 cyanover Says:  Make sure you tell as many locals that you are American and that your family back home has a lot of money. This will insure a level of hospitality that you probably won't experience back home. Also, The people of Mogadishu take great pride in their women, so it is important... 

Write Home

Write Home, Mogadishu

 skepticscott Says:  Local people will supply you with everything you need to write to friends and family 

The Shanghai / Old City Area

The Shanghai / Old City Area, Mogadishu

 hankcheng Says:  The Shanghai located along the shore South of the city. The Shanghai was once the “Beach Club” where Italian expatriate and the wealthies hung out. The setup of the Shanghai and its building reflected it was once a very beautiful spot of Mogadishu. Some of the best hotel in... 

The Bakara Market

The Bakara Market, Mogadishu

 hankcheng Says:  The Bakara Market is the biggest and busiest market in Mogadishu. Items range from the regular living necessity such as clothing and food, to stolen foreign passports, AK47 automatic weapons, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) and ammunition, can be found inside the Bakara. 

Hotels  

Staying with the locals

Staying with the locals, Mogadishu

 cyanover Says:  Once the locals find out your an American, the locals will insist you stay with them. This is the most economical way of experiencing Mogadishu. You will not have to put any deposit down on the stay. You will have such a great time that they will insist on video taping the... 

Safahi Hotel: Choose a safe hotel

Safahi Hotel: Choose a safe hotel, Mogadishu

 hankcheng Says:  In Mogadishu, I didn't really expect anything from a hotel, a safe and secure resting ground is all I wanted.I was warned by one of the UN staff, that the Safahi Hotel at the K4 intersection was the choice of many journalist. However, be very careful that there are two... 

Restaurants  

Home cook meal

Home cook meal, Mogadishu

 cyanover Says:  You probably will be doing all of your eating at your hosts place. If he decides to feed you. I hear the food is not all that great Anything that gets provided to you 

UN Food Centre: Don't miss the food

UN Food Centre: Don't miss the food, Mogadishu

 skepticscott Says:  If you are lucky enough to get fed then the UN camp is about the best place. No bookings allowed and long queues around meal times Rice, if you survive until the food gets through the pirates, bandits and war lords 

Nightlife  

Outside: Dance the night away to the sound of AK47's

Outside: Dance the night away to the sound of AK47's, Mogadishu

 skepticscott Says:  Enjoy the most exciting dancing for your life to the rat tat tat of kids on khat with AK47's sending some to heaven as tracer rounds and retaliation sounds light the sky no reason why bigger than any disco ball bodies fall and another round whizzes by.At disco Mog you'll... 

Transportation  

Technicals

Technicals, Mogadishu

 hankcheng Says:  When you arrange your personal armed guards, you will be traveling with them in one of the pickup trucks, or, the 'Technicals'.There are privately own, modified pickup trucks that serve as the city's public transportation, but you won't need to travel in any public... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Hiring armed guards

Hiring armed guards, Mogadishu

 cyanover Says:  Many other sites will tell you that you need an armed militia to travel here. I can tell you this is not true and a waste of money. This rumor was believed to be started by local militia businesses to help increase sales. the truth is that within minutes of ariving, you... 

We Survived Mogadishu for Three Days and Nights

We Survived Mogadishu for Three Days and Nights, Mogadishu

 beckacj Says:  This is clearly not a place to visit at current times. We (two of us) planned months and studied the city and people and gangs operating there, until we understood. We got in and out, taking hundreds of pictures, capturing several crimes on video. We also captured video and... 

Hotel Selection

Hotel Selection, Mogadishu

 hankcheng Says:  Be aware that there are only 2-3 hotel in the city where all the journalist stay. There were incidents where visitors were kidnapped while asleep in their hotel room.Be very careful when selecting your hotel. Ask someone who has been there recently for hotel recommendation. 

Armed Guards

Armed Guards, Mogadishu

 hankcheng Says:  You must arrange armed guards for the duration of your stay, period! Without your armed guards' protection, you will be kidnapped in the matter of minutes. 

What to Pack  

Guns and Amunition , Lots of guns and amunition!!

Guns and Amunition ,  Lots of guns and amunition!!, Mogadishu

 cyanover Says:  A complete will migh also be helpfull 

Sports & Outdoors  

If you are a member of the NRA you will love this

If you are a member of the NRA you will love this, Mogadishu

 cyanover Says:  THere is absolutly no restirctions on how you want yo shot your gun. If you want to shot your AK-47 at a target, moving target, bird, or human, you have the freedom to do so. Crowds of locals seem to be the best hunting spot. Shooting is a smalian past time. anf if you dont... 

The Place

Plan a Mogadishu vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Mogadishu locals

Experience Mogadishu
  •   18 Tips and Reviews
  •  29 Photos
  Share your Travels  
Map of Mogadishu
 

The People

4 Members Live Here
 
Our Members Say
 profile photo

 You must arrange armed guards for the duration of your stay, period! Without your armed guards' protection, you will be kidnapped in the matter of minutes. 

4 members live in Mogadishu

 

Question about Mogadishu?

Our members can help!

postQuestion_button

Top Mogadishu Writers

1

Mogadishu, Somalia

hankcheng profile photo

 Driving along the road, I realized there is not one building without damage from decades of conflict; most of the buildings are destroyed or inhabitable through out the city. Buildings or land,... 

2

Contact in Mogadishu

sebblit7 profile photo

 My last visit to Somalia was in 1995 so I can't provide any reliable info on the current situation. However if you need a fixer, camerman, producer, driver, security, flight and hotel arrangements...... 

3

Mogadishu, Somalia

tziotissa profile photo

 In 1993, I was the UN photographer in Somalia and documented the peacekeeping operation for 6 months. 

4

Living in Mogadishu

indobabe5 profile photo

 Lived in Mogadishu from 10/1989 thru 07/1990.... job asssignment with a major US natural resources company (private sector). Tenure cut short by civil unrest in Mogadishu, and the iminent... 

5

Life in the Mog! Mogadishu that is!

posejc profile photo

 When I first stepped out into Mogadishu Airport after a arrowing flight on a UN chartered jet from Nairobi to the Mog - it was an unusual trip to say the least - perhaps a precursor to what would... 

View all rated pages

View newest pages

Build your own Mogadishu page