the procedure for getting in to somaliland is pretty straight forward, you can get a visa in addis (somaliland embassy is about 100 meter away from south african embassy)

i used a carnet , but i think they might be relax about foreigner coming in on bikes, say them to be relax about most things. i enjoyed somaliland

Thanks, just a few more questions on Somaliland:

1. what was the visa cost (and how long to issue?)
2. Is the carnet needed for a 4x4? or is there a seperate procedure for this?
3. How long were you in the area and what route did you take?
4. What's the security situation there atm for travellers?

I find the $1000 a little bit expensive to cross to Yemen. I was thinking a lot less. After all, from travellers report, it looks like as long as you have a carnet, the egyptians don't verify so much if it is valid for Egypt or not...

Trans Africa

1. I think $50US, straight forward process drop your passport of with one photo in the morning and come back in the afternoon and your got your visa.
2. Is a carnet needed for a 4x4? Not sure, but I don’t think so. They seem pretty relaxed at the boarder, I think your be all right with out one. One of the easiest boarders I have crossed in Africa.
3. It was my second time there, first time 4 day in Hargeisa 07. I spent about ten day last year, I took the route from Jijiga(Ethiopia) Hargeisa Berbera and back.
4. The Million dollar question. Who really knows. With out a doubt Somaliland is the safest part of Somalia, Saying that I did have some one point a gun had my head in 07. The police caught him, and would have to say after dealing with the authority they are defiantly on your side when it comes to your security. Your meant to have armed police when leaving Hargeisa. But that’s a bit hard on 200cc bike. So I got a letter from the police, saying I was aloud to drive to berbera. Along the way I went through a dozen or so check points where I had to show the letter. One time a Toyota speeds past me just before a check point and starts yelling at me to pull over in English. ( that gets your heart pumping) he was obviously a high ranking police men and was pissed off I was traveling alone, he was saying it wasn’t safe to travel along.
At the end of the day you have to make your own mind up weather its safe or not.


Defiantly no ATM, but they do have DHL and Dahabshill (Dahabshiil | Fast money transfer you can trust)