What is the best time to visit Somalia?

Best Time to Visit Somalia

The best time to travel to Somalia is during the dry season (October to April) and the rainy season (May to September).

Dry Season in Somalia

The dry season in Somalia is from October to April. This is the best time to visit the country, as the weather is generally dry and sunny. Temperatures are pleasant during this time, with highs ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit. Travelers can expect very little rain during this season. This is also the best time to explore the country’s attractions, such as the ancient cities of Mogadishu and Laas Geel, or to take part in the many festivals throughout the season.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Somalia

Somalia in January

Weather

January is the coldest month in Somalia, with temperatures ranging from lows of 15°C (59°F) to highs of 30°C (86°F). Rainfall is rare in January, with an average of only 8mm (0.3in) of rain throughout the month.

Events

• The Somali New Year, known as 1 Luuliyo, is celebrated on January 1st. It marks the beginning of the Somali calendar and is celebrated with music, dancing, and traditional Somali cuisine.
• The Somali National Flag Day is celebrated on January 12th. It is a day to celebrate the country’s independence and to honor the Somali flag.
• The Somali National Youth Day is celebrated on January 15th. It is a day to recognize the contributions of Somali youth to the country’s development.
• The Somali National Women’s Day is celebrated on January 17th. It is a day to recognize the important role of women in Somali society and to celebrate their achievements.
• The Somali National Day of Remembrance is celebrated on January 28th. It is a day to remember and honor those who have died in the Somali civil war.

Somalia in January

Weather

January in Somalia is usually hot and dry with temperatures ranging from 21°C (70°F) to 31°C (88°F). The humidity is usually low and the skies are mostly sunny.

Events

• The Somali New Year, which is celebrated on January 1st, marks the start of the Somali calendar. It is celebrated with traditional music, dancing, and feasting.
• The Somali National Theatre Festival takes place in January. It is a celebration of Somali culture and features performances by local artists.
• The Somali National Football Cup is held in January. It is a tournament between teams from all over Somalia.
• The Somali National Music Festival is held in January. It is a celebration of Somali music, featuring traditional and modern music.
• The Somali National Film Festival takes place in January. It is a celebration of Somali cinema and features screenings of local films.

Somalia in March

Weather

In March, Somalia experiences warm temperatures with the average daily high reaching 28°C (82°F). Rainfall is minimal, with an average of 0.7 mm (0.03 inches) of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• Somalia celebrates its Independence Day on March 1st, commemorating the day in 1960 when the country gained independence from the United Kingdom and Italy.
• The Somali Youth League holds its annual conference in Mogadishu in March, bringing together Somali youth from around the world to discuss issues and promote peace.
• The Somali National Theatre Festival is held in Mogadishu in March. This event showcases the best of Somali theatre, music, and dance.
• The Somali National Football Cup is held in March. This is the biggest football tournament in the country, with teams from all over Somalia competing for the title.
• The Somali National Book Fair is held in Mogadishu in March. This event is an opportunity for authors, publishers, and readers to come together and celebrate Somali literature.

Somalia in April

Weather

April in Somalia is hot and dry. The average high temperature is 33°C (91°F) and the average low temperature is 22°C (71°F). The average amount of precipitation is 0 mm.

Events

• The annual Somali National Television (SNTV) Awards take place in April. This event honors the best in Somali television, film, and music.
• The Somali National Youth Day is celebrated on April 6th. This day is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of the Somali youth.
• The annual Somali National Poetry Competition takes place in April. This event celebrates Somali poetry and the best poets are awarded prizes.
• The Somali National Women’s Day is celebrated on April 25th. This day is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of Somali women.
• The annual Somali National Music Festival takes place in April. This event celebrates Somali music and the best musicians are awarded prizes.

Somalia in May

Weather

May is an ideal time to visit Somalia, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-90s Fahrenheit (23-35°C). The weather is generally dry and sunny, with occasional showers.

Events

• The International Somali Awards is an annual event that recognizes the achievements of Somali individuals and organizations. It is usually held in May.
• The Somali Youth League holds its annual conference in May. The conference brings together young people from all over Somalia to discuss issues of importance to the Somali people.
• The National Somali Heritage Day is celebrated in May. It is a day to celebrate the culture, history, and achievements of the Somali people.
• The Somali National Theater hosts its annual festival in May. The festival features plays, music, and other performances by Somali artists.
• The Somali National Football Association holds its annual tournament in May. Teams from all over Somalia compete in the tournament.

Somalia in June

Weather

June is the start of the dry season in Somalia, with temperatures ranging from 25-40°C (77-104°F). The days are long and sunny, and the nights are cool.

Events

• Eid al-Fitr: This is a 3-day Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. It is celebrated with family gatherings, feasts, and gift-giving.
• Somali National Television Day: This is a national holiday that marks the launch of the first Somali television station in 1984.
• Somaliland Independence Day: This is a national holiday in Somaliland, a self-declared independent state within Somalia. It marks the day in 1991 when Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia.
• Somali National Day: This is a national holiday that marks the formation of the Somali Republic in 1960. It is celebrated with parades, speeches, and cultural events.
• Somali Youth Day: This is a national holiday that celebrates the achievements of Somali youth. It is celebrated with youth-focused activities and events.

Somalia in July

Weather

July is the hottest month of the year in Somalia, with temperatures reaching up to 40°C (104°F). The dry season is in full swing, and the country experiences little to no rainfall.

Events

• The Somali Independence Day is celebrated on July 1st. This marks the day that Somalia declared its independence from Britain and Italy in 1960.
• The Somali Youth League celebrates its anniversary on July 11th. This is a political organization that was founded in 1943 to fight for Somali independence.
• The Somali National Army celebrates its anniversary on July 20th. This is the national army of Somalia, which was established in 1960.
• The Somali Women’s Day is celebrated on July 25th. This is a day to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of Somali women.
• The Somali National Flag Day is celebrated on July 26th. This is a day to celebrate the flag of Somalia, which was adopted in 1954.

Somalia in August

Weather

August in Somalia is typically hot and dry with temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to the mid-90s Fahrenheit. The humidity is low and there is very little rainfall.

Events

• August is the month of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. During this month, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and abstain from drinking and eating.
• August is a popular month for weddings in Somalia. Couples often get married during this time of year, when the weather is dry and the days are long.
• Eid al-Adha, the Islamic festival of sacrifice, is celebrated in August. This festival marks the end of the month of Ramadan and is celebrated with feasts and family gatherings.
• The Somali Independence Day is celebrated on July 1st every year. This day marks the independence of Somalia from British and Italian colonial rule in 1960.
• August is the month of the Somali Youth Day, which is celebrated on August 8th. This day is dedicated to the youth of Somalia and is celebrated with parades, music, and other festivities.

Somalia in September

Weather

September in Somalia is hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-90s Fahrenheit (23-35 Celsius). Rainfall is common in the region during this month, with the average rainfall being approximately 3 inches (7.6 cm).

Events

• Eid al-Adha is celebrated in Somalia in September, and is a major holiday in the country. It is a time for prayer, reflection, and giving thanks to Allah.
• The Somali Independence Day is celebrated on the 1st of September. It commemorates the day in 1960 when Somalia gained independence from Britain and Italy.
• The Somali National Day is celebrated on the 20th of September. It is a day of celebration for the Somali people and a reminder of their national identity.
• The Somali Youth Festival is held in mid-September. It is a celebration of Somali culture, featuring music, dance, and art.
• The Somali National Football Championship is held in September. It is a tournament that pits teams from all over the country against each other in a battle for the national title.

Somalia in October

Weather

October is the beginning of the dry season in Somalia. Temperatures are mild throughout the month, ranging from an average low of 22°C (71°F) to an average high of 30°C (86°F). The nights are cool and the days are generally sunny and bright.

Events

• The Somali National Army Day is celebrated on October 15th. This day commemorates the Somali Armed Forces and their role in protecting the country.
• The Somaliland National Day is celebrated on October 26th. This day marks the independence of Somaliland from Somalia in 1991.
• The Somali National Flag Day is celebrated on October 12th. This day celebrates the adoption of the Somali flag in 1954.
• The Somali Independence Day is celebrated on October 1st. This day marks the independence of Somalia from the British and Italian colonial powers in 1960.
• The Somali Language Day is celebrated on October 21st. This day celebrates the Somali language and its contributions to Somali culture.

Somalia in November

Weather

November in Somalia is generally warm and dry, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit. The humidity is low and the skies are mostly clear.

Events

• November 1 is the Somali Independence Day, a national holiday that celebrates the country’s independence from Italy and Britain in 1960.
• November 8 is the Feast of the Sacrifice, also known as Eid al-Adha, a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world.
• November 18 is the Somali Flag Day, a national holiday that celebrates the adoption of the Somali flag in 1954.
• November 20 is the International Day of Solidarity with the Somali People, a day to recognize the struggles of the Somali people and to encourage international support.
• November 25 is the Somali Language Day, a day to celebrate the Somali language and its cultural heritage.

Somalia in December

Weather

December in Somalia is generally warm and dry. Temperatures average around 25-28°C (77-82°F) during the day and can drop to around 20°C (68°F) at night.

Events

• The Somali Independence Day is celebrated on 1 December. This day marks the independence of Somalia from Italy in 1960.
• The Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha is celebrated in December. This is a four-day festival that honors the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ishmael.
• The Somali National Television (SNTV) broadcasts a special program on 8 December to commemorate the anniversary of the Somali National Army.
• The Somali National Day is celebrated on 20 December. This day marks the formation of the Somali Republic in 1960.
• The Somali Youth League (SYL) holds its annual conference in December. This is a gathering of Somali youth from all over the country to discuss issues of national importance.