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Sheikh Mountain Range Lookout
Best time to visit
From December to February, when the thick fog rolls off the mountains and the best viewpoints over the bay open up. Arrive by 7 a.m. to catch the sunrise over the Indian Ocean through breaks in the cloud caps.
Budget tips
Entry to the viewpoints is free, but local guides from shepherd villages expect tips of 5-10 dollars for guiding you along the trails. Bring cash in Somali shillings or dollars. Cards are not accepted and there are no ATMs in the mountains.
Recommended for
Trekking travelers, Wildlife photographers, Seekers of off-the-beaten-path routes, Ornithologists
Plan your visit
3-4 hours
About
Quick facts: The Sheikh Range stretches for 60 kilometers along the Gulf of Aden coast, and its highest point reaches 2,500 meters. It is the only place in Somalia where you can see real juniper forests and encounter the rarest dibatag antelopes leaping along the rocky slopes.
Highlights: At an altitude of 2,000 meters, clouds cling to the mountain slopes, creating the illusion that you are walking right through the sky between the trunks of ancient junipers. Some of these trees reach 500 years of age, and their roots have been growing into granite cracks for decades, literally splitting the rock.
Insider tips
- Wear trekking boots and a windbreaker: at an altitude of 2 km the temperature drops to +10°C even in the dry season, and the wind cuts right through you.
- The best photo can be taken from the "Heavenly Gate" ledge 15 minutes before sunset. The sun lights up the junipers in orange.
- Do not waste time climbing to the very top of the ridge. The best views of the bay open up from the 1,800-meter mark.
- Bring 2 liters of water per person. There are no springs along the route, and the scorching sun on exposed sections can dehydrate you within an hour.
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