Swimming On Liido Beach In Mogadishu, Somalia 🇸🇴
Intro
Mogadishu and swimming in the ocean? Most people probably wouldn't put those phrases in the same sentence, but here we are. After having lunch on Liido Beach, my guide recommended that we change into our swimming trunks and go swimming in the ocean.
The Experience
As any person who has heard the gossip about Somalia, it always seems to revolve around Pirates. So, when my guide said that we would be going swimming in the ocean (usually where Pirates are), I was a little bit like, uhh, what on earth, at first? In addition, Somalia is known to have an extremely large population of sharks, from threshers to makos and more.
Interestingly, no armed escorts are allowed to be on the beach, at least with their rifles, that is. As I left my belongings with the unarmed escort on the beach, my guide and I ran through the Somali sand and dove right into the ocean head first.
If I am going to go swimming in Somalia, I will run and jump in...
The first thing I noticed after diving into the water was how salty it was. Never in my life have I encountered this kind of saltiness in an ocean (I know the ocean is always saltwater, but this is next level). We sat around swimming and talking for 15 minutes or so until my adrenaline wore off, and I started to get afraid of sharks 🤣.
Stepping out into the warm East African sun, I felt a gentle, cool breeze whisk across my skin. For the first time in a long time, I was relaxed.
A long, long time ago, my thing was football, or as Americans like to call it, "soccer." Before going to Somalia, I was told that kids usually come around after school to play football on the beach, and I should join in. I ended up joining in for a little bit, and gosh, are they good players! In addition, I was apprecaite of how welcoming they were to include me in their circle as we juggled. Naturally, I let the ball drop one too many times 😂.
Just like that, it was time to proceed onward with the next activity.
Final Thoughts
Never in my life did I think I would be able to say that I went swimming in the ocean in Somalia. Moreover, after stepping out, it was the most relaxed that I have felt this year. Swimming in the ocean and playing football on the beach made for a perfect afternoon in the capital, and one I still think about to this day.
Comments