Hafun – history, culture and places to visit | Warar

Hafun
Cities of Somalia Bari · Puntland

Hafun

Hafun · Ras Hafun · Raas Xaafuun

The easternmost point of mainland Africa: a sandy peninsula, the ancient port of Opone and the ruins of a vast salt works.

AdministrationPuntland
RegionBari
Location10.417°, 51.267°
Places to visit4

Overview

Hafun (Xaafuun) is a fishing town on the Ras Hafun peninsula in the Bari region. Ras Hafun is the easternmost point of mainland Africa, joined to the mainland by a long sand spit.

White sand, deep-blue ocean and strong winds make it an extraordinary place — and one of the first places on the African mainland to greet the sunrise.

What makes it unique

  • 01The easternmost point of mainland Africa
  • 02The ancient port of Opone
  • 03Ruins of a vast 1930s Italian salt works
  • 04A long sand spit linking it to the mainland

Places to visit

Landmark

Ras Hafun headland

The easternmost point of mainland Africa.

Historic

Opone archaeological sites

Excavated remains of the ancient port.

Historic

Old salt works

Ruins of the salt works and its pier.

Beach

Hafun beaches

White-sand beaches on both sides of the peninsula.

History

Hafun is identified with Opone, a trading port described in the 1st-century Periplus. In the 1970s a Somali–British expedition led by Neville Chittick found stone walls and other remains here; later researchers recovered pottery from Egypt, the Roman world and the Persian Gulf.

In the 1930s an Italian company built a huge salt works here. Hafun was one of the worst-hit places in Somalia during the 2004 tsunami: most seafront buildings were destroyed or badly damaged and more than 5,000 people were displaced.

Culture

Hafun is a fishing community. The remains of the old salt works and its pier are still visible along the shore.

Economy

Fishing is the main livelihood, with lobster, fish and shark products exported. A project to refurbish the salt works was carried out in 2014–2015.

Photos

News · Hafun