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Welcome to LAAS GEEL – a land of fascinating history, some of the earliest known rock arts in the Horn of Africa and artwork dating back to 9000 years BC! Not to mention that it’s really budget-friendly too! There’s just so much LAAS GEEL has got to offer. Situated in northeast of Hargeisa, the capital city of Somaliland is one of the world’s best preserved, most vibrant and vivid examples of an ancient rock art. Estimated to date somewhere between 5000 and 9000 years BC, LAAS GEEL cave paintings were discovered in 2002 by French archeologists, guided to the cave by locals who had knew of the place for centuries but avoided it due to what was believed to be the haunt of demons. The caves offer a glimpse into a little known history of this part of the world. LAAS GEEL, meaning ‘source of water for camels, is megalithic cave formations situated 55km (34 miles) in the northeast of Hargeisa, one hour’s drive from the capital of Somaliland. The rock art offers visitors a unique experience of Africa's rich, composite and sometimes mysterious past. The visit takes tourists through an extraordinary journey of discovery, which begins with the origins of an ancient artwork in the Horn of Africa, and Somaliland’s unique art and symbolism on the continent. A window into history! The site overlooks a dry landscape where nomads graze their livestock and human presence is sparse. The caves are astonishing in their variety. They range from small rock shelters to huge caverns inhabited by wild animals. Everywhere there is evidence of how humans lived in the area during ancient times. Among other things, the cave paintings depict mainly animals such as cattle and dogs, but also humans are clearly shown in the portraits, some in touching scenes, like a woman providing water to a dog. The necks of cows are decorated with a kind of plastron while some of the cattle are also depicted wearing decorative robes by humans who are thought to have been inhabitants of the area centuries ago. Other wild animals portrayed in the paintings include monkeys, giraffes, antelope, and hyenas. The site is excellently maintained because of the area where the paintings are situated in are covered by granite overhangs. The paintings had always remained intact over the centuries, retaining their vivid colours and lucid outlines. The compound consists of around 20 shelters or rock caves created by naturally occurring rock formations of different sizes. Due to its richness of variations and composition of its rock art with a size of 170 m2, Shelter 1 is one of the most significant ones in the rock formations of LAAS GEEL. It has a ceiling which is entirely covered with paintings that is deemed the artistic and creative center of the compound which captures the attention of everyone human that is stopping by the area. LAAS-GEEL is truly a destination for every type of traveller! Precisely, Somaliland is home to numerous such archeological sites and megalithic structures with similar rock arts found at Haadh, Gudmo Biyo-Cas, Dhagah Maroodi and many other sites, but LAAS GEEL site is one sight not to be missed in the Horn of Africa- it’s known for its historic heritage and ancient artwork. A must-see destination for every traveler in the region.