Gondershe (also spelled Gandershe or Gendershe) is an ancient stone city built on a coastal promontory in Southern Somalia.

Understand

Historical citadel ruins

Gondershe is situated about 35 kilometres (22 mi) northeast of Merca and about 30 kilometres (19 mi) southwest of Mogadishu. The town's ruins consist of typical Somali architecture, such as coral stone houses, fortifications, tombs and mosques. The town is said to date from the medieval Ajuran period, when it became a center of trade that handled smaller vessels sailing from India, Arabia, Persia and the Far East. This is supported by early maps, and an initial archaeological survey. Gondershe was a popular tourist attraction during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, until the Somali Civil War broke out in 1991.

Get in

See also: War zone safety

Fighting in the area between the Somali government and Al-Shabaab has occurred as recently as 2022. But, given its proximity to Mogadishu, if you're in the area and it's a time of relative peace and stability, then there's at least a chance you can arrange transportation down from there.