Lag Badana-Bushbush National Park

Lag Badana-Bushbush is a protected coastal park along the Indian Ocean near the Kenyan border, combining coral reefs, sandy beaches, and palm groves in one landscape. The area covers several kilometers with diverse habitats that support marine life and coastal plant communities.

The park was established in the late 1980s as Somalia's first protected area, created to safeguard marine life and promote regional tourism. In 2005, it became recognized as a Lion Conservation Unit with international backing.

Local fishing communities here maintain traditional connections to the sea that shape how they live and work each day. The coastal spaces remain central to practices and routines passed down through families.

A visit requires advance planning and official permissions from local authorities before arrival. Travelers should check current conditions and arrange local guides to explore the park safely.

The park holds more than 200 plant species, with about 20 found nowhere else in the world and existing only within this region. This botanical diversity makes it a remarkable location for studying and protecting rare coastal plants.