The Golis Mountains form the dramatic backdrop to Bossaso, rising sharply from the Gulf of Aden coast to form one of the highest and most ecologically distinct mountain ranges in the Horn of Africa. The road from Bossaso south toward Garowe climbs the escarpment through increasingly spectacular scenery — switchbacks cut into the rock face, with the sea visible far below and the Somali plateau opening ahead.
At higher elevations the vegetation changes markedly: juniper forest and scrubland replace the thorny coastal plain, and temperatures drop enough to require a jacket at night. The mountains receive more rainfall than the coast and support small farming communities growing vegetables and sorghum. The views from the escarpment road are among the finest in Somalia, with clear days offering visibility all the way across the Gulf of Aden toward Yemen.