The best time to visit is November through March. Temperatures in Hargeisa and the interior plateau are pleasant — typically 18–26°C during the day and cooler at night. It's the dry season, roads are passable, and the air is clear enough that the highland landscapes show well.
The coast at Berbera has similar logic: November to March is warm and dry rather than punishing. In summer (June–August), coastal temperatures regularly hit 40–45°C and the humidity makes it uncomfortable. Berbera in July is not a beach holiday by any normal standard.
The two rainy seasons — the heavy gu rains from roughly April to June, and the lighter deyr rains in October and November — turn unpaved roads into mud and can disrupt overland travel to remote areas like Laas Geel. The rains also bring relative greenery to the Hawd plateau, which has its own appeal if you don't mind the logistics.
Ramadan affects hours of business and public transport availability, and is worth knowing about if your dates overlap. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha bring everything to a festive but quiet halt for a few days.