Eritrea is a northeast African country on the Red Sea coast. It shares borders with Ethiopia, Sudan, and Djibouti. The capital city, Asmara, is known for its Italian colonial buildings, like St. Joseph’s Cathedral, as well as art deco structures. Italian, Egyptian, and Turkish architecture in Massawa reflects the port city’s colorful history. Notable buildings here include St. Mariam Cathedral and the Imperial Palace.

Over many millennia, various fishing villages and semi-nomadic pastoralists settled on the coast and inland respectively. Nilotic, Hamitic, and Semitic people migrating across Africa began to settle here and intermingled. Of course, as well as resulting in the trading of goods, it also caused the sharing of ideas and beliefs. New skills were acquired; new languages began developing, some still spoken to this day, and large civilizations developed.

Around three thousand years ago, the kingdom of Aksum was founded by; legend has it, the great, great-grandson of Moses. Whatever the truth, it was, from the perspective of building empires, in a hugely advantageous spot, and would eventually stretch from Tigray in modern-day Ethiopia, across what is now Eritrea, to the coast and over the Red Sea to the southern tip of Yemen. It became one of the main powers of the ancient world.

How to get to Eritrea

The one and the ONLY way to arrive in Eritrea is by flight, and the ONLY international airport is Asmara International Airport, just outside Asmara the capital of the country. The airport is currently only serving international flights by Flydubai, Turkish Airlines, and Egypt Air.

Passport, Visa, and Entry requirements for Eritrea

A visa is required to travel to Eritrea, and you need to have this document in place before arriving in the country. In addition to a visa, travelers to Eritrea also need to have a valid passport, and it is advisable to have at least six months of validity left on the passport following the departure date from Eritrea.

The health sector of Eritrea

Over two-thirds of the population lives below the national poverty line and the vast majority in .war with Ethiopia, coming on the heels of a 30-year struggle for independence, negatively affected the health sector and the general welfare travelers should make basic provision for medical kit for essential medical supplies before traveling to Eritrea and comes handy with a medical insurance

Malaria and Yellow fever vaccination for Eritrea dangerous.

A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is only required for travelers 9 months of age and older.

Malaria Risk is present throughout the country, including urban areas, except areas specified: Asmara (2325m / 2682ft) is risk-free. Of the five species of human malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum is the most.

Currency of Eritrea

The Eritrean nakfa is the currency of Eritrea and was introduced on 8 November 1997 to replace the Ethiopian birr at par travelers are advised to travel with cash that they can change while in Eritrea as you cannot get it before traveling there and outside Asmara credit cards may not be used to ensure you plan well.

Official Language of Eritrea

Tigrinya

The languages spoken in Eritrea are Tigrinya, Tigre, and Dahlik (formerly considered a dialect of Tigre). Together, they are spoken by around 70% of local residents: Tigrinya, spoken as a first language by the Tigrinya people. As of 2006, there were around 2.54 million speakers. English and Italian are also widely understood.

Best time to travel to Eritrea

Depending on where you go, travel to Eritrea can take place at almost any time of the year. Generally speaking, the high season is October through March. The shoulder season is April and September. The low season is May through August when it is very hot

What to wear in Eritrea

Nights in Asmara can get downright cold and days on the coast are always scorching, so pack in layers. Eritrean clothing is largely conservative, especially for women, so at a minimum keep those knees and shoulders covered unless you’re on the beach in Massawa.

What to bring while traveling to Eritrea

Asmara may be cooler but the rest of the country can be hot so packing light clothing is key while traveling to Eritrea.

• Sunglasses
• hut
• sunscreen
• Ziplock plastic bag to protect your things from dust
• European electrical adaptor
• Photocopies of visa
• Photocopies passport
• Light sleeping bag or sheet
• Camera
• Small medical kit
• Cash in USD or Euros

Car hire and driving in Eritrea

The Department of Protocol of Eritrea, in Asmara, processes applications for travel permits which are likely to take several days to be granted. You’ll need an International Driving permit to rent a car. Paved roads connect the major cities of Asmara, Massawa, Mendefera, Dekemhare, Barentou, and Keren, but roads to small villages are unpaved and are generally in poor condition. So we don’t recommend self-driving in Eritrea and if you have to then hire a driver.

Accommodation in Eritrea

Asmara is the capital city of Eritrea and is located in the center of the country, with a population of more than 650,000. It is famous for its classic Italian colonial architecture, which has been superbly preserved over the years. You will get decent accommodation here but in the tourist sites, there are limited accommodation facilities so ensure you pre-book your travel services before traveling to Eritrea.

Local food of Eritrea

The main traditional food in Eritrean cuisine is tsebhi (stew), served with injera (flatbread made from teff, wheat, or sorghum and hilbet (a paste made from legumes; mainly lentil and faba beans).

Tipping while Travelling in Eritrea

Traveling to Eritrea for tourism is not so popular among travelers but the country is extraordinary so travelers can feel free to tip the guides during their safari in Eritrea, please contact Our African Experts for more information on how much to tip the clients.

Further information for Eritrea

Officially the State of Eritrea is a country in the North East of Africa. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast. The east and northeast of the country have an extensive coastline on the Red Sea, directly across from Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The Dahlak Archipelago and several of the Hanish Islands are part of Eritrea.

Safety of Eritrea

Though Asmara is a relatively safe city, there have been increased incidences of criminality over the last twelve months. You should take sensible precautions for your personal safety. Don’t walk around late at night alone.

Dahlak Marine National Park

Semenawi Bahri National Park

Wildlife

Birds

Vegetation

5 Days Experience Eritrea safaris

6 Days Discover Eritrea safaris

8 Days Eritrea Explorer safari

8 days Eritrea safari highlights

9 Days Eritrea desert safari

12 Days Best of Eritrea safari

Asmara city tours Eritrea

Belew-Kelew and Matara Ruins Eritrea

Dankalia coast Eritrea

Debre Bizen Monastery Eritrea

Filfil wilderness area Eritrea

Gash-Setit wildlife reserve

Visit Keren the cultural capital of Eritrea

Visit Massawa Red sea City

Visit Nakfa Wildlife reserve

Visit the ancient port of Adulis in Eritrea

Visit the Dahlak island Eritrea

Visit the Danakil depression in Eritrea

Visit the Gulf of Zula in Eritrea

Visit Yob Wildlife reserve