Sites of outstanding natural beauty, collections of intact colonial architecture, archaeological sites and islands containing the Red Sea's most unspoiled reefs mark Eritrea. The highlands in the central and southern Eritrea, the western lowlands and the subtropical eastern escarpments mark some of the country's topographical features.
Perhaps the very troubles that haunt this country are the ones protecting it from the onslaught of tourism at its most destructive. A secretive and relatively unknown tourist destination, Eritrea provides exactly what explorers want the most, seclusion, almost unchanged cultural experiences and untouched natural beauty.
Eritrea's Capital City Asmara
A minimum of 2 days is necessary to see the sights of Asmara and its Italian architecture which hails from the time of Italian colonisation in the 1920's and 1930's. Despite the fact that Eritrea's ongoing conflict with Ethiopia has resulted in a battered economy and disrupted services, Asmara remains sunny, cheery city reminiscent of an Italian Mediterranean town, complete with pavement cafés and Italian style food and coffee.
Asmara's attractions include walking through, past and into its vintage Italian buildings, opera houses, cathedrals and bars. There are also mosques and markets worth exploring and walking around the city is rather like wandering through a living museum. The opera House in Harnet Avenue, for example, was completed around 1920 and is one of Asmara's best preserved examples of elegant early 20th century buildings.
Internet cafés, banks, restaurants and accommodation are readily available. Expect to pay around $17 - $55 per person per night for a hotel room.
The Eritrean Red Sea Coast
Massawa is the gateway to the Dahlak Islands Archipelago. Some of the important dive sites in the Dahlak Archipelago and north of Massawa include Desie, Madot, Nakura, Kundubul, Dahlak, Durgam, Durgella, Dehle and Dehl Bahot. Some of the islands are quite stark, a few of them are inhabited.
Many of the islands have white, sandy beaches and the Red sea in this particular area offers outstanding recreational diving opportunities. During the war years, commercial fishing virtually came to a halt, with the result that large populations of fish can be sighted, including rare marine creatures such as the shy Dugong.
Safety Tips When Traveling to Eritrea
Travellers to Eritrea should be cautious. Problems with Ethiopia and Sudan are ongoing and the border areas between these countries should be avoided. Check with embassies prior to travelling to make sure that it is safe enough to travel.
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Fleur Hupston - Fleur Hupston is a professional freelance writer based in Botswana, Southern Africa. From this unique perspective, she writes travel ...
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