Eritrea Travel and Tourism

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Asmara, Eritrea by Mulugeta Wolde on Unsplash.

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Eritrea Travel and Tourism on Travel Notes

Find Eritrea Travel and Tourist Information with links to official travel and tourism websites and state resources for visitors to Eritrea. Tweet

About Eritrea

Eritrea was formerly under Italian control, and then taken over by Great Britain during World War II.

Mapping Eritrea

Eritrea remained a British protectorate from 1941 until 1952.

At the insistence of the UN General Assembly the federation of Eritrea with Ethiopia was to be completed by September 1952.

Once the federation was concluded, Haile Selassie of Ethiopia made moves to end Eritrea's autonomy.

Within ten years Eritrea had been reduced to a province of Ethiopia. The seeds of resentment had already been sown, and watered.

Map of Eritrea

Countries neighbouring Eritrea:
Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

Eritrea Maps and Travel Guides

Eritrea Travel Guides - Eritrea Maps.

Eritrea Language and Culture

Eritrea reflects many languages, cultures, and religions because of its diverse population.

Despite this ethnic diversity, the Eritreans have been closely bonded by their long drawn-out opposition to Ethiopian control.

Weather in Africa:
Local weather forecasts for destinations around Africa.

Eritrean Liberation Front (and EPLF)

The Eritrean Liberation Front sprouted up in 1958 and an armed struggle, that would last for 30 years, was getting under way; to be pursued more vigorously by a military splinter group called the Eritrean People's Liberation Front.

After capturing the major towns in the early 1990's, the EPLF were finally recognised by the international community as a provisional government.

An almost unanimous vote in favour of independence in April 1993, earned Eritrea a place in the United Nations the following month.

Sovereignty was proclaimed on May 24th.

Asmara

Asmara succeeded Massawa as the capital of Eritrea in 1900, when the country was an Italian colony, and remained the capital when Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993.

Asmara Attractions

Although it would be easy to think of Asmara as an Italian built colonial city, its origins actually reach back some 700 years.

As well as the Grand Mosque there is also a Roman Catholic cathedral in Asmara. The former Colonial Palace is also worth a visit.

Getting Around Asmara

Public transport is well organised in Asmara. Busses and mini busses have specific stops where they can be boarded.

Where to Stay in Asmara

Hotel Asmara Palace

Hotel Asmara Palace: Der Mie 4 Expo Area, Asmara, Eritrea.

As you would expect, this 5-star hotel in Asmara offers luxurious rooms, a beauty centre, tennis court, two swimming pools, and six restaurants and bars.

Guests at the Hotel Asmara Palace enjoyed the excellent service, delicious food and large rooms.

Hotels in Asmara.

Massawa (Mitsiwa)

This seaport, on the Red Sea near Asmara, was for many centuries a dominion of Abyssinia.

Then the Ottoman Turks took possession of it between the 16th and 18th centuries until it was ceded to Egypt in 1864.

Italian troops occupied Massawa in 1885, and it became a part of Eritrea.

Two islands and the mainland together form Massawa.

Massawa

There is not much of interest in the mainland part of the town, although this is where the majority of the population live.

The first of the two islands is called Taulud with the old railway station, the St Mariam's Cathedral and the Imperial Palace.

Crossing the second causeway you enter the rather Moorish port area of town.

Eritrea Destinations

The potential of Eritrea as a tourist destination is immense.

The country is endowed with untold benefits, such as the Red Sea with its coastline of 1200 kilometres and more than 350 islands - perfect for fishing and deep sea diving. There are also numerous sites of historical and geological interest, many of which are only now in the process of being discovered.

Asmara Grande Travel and Tour Services was established in 2005 and is an active member of the Association of Eritrean Travel and Tourist Organizations.

Dekemhare

Dekemhare - once the site of fairly extensive agricultural and light industry, and famous for its wine - suffered through several skirmishes and offensives during the War of Liberation.

Keren

This mountain city is one of the five major secondary towns in Eritrea, with a population of 121,000, and the regional capital of the Anseba Region.

Mendefera

Mendefera - a bustling market town - is also known as Adi Ugri.

The Red Sea

Red Sea Survival Kit

The live-aboard boat you choose for your Red Sea diving holiday may carry oxygen, but have no means of delivering it. It may have a poorly qualified crew. It may even be unseaworthy.

John Bantin's Amazing Diving Stories makes for compelling reading for all divers and would-be divers.

War and Famine

War, drought and famine have hit the country hard and by independence it was estimated that 20% of the population was displaced and as many as half a million were living as refugees in Sudan.

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