From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Sun Apr 26 2009 - 03:37:40 EDT
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Travel Eritrea - Ancient Land of Africa
Posted by: Carla dos Santos
Once a dangerous place for travel, Eritrea, ancient land of Africa, has
won its independence and is rebuilding rapidly into a tourist
destination. Asmara is one of the safest capitals in Africa, while the
Dahlak Archipelago offers some of the best coral diving an ecotourist
could hope for.
Eritrea is located in East Africa, more specifically the Horn of Africa,
and is bordered on the northeast and east by the Red Sea. The country is
virtually bisected by one of the world's longest mountain ranges, the
Great Rift Valley, with fertile lands to the west and the descent to
desert in the East.
Off the sandy and arid coastline is situated the Dahlak Archipelago and
its fishing grounds. The land to the south, in the highlands, is
slightly drier and cooler. Eritrea at the southern end of the Red Sea is
the home of the fork in the Great Rift Valley. The highest point of the
country, Amba Soira, is located in the centre of Eritrea, at 3 018
metres (9,902 ft) above sea level.
Eritrea inherited the entire coastline of Ethiopia, and therefore has
long-term potential for development of tourism and ecotourism in
particular. Passports and visas are required and proof of yellow fever
vaccination may be required, for travel in Eritrea.
When To Travel to Eritrea:
The best time to go to Eritrea is from October to March. You might also
want to time your visit to coincide with one or more of the region's
prime religious festivals, such as Timkat (19 January) or Meskel (27
September). In terms of climate, the worst time to visit Eritrea is June
to August, when the rainfall is at its highest in the highlands and the
west, and when the eastern lowlands are sun-baked to within an inch of
their geographical existence.
This is a truly fascinating country and travelling through Eritrea will
give you insight into one of Africa's newest and least-visited nations.
>From the Art Deco architecture of Asmara to the bustling market of
Keren; the mountainous Italian-era steam train to the faded charms of
the Arabic port of Massawa, Eritrea has emerged from it's troubled
recent past to provide a truly different and rewarding destination in a
hidden corner of East Africa.
The main cities of the country are:
. Asmara (Capital)
. Keren
. Massawa
Asmamra:
Is set on a high fertile plateau with an almost perfect climate, Asmara,
although undeniably African, has also retained its distinctly Italian
feel; a very tangible legacy of its colonial days. It remained largely
intact following the more recent struggles that have troubled the area
and there is a lot to explore; from the amazing Art Deco and Italian
architecture, vibrant market, cathedral and mosques, as well as to relax
with a cappuccino at one of the many cafes that dot the wide boulevards.
Nefasit Steam Train & Massawa:
You can take unique journey on Eritrea's famous Italian-era steam train
through the mountains between Asmara and Nefasit, covering over 20
tunnels and 65 bridges. Take a dramatic drive down from the highlands to
spend time on the coast at the Arabic port of Massawa. Enjoy a stroll
among the many white Turkish, Egyptian and Italian buildings and through
the maze of narrow alleyways to soak up the atmosphere and maybe sample
some the mouth-watering seafood. You should also visit Asmara via
Filfil, a hidden pocket of Eritrea's once abundant tropical forest.
Keren & Debre Sina:
Travelling north through the highlands of Eritrea past steep terraces of
coffee and orange groves you will arrive in Keren, set on a plateau
surrounded by dusty ochre mountains. One of Eritrea's most attractive
towns, Keren is also the heart of Eritrea's agricultural community.
Visit the lively Monday market, British and Italian War cemeteries and
shrine of St. Mariam Dearit, unusually set into a baobab tree! On the
way back to Asmara you can go via the 6th century Debre Sina Monastery.
The National Park System of Eritrea is still in its infancy and is
developing slowly:
. Dahlak Marine National Park
Dahlak Marine National Park is a protected Eritrea in the central
coastal region of Eritrea. The Park is entirely located in the Northern
Red Sea Region and includes part of the Dahlak Islands. It is located in
the waters of the Northern Red Sea adjoining the Dahlak archipelago (in
Eritrea). Right now, the park is flourishing with wildlife because it
was abandoned a while back during the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
During the war, the fish there grew to great numbers because there were
no people to catch them or swim near them. The national park is well
protected now because the government saw a good tourist opportunity.
Scuba Diving is now allowed and is led by a group of trained scuba
divers who were once freedom fighters. There are more than 350 different
types of fish and people can see remains of a shipwreck.
. Semenawi Bahri National Park
Semenawi Bahri National Park has a single asphalted road through it to
facilitate transportation. The park is also equipped with recreation
centres at Meguo, Medhanit, and Sabur. Semenawi Bahri National park is
not well known to tourists internationally or inside Eritrea, however,
its sights include rich flora and wildlife, specifically bird-watching.
The Eritrean border with Ethiopia is permanently closed, and passage
between the countries is not possible, while the border with Sudan is
closed intermittently. Government permits are required by anyone
wishing to travel outside Asmara. This can cause delays in plans for
travel in Eritrea.
http://africatravelguide.org/travel-eritrea-africa/
January 10, 2008, 9:30 am
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Gibi, former government's palace - Asmara - Eritrea
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