Travel and Tourism

Travel and Tourism in Eritrea

Travel alerts, currency, climate, transit, health, and safety information for visitors to Eritrea.

Practical Information

Travel alert status, currency, climate, and transit details.

Travel Alert Status: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Time Difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Currency: 15.38
Climate: The climate in the central highlands, including Asmara, is near perfection, usually in the 70”™s or 80”™s during the day, cooling off to the 50”™s at night. There is little humidity and it seldom rains except during the July/August rainy season when daily afternoon showers are the norm. Asmara receives about 21 inches of rain each year. April, May and June are the warmest months on the plateau, with the cooler season stretching from November to March. Temperatures in the lowlands can be scorchingly hot, typically ranging from 105°F to 120°F, sometimes more, in August. Along the coast, including in the port cities of Massawa and Assab, high humidity often accompanies the heat. Winter highs here are around 90, with evening temperatures in the 70s.
Language(s) Spoken: Eritrea has no official language. Tigrinya, Arabic and English are all government, working languages. Tigrinya is spoken by highlanders, and is related to Tigre, spoken by people in the western and eastern lowlands. They use an ancient Ge'ez script. Like Arabic, they are both Semitic tongues. Arabic is widely used in commerce.
Ethnic Groups: Ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%, other 3%
National Holiday: Independence Day, 24 May (1991)
Geographic Coordinates: 15 00 N, 39 00 E
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan
Airports: 18

Health and Safety

Medical facilities, vaccinations, disease risk, and sanitation conditions.

Medical Facilities and Care

Medical Facilities and Health Information: Medical facilities and physicians in Eritrea are limited. In 2010, the Eritrean government closed all private medical clinics and laboratories. Travelers should carry their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventative medicines because pharmaceuticals may be in short supply. Food and water-borne illnesses are very common among travelers, so drink only bottled or purified water and eat foods that are cooked or peeled. Malaria and dengue fever are serious risks to travelers in the lowlands of Eritrea, particularly during the rainy season (November to February). One of the worst dengue fever outbreaks in recent Eritrean history occurred during the winter of 2009-10 in Massawa. Asmara, because of its altitude, is generally considered free of these mosquito-borne illnesses. Travelers to the lowlands are urged to carry mosquito repellent and mosquito nets, especially during the rainy season.
Accessibility: While in Eritrea, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation limited, although the government is committed to equal access for the handicapped. Eritrea is not able to comply with ADA standards but there are more accommodations for handicapped persons in Eritrea than in most developing countries. The majority of persons using wheelchairs do so in the streets rather than on the sidewalks, due to lack of sidewalks. Pedestrians must also often walk on the street for the same reason.

Disease Risk

Degree of Risk: High
Food and Waterborne Diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne Diseases: malaria and dengue fever

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